Losing Dianne

 I guess I knew that Dianne was not doing too well.  We haven't physically seen each other for many years and yet spoke online almost every day through Facebook, messages or phone calls.  I remember thinking about a week or so ago that I hadn't heard from her in a while and "I need to call"....  Then last night as I was cooking supper Jerry said "Listen to me.  I'm trying to tell you something!" .. sigh .. "Dianne Nash has died."  I couldn't catch my breath.  

I met Tom and Dianne Nash around 2005 at a Ranger Reunion in San Antonio, TX.  Their daughter Kim had died just a few months earlier and while they were as upbeat as they could be, the sadness was palpable.  We liked each other, but it was not an "instant bond" thing.  Then as time went on and we came across each other on facebook and talked via messenger and phone calls, we became friends. 

Tom and Dianne would take trips to New Mexico almost every year and the year we built our new house (2011) in Sherman, TX they made a special effort to stop to see us.  

We had just moved into our new home and had barely emptied all the boxes.. lol  It was so fun to have them with us.  Out to dinner, shopping in the antique stores...Tom going to Jerry's coffee klatch with him.  They only stayed one day and left the next morning, but what fun.  

Over the years we followed all the fun, the pride in our husbands, the Ranger reunions, the Ranger newsletter, sharing crafts and books...Tom wrote poetry and we had a shared interest in certain kinds of books.  Jerry edited the newsletter and Tom was President of the Ranger Association...both spent a lot of time encouraging all their buddies and helping with VA paperwork. What a team they were.  

Tom died in 2021 and left a hole in our hearts..and now Dianne.  Sleep well, Dear Friends. 

Nostalgia .. and stuff

December 28, 2015  Got up early this morning.. about 4am.  Don't ask me why.  I sat here until 5:30 and decided it was time to make coffee.  In the process of wasting all that time I began to wonder what was going on with all the blogging friends I've had over the years that I don't see much anymore.  So I went to Chloe's Place...

Linda B. lives in Victoria, Australia and I began to read her blog back in 2005 when I was heavy into crazy quilting and ribbon embroidery.  When I looked today, she still has not blogged since 2013 and I miss her witty, independent personality.  

If you are into embroidery of ANY kind, the place to go is Pin Tangle.  Sharon Boggins is the most wonderful embroiderist (I don't know if that's a word, but sure fits.. :)  )  that I have ever seen.  She has tutorials, an embroidery "encyclopedia of stitches", worksheets, online classes.. etc.  And on top of that.. she is just a wonderful person.  :)  I seem to give away everything that I do .. but I do take photos.. :)  This is a small practice block.. from way back then.. :)

Haven't done much for the past few weeks.  It seems (from what my Dr. says) that he had to fix much more than was anticipated during the surgery and it is taking A LOT LONGER than I anticipated to recuperate!  But have done a few things lately... 

I've wanted to try this particular watercolor for a while.. and have tried it a couple of times with very unhappy results..lol  But I do like this one.  

The year is ending soon.. Hoping your holidays have been good one.. :)  

Today in my Life... October 20, 2015

Today is Tuesday, October 20, 2015.

I woke up this morning:  very, very early... got up at 3:45 am  and stumbled into the office... fell into my computer chair and prayed for cooler weather.  These night sweats are killing me.

I am hearing:  the fan click as it makes those orbits around that fake golden hub up there.  However.. with the night sweats, I do believe I don't care if it's fake or not as long that cool breeze continues.   My sweet DH is up and clicking his coffee cup in the kitchen... The day begins.. :)

As I look out the window:  I see the new WalMart across the street has cleared all the rubble and trash from the site.  It is beginning to look like it's been there for a while... sod going in, parking lot finished, all the heavy equipment gone.  Won't be long now.

I am thinking:  that I really need to carry a notebook... perhaps I should buy some kind of everyday apron with pockets that I can wear everywhere... that would make keeping a pen and paper in my pocket really easy...

The current book is:  a re-read of the James Patterson book Cross ... for about the 4th time.  I really need to find some new authors.. (she says for about the 100th time!)

Creatively:  doing watercolors.  I took some photos of the new plants when we put them in the flowerbed last weekend.  I also bought some cyclamen that were on sale for $1.00 a piece... LOVELY!!  So I got out the water and brushes and did a couple of florals, but also found an easy Wilson Bickford tute on youtube.com that I did in watercolor instead of the oils he was using.  Didn't turn out too bad.




This is the Wilson Bickford tutorial for painting a chickadee... All I did was change it to watercolor.  He is one of my favorite art instructors on YouTube..  There are couple on there that really make it easy to follow their lead.

 This is a cyclamen, but not one of the ones I bought this weekend.  This is a tutorial by Lindsey Weirich The Frugal Crafter showing how to draw the cyclamen and then blend sharpies to color it. Well.. I changed it to watercolor, but followed how she drew it.  She has many, many tutorials on a multitude of things so make sure you run thru her videos.  There may be something there you would like to try.













This is done from a photo I took of the pansies that we planted this weekend.  I just know that if I keep at this long enough I will get somewhere in the ballpark of good at it... lol







I am thankful for:  telephones and old friends.  I finally got up the nerve to try one more time to find an old (sorry Billie..lol)   friend from high school.  When I looked up the telephone number for her brother I was stunned to see that it was the same number I had dialed about a zillion times in my 8th grade, freshman and sophomore years.. It seems that he now is now living the family home and just decided to keep the family phone and same number.  Talk about deja vu..lol  We talked for about 45 minutes or so and then I called my best friend from high school... I must admit to being a little nervous.. What if she has forgotten who I am???  But not... it was as if no time at all had passed. What a lovely way to spend a couple of hours...

Planning ahead:  hmmm... personally I'm not sure I should put this up here..lol  I do plan ahead on occasion but must admit that seldom does it turn out without at least a little zig in the zag.  Anyway, the Basil I planted out back is seeding so I'm gathering those tiny seeds and putting them in envelopes.  Last year I actually made tiny seed envelopes to put them in... this year an old letter size plain jane works just fine.  Also have marigold seeds.  All the ones I saved from last year were viable and put on a real show until the water stopped.. More on that later... :(

Have a great day today...  :)

Today in My Life... July 11, 2011

 








Today is:  Wednesday, July 11, 2011

I got up this morning:  early.  4am.  It's not that I mind getting up early... it's that 10am letdown and sleepy that gets me. 

As I look out my window:  the sprinklers are sprinkling.  There's a street light on our corner and the water makes all the plants out front glisten like tiny stars.  Pretty enough to go sit out and watch... but it's already 82°F out there at 5:30am....

I am hearing:  my sweet DH wandering around the kitchen getting coffee and asking me why I was up so early... ;o)

I am thinking: that the air conditioning in our new house is wonderful...but I'll be right back...after I've slipped on the shawl that Karen made for me!  Cool on my back this morning!



 One thing I've learned over the past week:  is just how much fun it is to share brownies and cups of tea with friends.  This is not a new learning experience.. ;o) .. it's just that it's been such a long time since I've been able to that it SEEMS like a new one... ;o)  Hopefully all the major hubbub with the move is about over... ;o) 

 



 Creatively: I've learned a bit this week.  You don't have to use vinegar to set the dye for Kool Aid (unless you are worried about the blues being colorfast).  Kool Aid has citric acid already in it ... therefore it will be colorfast without any other additive.  And... I feel totally set free now that I've dyed roving in the microwave and it didn't come out a felted hot pad.  Thanks, Pat, for all the tips last Friday. 

Things I am thankful for:  Visits from sons John and Phil over the 4th of July... Life can't get any better than that... ;o)


Plans for the rest of the week:  include (finally) the installation of the storm doors today... yes! this morning!...yayyyy!  
And the RRFA meeting on Thursday.  Really glad that Mercy may be able to continue coming even tho she's moving. 

It's hot.  And doesn't look there's much chance for any change in temps for a while.  Not even into August yet and the temps are now what the usual high for the year is... ;o/

But... the grass is green, the sky is blue, the flowers bloom and it is a lovely day.  Hope yours is too... ;o)

Today In My Life... December 24, 2010

Today is:  Friday, December 24, 2010

I got up this morning:  feeling a little down.  It's Christmas Eve and none of the kids are able to come home.  It forces me to remind myself of all those holidays... when my children were growing up or I was unable to get time off on the holidays or there was a  lack of money for long trips... and the tons of other reasons that my Mom or Dad had to spend their holidays without us there.  It's true... we never understand or appreciate our parents until we are parents.. and in similar circumstances.  ;o)

As I look out the window:  the flock of crows that greet us every morning by doing a fly-by of our window have not shown up yet.  In fact, none of our morning greeters.. sparrows, wrens, chickadees... have shown up.  Wonder if they are hiding out in preparation for the cold front moving through.  Supposed to get really cold (at least for us..lol.. don't point, Phillip!)  ;o)  

I am hearing:  my sweet DH in the shower.  He (and I) have loved that shower that our sons put in for us.  Really will miss all the wonderful memories that have come with this house.. ;o(

I am thinking:  that perhaps I feel a little like Monte Walsh.   We went to McDonald's yesterday morning and had  breakfast.  Someone had left the Herald Democrat  newspaper on the table.  It's about 1/2 as wide as it used to be, has about 1/10th the number of pages and reminds me more and more of the very old newspapers of the Wild West that had no pictures.  And now with the e-readers, I'm afraid the same will be happening with "real" books.  I'm afraid the world as we know it is changing much too rapidly for me......

I am thankful for:   magic markers and corn cob ink pens.. ;o)

Creatively:   thankful for Joe Camilleri of Mangiare .  Wonderful chef who unselfishly publishes on his blog some of the most mouth watering recipes imaginable.. woo hoo!

Just a thought:  Colors... like friends.. beautiful each to itself.  Colors.. beautiful in a mish mash of random shapes... each close and making each other shine!

 

There is no gift like an old friend....

I searched for her for years. Finally I turned to my sweet DH and after about 3 days of searching... she's here... Turns out she was doing the same...searching for me... ;o)

We graduated nursing school together, we worked at the same places, we shared an apartment and we shared long moments of our lives.  And it never matters how far apart in time they are...

They are gifts... those long moments of our shared lives.

I'm so glad to see you, Nancy.

The Simple Woman's Daybook

I know this is not Monday... but since I missed it yesterday...

Today: November 25, 2008

Outside my window: the sun is low in the west and too bright to leave the shades open. It will be dark in an hour and a half... too soon for this day to be over.

I am thinking: how tired my legs feel after spending all afternoon out and about. I wish DH's coffee drinking buddy were not moving. It is a sad day. On the other hand...it is wonderful that we live in the age of computers and they can stay in touch even from one country to another.

I am thankful: that my clothes that I am planning to wear Thanksgiving still fit! I am also thankful that it will be a year (in about a week) since I have had one cigarette. I am not thankful that I have gained 40 pounds! But I would not exchange the 40 pounds to go back to smoking...it is completely worth it.

From the kitchen: the cranberries and orange are calling! I love fresh cranberry sauce and always make it ...

I am wearing: stretch denim pants with a cotton blue/white shirt...but not for long...lol It's almost time to get comfortable...

I am creating: very little today. Perhaps after supper....

I am going: to start preparing for Thanksgiving with our daughter. This is a real treat since we seldom get to do this!

I am reading: every pattern on Ravelry I can find. And it seems there are so many I will never run out!

I am hoping: to put our tree up the day after Thanksgiving. It should not be too hard this year since it is all stored at ground level...instead of in the attic!

I am hearing: my DH yawn as he settles in his chair..it has been a long day.

Around the house: everything is quiet. I can hear the pulse ringing in my ears. It's very easy to just sink into my chair and relax.

One of my favorite things:

is this picture. It always makes my legs feel that warm swish from standing on the floor furnace. It was so fascinating to watch my dress mysteriously fluff out and just stay there! I did this all the time as a child and can still hear the words... "You're going to burn a hole in your shoes!"

A few plans for the rest of the week: include Thanksgiving...such fun. Then the Christmas tree... also fun.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing:

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

THE GOOD

We're having wonderful company this afternoon from McKinney. I've done some picking up, wiping down this morning and am really looking forward to dinner out with good company.

THE BAD

I've been looking sooo forward to spinning the Icelandic fiber that I got in McKinney a while back. That Merino fiber just seemed to last forever while I was spinning it..grin (Sure feels soft and silky tho!)

So I pulled the Icelandic out of the plastic bags, began to look through it and found that it is FULL of vegetable matter. UGHHHHH! So now will have to go back to McKinney and buy some carders...sigh

But I did pull a little out and try it with my spindle. It will be like nothing I have spun before and it is a little easier to make into very thin singles.

THE UGLY

Got my hair cut....and cut....and cut....and cut... It looks like a modified, gapped, ragged Marine's high and tight with the hair on top left about 3 inches long.... sigh.... I should have known ... NEVER allow anyone under 40 to cut your hair... About 2 hours after the haircut the Merle Norman Studio made some big bucks selling me a wig...sigh

Good Company, Lovely Roses and Wine

Had company from Dallas come in last night. Brought the lovely roses (that smell really good by the way) and Pouilly-Fuisse' wine. I have never had this particular wine, so am anxious to try it.

There's nothing quite like good friends and good conversation.

Girl's Retreat

Well, it was a wonderful time away from it all. A friend and I decided it was high time for a bit of time away and a little re-acquainting time with each other. So we did....grin


We did a little research of the local resort areas and checked out pricing and etc. online and finally decided on Cedar Mills Resort. After the latest "100 year flood", the restaurant I was looking so forward to was boarded up with the windows broken and what a mess... I was told that it "just stayed under the water for too long".... but all in all was a terrific time anyway.


We cooked some of the foods that we only get to have occasionally since either the spouse or kids don't like it or for whatever reason we can't cook it. We had beans with ham hocks, relish, onions and cherry tomatoes. Cornbread. Gumbo. Vinegar cobbler. Brownies. Guacamole dip with chips. Sliced cold chicken with cottage cheese and tomatoes. Ahhhh... the food. Believe me... the pic was taken after we had put away almost all of the food...lol





We took long walks............. took in all the colors, the birds, the trees...



Over the next couple of days, I will add a few pics about our trip... what a wonderful time...

Did I Tell Ya...

that I've been religiously trying to kill all my plants....???

Well, I have.

One of my two African Violets has gone to that Great Garden in the Sky already. I did pinch the center out that still looked really good and plant it.. we'll see if it will root. The other is perking up since I bought a Gro-Light bulb and put it in a lamp near the flowers. A friend from Alaska told me about how she uses them all the time and her plants are wonderful...which amazes me since Anchorage is dark for about 6 months a year. Anyway, it seems to be working, so think I'll keep it...grin

that this same friend named Loyce will be coming to visit during Christmas this year? I can hardly wait. Just hope she brings loads of photos...grin

Hi, Patti.. (big wave)

DSIL was here yesterday and spent a pleasant afternoon. He brought "the Brigit" with him, so everyone was happy...grin. It was a surprise to learn they lost Angel (a 14 year old shih tzu) a couple of weeks ago. She has been a constant companion in their household for 12 of those 14 years and will be missed.

It was back to the doctor on Tuesday. I guess the knock about in the auto accident did something to my right shoulder. I've been taking Motrin 600mg for it every day and it has kept the worst of it at bay. Will start physical therapy next week and go back in a month...

DH has been at work again the shop. We have been in need of taller end tables ever since we bought the oversized recliners, but could never find any that would work for us. So last week he went out and (using some new cabinet doors that DSIL brought) built us some. He used an 18" ceramic tile for the tops and that is wonderful. I had no idea how wonderful that carefree surface would be! No more worrying about water spots, scratches, spills... terrific! The shelf inside is really handy for me to keep knitting needles, threads etc, handy but out of the way.

I will be painting these and perhaps do some folk art of some kind on them... depends on whether DH would like that or not. (I may do mine and then leave his as he wants it... can't decide how that would look yet..)

Friends and Food

Got a phone call last night from a friend in Virginia. She tells me in no uncertain terms that she is tired of seeing that same pic of the car every time she visits here...lol I love it! She raises poodles and tells me she now has a 5 week old chocolate poodle that is gorgeous... I am so envious!


Since DH is diabetic and a total pasta lover (and he can't have it anymore), we are constantly on the lookout for new recipes. He came up with this off the net somewhere and we decided to try it.
This is home made spaghetti sauce over spaghetti squash.

The spaghetti squash is cut in half and placed in a baking dish with cut side down and covered with foil, then baked in a 350 degree oven for 30 to 40 minutes (depending on the size of the squash) or until tender when punctured with a knife. Then, using a fork and gently sliding it down the length of the squash, you can lift out wonderful short spaghetti. Since I love squash anyway, I loved this. But I did find that as you get into the depth of the "spaghetti", the sweetness of the squash became a little disconcerting against the spiciness of the sauce. So if I were doing it again, there would be smaller portions of the squash and the same portion of the sauce...

Of Dish Cloths and Christening Sets...

Had a couple of great visits yesterday.... youngest son (who let me know really quickly that he is NOT...and I repeat NOT... 35 years old! grin Only 34... see this post..) and his very talented wife (see her quilts at Black Cat...click on Handmade and enjoy her wonderful quilts). She brought me one of her crocheted dish cloths that I have heard about but never seen. I love it! It is about the size of a scrubber, but is actually single crochet back loop only, then folded and edged with single crochet... so wonderfully simple. Done in an acrylic yarn, it cleans dishes, pots and pans, cabinets.. so beautifully... with no danger of scratching. I must make a pile of these.

Later in the day a dear friend from around Joplin, MO stopped for a while. We had a lovely visit sitting around the kitchen table. Just doesn't happen often enough. His daughter is having her first baby soon ( a little girl), so this Christening Set that I crocheted a while back will be sent to her with the best of wishes. Don't you just love little girls?