Sunday... A Day of Gratitude

It's been a long time since I blogged things that I am grateful for.... so I think today is a good day for that..

• It's raining outside... a soft, easy rain that is saturating the ground. Very good for the St. Augustine sod we had laid last month. It seems that one good rain is better than all the city water in the world.


• Ice... I can't imagine what it must have been like to have lived without ice.


• The color blue... my sweet DH's favorite.


• Flour tortillas... heat with butter in a skillet, turn 'em over and sprinkle all over with cinnamon/sugar...when light brown on that side just fold it over and put it on a plate... dig in... yum...yum..


• Memorabilia... those little things given to us that are a reminder of the thoughtfulness of those we hold dear.


• Fingers... so much accomplished with them.


• Throw pillows...comfort in a small package.


• Ancestors... good, bad, indifferent.... they made us who we are.


• Music... a gift from the gods...


• Dust bunnies... a reminder that we have a home to clean.


• Mississippi Squirrel Revival by Ray Stevens... brings out the peals of laughter from young and old alike.


• Children... always a source of laughter and joy and all things new and wonderful...

This is my late brother's granddaughter, Marli.. isn't she a jewel? ;o)

And this is Jayke... my late brother's other granddaughter... such a little beauty... ;o)

And here's a thought to ponder...

Aerodynamically the bumblebee should not be able to fly... but the bumblebee doesn't know that so it goes on flying anyway. ..... Mary Kay Ash

Hope your Sunday is wonderful. ;o)

Ebay Day and More

I seem to have spent the entire day with the new laptop sitting at the kitchen table uploading things for our ebay shop... whew... Add to that a chair pulled up along side, left foot up in that chair and an ice pack on the shin and it leads to a rather long, very cool day. But I must say that I am pleased with the amount of work done.

I think I have come up with a naalbinding stitch that I just love. Not sure yet how I will actually use it since I'm not very good at turning corners, but I will definitely find a way. It looks almost woven. I think the Hansen listing would be UOO/UUOO B1. I have no idea what the name of this stitch might be.

It rained today. One of those soft, easy rains that left everything glistening like tiny diamonds flickering in the sunlight. I took some pictures of the flowers...

These are the bluebonnets that I so look forward to every year. They bloom on the shoulder of the highway just across from our house.

This is Indian Hawthorn. I planted them last year, so this is the first blooming. I love them.

Never been able to keep a geranium alive, but this one is really surprising me. I put a little fertilizer in the water when I watered it and boy..did it ever go to town. This is on the front porch. I'm thinking that if I break off a branch it will be easy to propagate. I'll give it a little longer to just grow then you can bet at least 2 or 3 branches will be sacrificed to try it. ;o)

All in all it has been a really good day...even with the leg up on a chair.

A friend of mine put something up on Facebook today that I thought was wonderful... It goes like this....

"Your life is your garden

Your thoughts are your seeds,

So if your life isn't awesome

You've been watering the weeds."

Have to say it hit home a bit.. ;o) Working on that....

Hope your day was awesome and you have a great one tomorrow...

It's Friday ... again!

My DH and I have found that as we grow older the weeks pass so quickly that it's always Friday...lol I have committed to blog every day this week...and the week is almost over and no blogging. I will try to make up for it with reminiscences of the week...

Monday was a busy day. Photographing and editing the photos of books and things for the ebay shop... Butterfield Mercantile... Had to reschedule an appointment that I missed... so much for the memory that wandered off the lane... ;o) I remember thinking how good it is that ebay is available and we can do this from home at this time in our lives

Tuesday was appointment day. I spent a lot of the day on my feet and by evening my lower leg was swollen and uncomfortable.... Did I tell you that I fell INTO the bathtub? Banged up my lower left leg a bit... black and blue but no bones broken... And for that a thankful thought went up for the day...

Wednesday... another appointment day. I have been feeling so much better with a lift in the depression after the deaths in my family. My thankful thought for that day... and I remember thinking and pondering it... Thank goodness for the new medications of the today that actually work. And for the change in attitude about seeking out help for personal problems... so much better than even 20 years ago.

Thursday... very early appointment with Dr. Truly about my leg. I knew it wasn't broken and that it was completely soft tissue damage, but it looked red and had a considerable amount of heat (fever) in it...but no cellulitis right now. Thank goodness...

I bought a laptop computer yesterday. It has been a biggy on my list of things I would like to have for quite a long time. It was a frustrating thing for me when it came time to set it up...I didn't know that the wireless router that we had put in had the wrong time and every time I tried to set up my laptop it would tell me I couldn't do that...the time on my computer was wrong.. boy... I was about ready to spit! When I got up to walk away and re-group, I thought about the fact that I even have one...sigh... Talk about a sudden dose of humility... ;o)

And then there's today... Up early, looking out the window as I post and loving the green of the trees. I think I will plant some forsythia down in the meadow this year. It needs a little burst of color here and there.

Thought for today... families may not always ( or ever) be what we think they should be, but they are ours... and we may not agree with anything they do or say, but for the most part if an open mind is kept, they have reason for what they think or believe. And who are we to say that our way is the only way....???

Today in My Life 04/04/2010

Today in my life: the sun is just beginning to bring a little reflected light over the trees in the meadow. Not that bright, warm yellow kind... the faded gray of the day begins to show a little consciousness, stretch a bit and decide whether it really wants to get up or not.

I got up this morning: stumbled into the kitchen, made coffee and emptied the dishwasher. By the time that was done, I should have been awake... not so... still propping the eyes open after 3/4 of the first cup.

I am hearing: in my head someone say "I don't believe it!"... do you suppose if " I don't believe it" is said long enough and strong enough... it really will be "not true"? The child in me would love to believe that, but the adult says... ah well.... and smiles...

I am thinking: that I should hurry up and get a picture of the redbud with all the green behind it before it all changes... ;o(

The current book: is... ta da... drum roll... a re-read of the first sci-fi book that I totally fell in love with... The Belgariad Trilogy ...

From the family: comes these lovely plants from Aunt Edna and Uncle Bobby. I want to get what she told me down in writing since my memory took a hike about a decade ago.. ;o)

The large plant is a bromeliad that is only one of several Edna has growing in her glassed in porch. Beautiful and doing so well... I'm impressed with myself...lol The small packs are airplane plants, the wandering jew is about to bloom and the small plant in with the wandering jew is an oxygen plant...all of these also from Aunt Edna's "porch
greenhouse". That leaves the one that looks like a thick, broad mother-in-law's tongue. Long story.... in 1954 when I was about 7 and staying with my grandparents we would visit my grandfather's brother who lived in Stonewall, OK. His name was Tom and his wife's name was Etta... This plant is the proginy of Aunt Etta's plant... (Everyone used the "Yankee" Eastern pronounciation of her name... she was called "Aunt Etter"... ;o)

I am so pleased to have these plants. Thank you, Edna and Bobby...

From the learning desk: I am working hard at making examples of useful things that can be done with card weaving to show my class in June. Yesterday I began this watchband. It's turning out really pretty and I'm hoping that when I put the findings on it will still be pretty... ;o)


Plans for the coming week: I think it's about time for a trip to McKinney. It's been a while and I need to check out the Michael's store for thread and yarn.

I've been working on a handbook for card weaving, but have almost decided to do a video instead. We'll see...

Thought for today: "Easter spells out beauty, the rare beauty of new life." ... S. D. Gordon

I hope you have a lovely Easter. Hug your family close and bask in the beauty of this holiday...

March 28, 2010

I could think of no title for this post. I really like the format of a journal, but I don't like the idea of using someone else's and therefore having to link back to their site. I don't know why that is... I just don't. Probably because my memory has taken a hike and sometimes I forget...leaving me feeling like I have committed the unforgivable sin... ;o) I will keep working on it and come up with something....

The Memorial Service for my brother was yesterday and went well. It was good to see everyone and learn that Curtis and Rosalie will be moving closer in a few weeks. We will even be able to visit after being apart for the last 40 years... ;o) How cool is that?

We are considering an e-store on ebay to sell books... not that we would ever have excess books...lol Stay tuned... more on that as the story breaks.. ;o)

The office floor is fixed at last... no more loose tiles. Just hope this spring is not as wet as last spring and maybe it will stay that way. DH says that if it does it again all the concrete under there will have to come out and be replaced.

Why are they allowed to have so much bone ground up in hamburger? I just want to know. Don't they ever have teeth break while eating a hamburger... ????? sigh

Today In My Life....March 24, 2010

Today in my life: March 24, 2010

I got up this morning: bleary eyed but with enthusiasm. The tile on the office floor will be fixed today. No more fear of either breaking it more than it is or of me falling on my fanny every time I step on a loose one... :o)

I am hearing: the movement of traffic out on the highway. It's funny how it's almost never noticed any other time but in the quiet of the morning.

The current book: is by Robert B. Parker .. He's a new author we are reading after seeing Tom Sellick as Jesse Stone in a couple of "made for television" movies. Love them.




Creating: Many things over the last few weeks. One of them is a small needle tatted doily. I am so enjoying this craft. Very easy to do, very easy to carry with me when I need something for my hands to do on a trip or a visit to the doctor.













As I look out: the season is finally changing and Spring is here. I am so ready for this change. The gray days are wonderful after a long, hot summer... but it sure seemed like we had more than we needed this year.. ;o)








I am thinking: that I should be grateful for all the little things in my life...and some big ones too. In a time of sorrow it's really easy to forget all the good little things... like memories...

Plans for the rest of the week: My brother's memorial will be this weekend in the town where our family has lived for at least 150 years. At least 4 generations are buried there.


From the learning desk: Have finished 15 tape looms to use with the class I will teach at Red River Historical Museum in June. The cards (8 each) are finished and tied together. The pattern is printed off. Now have to put together an instruction booklet and cut all the yarn for each packet. Still have to make about 100 rice bags to use for weights... But it's all coming together.. ;o) Looking forward to this.



Just a thought: "A home is not a mere transient shelter: it's essence lies in the personalities of the people who live in it." H.L. Mencken

Hello, Patty... ;o)

Hi everyone. I know it's been a long time. I could use the excuse of Facebooking again, but the fact is that I am having a hard time coming to grips with the loss of both my brother and my sister. This makes it a little hard for me to come up with something more than a Facebook line or two to write. But since my friend Patty from Virginia keeps giving me little nudges... here I am.. ;o)

Our sons from Phoenix came home last month to get their house ready to sell. I'm sorry they are selling the house and moving permanently to Arizona, but it was really good to see them. During the visit, Jim taught me another craft...lol Needle tatting... I love it. I seem to do the same thing trying to learn this that I did trying to learn knitting. I get lost in the pattern and then have to pull out large amounts of it...and believe...frogging tatting is not nearly as easy as frogging knitting..lol He blogs about it..and other things.. on his blog Creating a Home. I completed a medium sized, red bookmark as the first thing I did...but .. believe me... you don't want to see it..lol This is the second thing I completed. I have no idea what to do with it, but the pattern was so easy I made 3. ;o) I think I will join them together, make a 4th and have myself a medium sized doily. Ta da! Hmmmm...maybe that should be "make a 4th, join them together and have a doily.."... that might work better..lol






I also committed myself to teach another class at the Red River Historical Museum the 3rd Saturday in June. This class will be tablet weaving... We (as in my sweet DH and myself) are in the process of building 15 looms for this class. The photo is of 120 cards that are in the process of being made...8 per loom... to weave this pattern...












This is also the type loom we are building. I am hoping this will be a fun and informative class... and they the student will love this as much as I do.



















The ribbon on the left was done using 10 cards and polyester sewing thread. It came out lovely. There will be several more ribbons made of various materials before class time comes around so I will have some samples to show what can be done with craft.

Card Weaving Loom and Naalbinding

I find that when I am in an emotional upheaval I want to eat. This is not good when you are trying to lose weight... hmmm

I have been fairly busy even though I have spent an inordinate amount of time on Facebook lately. I am currently working on the first cardweaving loom I made. I have taken it apart and drawn on some relatively easy patterns, a few instructions on it's use, woodburned all of that and then painted it. I am using a rub on polyurethane finish for it and an hoping that will be enough protection for the paint. It should be finished in a day or so...depending on drying time for the finish.






Naalbinding has not been neglected... ;o) This bag was done using the Oslo stitch and some hand spun. I love the softness of this bag. The scarf is done using several small end pieces of handspun that I wanted to use up. It was done with all the stitches facing one way...each row ended and the next row began at the top each time. I was amazed at the how the underside looks EXACTLY like knitting when done that way.

Larry Ingram

Larry Ingram

He had more energy in his left arm than I did in my whole body... ;o) We played cowboys and indians, made a "home" out of an old chicken house, used tow sacks to make a saddle for our fallen tree "horse" and played with his pet possum... We got off the bus at the corner to walk the mile home (risking the wrath of Grandma), picked her wildflower bouquets and loved her vinegar pie. We took turns putting our head in Dad's lap on those long car trips, spent our dimes on Saturday buying comic books and loved the hamburger steak smothered with chili beans in a downtown diner with Dad...

Time changes things and we grow up but the memories never leave. And I am so thankful for that.

August 10, 1949-January 19, 2010
He was my brother.

It's Been a While....

Hello everyone... It's been a while. I got totally caught up in Facebook and being able to talk almost instantly with my family that ... well... you could say that I grew addicted...lol Anyway, hopefully the new is about off it and things will get back to normal. ;o)

We had our first snow last month...very unusual for this time of year. I don't mind the snow or bad weather as long as I don't have to go out in it..

Christmas was good... Sons in from Arizona and daughter and her family in from Oklahoma for a bit... Another bit of wonderment.. Her oldest son was married over the holidays. On the 30th. Wow! Doesn't seem possible. Just yesterday I was sitting in the nursery in Kentucky and feeding him a bottle... Congratulations again, Will and Savannah...





Will and Steven are two of the four grandsons that we have in the military. Steven ( in the dress uniform) will be leaving before long for Afghanistan. Will will finish training and will then head for Iraq. May the world soon regain some sanity.......