Our stranded astronauts are back on earth!! Thank you, God! And today is St. Joseph's Feast Day, the day the swallows are supposed to return to Capistrano. I've never seen The Big Return, but I have seen the swallows there. Talk about a lot of cheerful singing! And all in tune, too!
TINA - that sounds like a wild storm! They even halted mail delivery. Well, it only says neither rain, snow, heat, nor gloom of night will keep them from their rounds. No mention of wind or dirt. Is it over or is more expected? And that's a lot of dirt under your table! I was starting to have trouble breathing, too, just reading your post. I hope today is a better day. And what quilt is it that Maria wants you to make? Does it have to be those fabrics? Can you substitute in something from your stash or something a bit cheaper?
JANA - Your DD is a bad influence on you! I like that in her! Love your new winter quilt.
LORI - those are good prices for fabric! Batiks can be crazy expensive. And some batiks are make by women in India hand dying them outside in nature. I wonder how much they actually see of the profit. I love your dogs! I can tell they are sweeties just by your posts. I'm thinking all your pets are living the greatest life. Scottie's has been pretty luxurious, too. He and Foxy are my babies. I can see cleaning out an entire room taking probably 3 times as long as you expect. How long did your parents live in this house? There just has to be squirrels everywhere! My sister has put things all over her house with funny notes for her kids to find "someday".
VAL - I'm glad you aren't missing work. I don't either, and I had a pretty cool job that I really liked. But I like this life better! I sure hope Sears shows up Saturday, has the correct part, and fixes the ding dang washer. I hear and understand you on Starry Nights and that ruler. I thought I was done, too. But then time went by and out came the mini-ruler. And more patterns. And now the newest one - a sunflower - just arrived yesterday! I think it will be a Texas project next winter.
LYN - Bill loves Whataburger burgers. I prefer their jalapeno chicken sandwich. I think Bill likes it because he can't get it here - as if we ever do fast food.
About every two years we eat a subway sandwich - that's as "fast" as we go. But my sis says they are putting a Whataburger in next to the new Costco in Longmont. You can let Garry know. I will try to remember your travelin' dates so I can keep track of you.JANA - great story about your cat box! A little different from the stories I could tell about OUR cat box! lol! But great that you have it and the basket, too.
JUDI - you managed to get Ken to let go of something?? What a woman you are!! Bill keeps EVERYTHING and it all just grows and grows over the years and he keeps crowding into the shelves in our closet. I have way too many clothes, too, but at least I purge mine once or twice a year.
MARY Q - Yay for finishing both baby quilts! They are so cute! Also, I like your needlepoint. I haven't done any needlepoint in many years. But it was fun. I love handwork of all kinds (that I know how to do). Now you get to start a new project - a wedding quilt - almost as much fun as baby quilts! And yes, that store in St. Cloud was where we went. There used to be a similar one in Portland but it also went out of business very suddenly several years ago. I have a few "ranty" relatives on FB, but I simply don't go on FB - hardly ever. And for sure I don't read her rants because that's all they are - negative, complaining rants. I love my niece, but she's wacko!
CHRISS - I would be more concerned if you weren't a little weepy and occasionally depressed. But, girl, look how you have lived your past year! How far you've come! You are doing great! Celebrate that Jerry was in your life. Such a blessing to have such a good man. I got to meet Jerry a few times and you were, indeed, blessed. Not long after I met Bill, he noticed that we all, kids especially, were mopey one day. It was Mike's birthday. He told the kids that we should celebrate the day their dad was born - he got them all into the kitchen and helped them make a cake. Everyone helped decorate it. Then we lit candles, sang Happy Birthday to Dad, and had a little party. Maybe he was just trying to get us into the birthday mood because Bill's own birthday is 2 days later!
But it did lift the kids (and me!) up. Thanks for the bit of history on your local tribe. That would be interesting to weave a basket like Jana's. My grandmother used to make baskets, bassinettes, doll furniture, etc. It is quite an art!LOIS - I was noticing on Pinterest the other day someone was covering those plastic carts with contact paper to jazz them up a bit. As if this were a new art - before the plastic ones were 'born', they had cardboard "dressers" and my mom covered them with "wood grain" contact paper. Anyhoo - it looked great when this person on Pinterest was done. Though I think for sewing room purposes, I'd rather be able to see what's inside.
My sis and I had fun yesterday in Tacoma at the thrift stores. The best ones, we think, are smaller, charitable ones associated with churches, rescue mission, etc. The big ones are pretty commercialized - and expensive for thrifting. But we hit them all! I found some books by a few of my favorite authors, 3 tops, 1 black knit pant, a jigsaw puzzle, a desktop organizer for my quilting tools when in the trailer, and some really cute outfits, size 3T. Today we're going to the shops in Port Orchard. There's only 2 there but they are good ones.
Yesterday I gave Scott a full pain pill - Galliprant - and he had a much better day. He almost acted like a normal old dog! We are hoping this is a turnaround and not an end of life rally. But this morning, he woke Bill up to go potty, then trotted up the stairs like normal and went right to the cat's dish first - then his own. He ate breakfast without his appetite stimulant med. He's resting now, but alert. Thank you all for the prayers you said for him - and for us. We're pretty sure now that he's going to pull through.
Tonite, Tex & Annette are coming to supper. She might do another energy treatment on Scottie. For health reasons, Annette is on a very restrictive diet, so we're going to have chicken, roasted mixed veggies, and salad. I'll also add rice for the rest of us. And gravy because Al loves gravy on everything.
Celebrate the small joys!
mary z
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