Vet's Office

Dubh has to stay at the vet's office for a couple of days. He has a blockage in his intestine. He feels bad and I know he is scared and I am worried sick. He's our lap and a half dog. Our big guy. We don't care that he is double the size a Cairn should be because his mother was too. The other dogs miss him. His brother Donnan doesn't want to eat or go for a walk. They've never been apart like this. I have to trust the vet and that's all I can do other than pray. God's working overtime on mine today.

Dubh

is sick. The vet has seen him, he had surgery, and he's not better. He's not going to be happy but we are headed back this morning.

Quilt Top

I finished this last week but I didn't have my camera for a couple of days to down load it. It has turned out so pretty and I've bought a beautiful yellow backing. I'm hand-quilting it but even now it looks so amazing in the sun.

Birthday Girl

K turned 14 yesterday! She's a firecracker of a daughter and is a strong-willed teenager.
I think she had a great birthday and we'll finish off with a trip to see Rocky Horror Picture Show Friday night with some of her friends. I had a hard time finding photos of her with clothing on for this post. She didn't like clothing for the first 6 years of her life and took them off regularly. She's a bit more modest now. I've had fun raising her and I have so many stories to tell her children some day. She's a "tell it like it is" kind of person and a loyal person. She likes the unusual and collects Buddha figures for a hobby. She took Chinese this year for language and made A's. She writes poetry and short stories and loves Johnny Depp. She got a life size Edward for her birthday and he's standing beside life size Johnny now. I baked her cake and topped it with PopRocks. They were popping on the cake as we sang Happy Birthday. She loved it.

I spent the weekend battling allergies and doing mending. A lot of mending. I finished my quilt top and I'll post photos later today but right now I'm working on a skirt. I like skirts better than shorts in the summer and I used to wear them practically year round but I got out of the habit when I was ill. Although, it would have been easier when I had to wear the catheter bag strapped to my leg if I'd worn skirts than pants. I also went through summer clothing of the children's to remove the outgrown pieces to give to the charity shop. I usually would FreeCycle these but I have found a charity shop I like and they are dirt cheap so I know those who need the items can get them for practically nothing. I don't like the idea of FreeCyclers taking the items to sell for yard sales and to consignment shops. I love FreeCycle so don't think I'm bashing them and send me a nasty comment. It's great and we use it often. I came home with 200 National Geographics, Smithsonians, Teaching Tolerance, and Nature Conservancy magazines over the weekend and my kids will end up reading them cover to cover.
Our yard is a sea of pollen. Beautiful yellow pollen and it's wearing me out. H told us this morning, as we readied to leave for the bus, that we were breathing flower sperm. Thank you H. She then told us that she had made flowers have sex in Biology on Friday. Thanks for that too H. I don't think I was like that at 16 because I really believe my mother would have killed me if I'd said the word sperm or sex.
I'm back to my skirt and sewing machine.

Another Addition

Addition to H's Hope Chest

Salad

The deer ate the following last night:
Coral Bells
Pansies
Daylillies
Hostas
I'm very angry. I had read that they would not touch the coral bells and the pansies were a foot from the front door. If anyone knows some deerproof flowers that I can plant I would so appreciate the advise.

Take Your Daughter To Work Today

My Ex has taken both girls into work today. He will probably bring them back before the end of the real work day. They can be exhausting. He is taking them on the usual 2 weeks of vacation this summer but this year he is learning to deal with the diabetes and he'll need to take more care. Under normal health, he got tired fairly quickly. The girls are unlimited in energy when you travel or do something new. I feed on this energy with them but when I tire out I tell them whereas he will not. I hoping they have a good time today. I usually take them to work with me but they spend so much time there as it is I suggested their Dad.

I've changed the layout of my blocks again. I've chosen the Barn Raising layout and I've started sewing so I cannot change my mind again. I'm going to have blocks left over because I've decided I want a medallion in the center and several borders. I've already cut one set of borders so there is no turning back. I drive myself crazy with changing my mind on projects. I didn't use to be this bad about doing that. It must be an aging thing with me. Anyway, the girls love the new setup and the extra blocks will get used for something. I have another day of sewing in peace and quiet so I'm back to it.

Quiet

I like things quiet. I always have. I'm not one to have to have some kind of noise say the TV or radio going to be content. I listen to the birds and the wind in the trees and I am happy. K did not want to go to school today. I told her she has 30 days left and she can make it 30 days. No arguing with H about going to school since she has a boyfriend. I'm liking the boyfriend more and more. He is very sweet. He worries over her and he has never once mentioned her losing her hair. That has placed him in my top ten for big hearts.

I hadn't mentioned my violet jelly since Friday because it did not turn out when I made it Monday afternoon. You have to pour boiling water over the violets and let them soak at least 24 hours and I more than did that right but I think it was because I tried to make it with the SureGel that takes less sugar. It never set up. It was just plain runny. I have bought another pack of SureGel and it is the regular sort. I'm going to try again this weekend or sooner.

I'm still working on my zigzag quilt but I've had to make side trips into mending the last couple of days for the children. I have went back and forth with this quilt liking and disliking it but now I'm definitely liking it. I'm not sure how large I will make it yet but the blocks are so cheerful to look at. So, I'm back to work on it before my girls come home and we hit the library. I made the mistake of letting the girls pick my books last week for fun. Let's just say they are not allowed to from now on. The books were rather filthy in the sex department and I tried to just pass over that stuff and read on but I did my usual 30 page rule and didn't read on. Even skipping forward in the book didn't help. They need a sticker on them saying graphic romance or something. I had to tell the girls the truth and they laughed saying they had only chosen those two books because they had a muscle guy with a kilt on the fronts. To be honest, the fronts were sort of dark and I didn't notice at first. They had too much fun with their poor mother.

Today

I did the following:
saw my first flying squirrel for this year in Coconut's paws- poor little thing
got the girls off to school
read the Christian Standard and The Lookout for the mission
saw a beautiful red fox
picked the girls up at school
had dinner at Dairy Queen
and this evening I will watch Seasons 2 and 3 of Hamish MacBeth. It's been a very nice day. My best friend is in Lexington, KY for the week and I already miss him.

Nascar Widow

I've been told by other half that tonight I'll be a Nascar widow. I'm okay with that as I have sewing to do. Today the triplets are picking violets for violet jelly. We love this jelly and we generally run out of it somewhere in January so I'm going to make a bigger batch this year. I'll put the recipe on here if anyone is interested and some photos later. The Sun is shining so get outside!

A Gift From Heather

I love Creative Solace. I read all her updates and I love her art. It's all beautiful. She sweetly sent me a "thank you" gift for all the comments I've left. She didn't need to. I don't do it for anything other than encouragement. You never know what's going on with a person's day and a smile or a word can go a long way.

This reminds me of a story and it is one I will never forget. I used to volunteer at the elementary school my girls attended. I did it for years. I did many jobs too. I was the librarian for years and that was a bigger job than you would think. Not because I had to order all the books every year because that was a joy. Not because of the days spent with hundreds of children because that was a joy as well. It was because I had 20 or more volunteer mothers to help in the library on schedules they had agreed to and never remembered. I worked more than my share of the hours because so and so would have a hair appointment or forgot to do their laundry or whatever other lame excuse they could come up with. The end of the year inventory would find me and maybe 3 others doing everything. I wouldn't change anything if I could go back. I learned a lot of skills at that job.

I have digressed. I always had a smile for each and every child. They deserved it. Some of the children had horrible home lives and some didn't but they all deserved a smile and I swear to you would not believe how many children's names I learned while there. They liked that. They liked someone saying "Good Morning, Sara." It made them feel loved and important. Anyway, there were some teachers, not many, that took issue with this. Why in the world they did I cannot tell you but they did. One day, I walked down the hall to sign into the office and I did my usual smiles and hellos and a teacher pulled me to the side. A first grade teacher whom both of my girls had the ill luck to have in first grade. These were the exact words said to me "You really put the teachers here to a disadvantage by being all sweet and cheerful to the children every morning and we'd like you to stop." I had a burst of anger and disbelief hit me square in the face. Who had peed in her Cheerios? I said calmly with a smile " I will not stop being cheerful. I will not stop being nice. That may be the only smile they get all day if they have a teacher like you with a bad attitude. What is my smiling and saying hi hurting you? You are here for them and I am too and I don't get paid! I know the power of a smile and I guess you do not!" I told the principal and left to do my job but from them on I killed her with kindness. I smiled at her constantly. There were a couple of others and I did the same. I knew who they were and I smiled all the time. I know the power of a smile and kindness. There are children graduating now that I knew then. When I see them, I get hugs and smiles. So little can mean so much.

Thanks Heather, I love my book and I will treasure it. Your kindness means alot to me.

Under The Weather

I'm not feeling well today. Feels like another UTI. Story of my life with my NeoBladder but it sure beats cancer any day. These beauties are in our bog at the edge of the wood. A transplanted them from a piece of bog that was getting leveled about two years ago. There was an entire bottom of them then. I'm hoping they will spread as the bottom they used to call home is now empty of their beauty.

Grosgrain: Pleated Petal Tank ANTHROPOLIFICATION GIVEAWAY!!!!

Grosgrain: Pleated Petal Tank ANTHROPOLIFICATION GIVEAWAY!!!! I added this link because she does amazing work and Hannah fell in love with the tank she's made. Go take a look! She takes some crazy ugly things and makes them beautiful.

Birthday Flowers and Easter

It's Beautiful Day

My husband is home planting and here I am running this month's periodicals. I'm going home.

Just The Two Of Us

We had a scary start to yesterday. My parents hydroplaned about 30 minutes from our home and hit a bridge. Luckily, they were fine and the car took all the damage. They spent the night with us but were just a bit nervous the entire visit. They did very little talking with us at all. I'm going to put it all to the accident but they have become pretty close to my sister and her family the last few years and we are out of their loop. We are just so thankful they are fine. They left at daylight. I couldn't even manage to open my eyes and they were gone. That's the way they are. My girls are so used to this they didn't even want to stick around last night. I gave them a 'chew out" over it and they told me basically they were bored. I'm afraid all my mother wanted to do was be on the Internet and my dad wanted to sleep. It was not a good visit but they are healthy and I'm going to focus on that.

I think my mother liked her apron. I hope she did. It turned out very pretty and she did take it home with her. It was a weird day all together and we went to sleep early. I tried to stay up to watch "Most Haunted" but my body couldn't do it. "Most Haunted" is one of the funniest shows that I have ever seen. They scream at everything and replay for sounds that you can never hear. I love seeing all the historical places they visit and hearing about the site's history but that's where the serious side of my interest ends. It just strikes me funny when they start screaming. Is this show for real? I've asked my friends, Mark and Babs, who live in the UK and they say they are serious. I don't know. I watch a number of ghost shows and I am not sure. I've seen and heard ghosts as a child and teenager. I know they are real and I suppose I want to see evidence from others of them existing. None of the other shows strike me funny though.

I'm at work and need to get back to it. I'm hoping everyone is having a lovely weekend. Happy Easter!

Is It Weird

to want to lie down on the floor with your dogs and enjoy a sun bath? I think I'm missing out on something really good because they look really happy.

What can you do if...

your dashboard is not updating blogs that you follow? I have three blogs that have not updated for two to three weeks on my dashboard.

This Book Is Beautiful

I believe this would keep me busy the rest of my life!

The Old Gray Mare Ain't What She Used To Be

Or should I say I'm not what I used to be which was 46. Today is my birthday and I've turned 47. I'm still missing my coffee but my blood pressure is back to normal so I'll see what introducing some back into my life will do to the BP. It dropped down to 109/66 last night. I felt quite drunk with the drop but it's evened out now. That's a big birthday present to me from me I suppose. I've no idea what my plans are today. There are always things that need to be done around here. I'll just see what mood hits me.

Day One

I've had no coffee today. I awoke to the smell of French Vanilla and walked to the kitchen for a cup. I didn't drink the cup I poured. I sat it down. I had one half of a Diet Coke this morning and a BLT. I'm being good but I am so sleepy. I slept all yesterday afternoon and all last night. I didn't even have the strength to focus when H told me she had been written up for kissing (in the hallway at school) until sometime around 9 pm last night. She and K had went out with the ex last night and he signed the "slip" she had brought home. She says it was a peck on the cheek and I believe her since she doesn't really care for the transference of germs between the two of them. I told her the usual "Don't let it happen again." I have a feeling it won't as she is mortified that she got written up and the entire school knows about it. She was still getting texts and calls last night asking about her makeout session at school. Let's just say the child wants to die and I had to drive her to school this morning so she didn't have to face her friends on the bus. I love parenting! I'd love it more with a nice coffee with cream.

Way too much coffee.But if it weren't for the coffee, I'd have no identifiable personality whatsoever.
David Letterman

I Love You Coffee

I'm a caffeine addict and I am not ashamed to admit that to anyone. You are not good for me. My blood pressure at the doctor's made this very clear to me. I've just come with meds to try to get the pressure down and help me feel better. Blood work next week to check my thyroid, and Hannah's. Hannah is loosing her hair and stopped her menses. Aren't we a pair?
I love coffee, tea, chocolate, and Diet Coke. I drink more than I should of these things and eat my portion of chocolate. Although, I've been really good on the chocolate front, and cut back enormously, I've replaced it with coffee. I'm a bit hopeless. I have been drinking coffee since I was six, and as of the eighth that will be 41 years. I have my great-grandmother Mommaw Brown to thank for this habit. I still remember that first cup! It was so good. Half Carnation evaporated milk and half coffee. Our love was meant to be from first smell. The first sip was consummation of the love. I do stray from my love in the hotter months, and seek out iced tea, but I also brew coffee and make iced coffee as well.
I have to cut back. It's going to be ugly. I apologize now for future headaches and surliness. I am laying a lot of hope in the meds sitting in my kitchen. Hopes that I will get continue my long and happy love affair with the Bean. Meds that may do the job without decreasing my daily cups. Sigh. I am not good at this. I am afraid of what would be left of me after a withdrawal. I did this when pregnant but I was younger and stronger. Sigh. I am going to go pray for the best.

New Rule

I like this tree. No other reason for it being here.

Sundays are a family day. I have to make this rule because A and I have been all over this county today. I am not a happy person. Sunday is a day of rest and we've been going all day. It's 5 and I'm so tired. My kids are going to hate me.

Bonfire Saturday Night

Becca

Big Girls

Last night, we had our fire. We ate hotdogs and smores and had a good time. It was a beautiful day.

Girls acting fairly normal for us. Girl Scouts are probably rolling over in their graves from this rendition of one the prettiest GS songs ever. When they sing it without acting up it sounds beautiful. I GS promise.

Looks Like Spring

It's a sunny day and perfect for yard work. The children have become slave labor for the day I'm afraid.

Rainy Friday

It's cool and rainy today. There was a promise this morning on the Weather Channel of a beautiful day but I haven't seen it yet. So, I'm making chili for the family dinner and doing some housework before I can sew. My buffet has five stacks of sewing projects on it and I am tired of seeing it cluttered. I need my own room again but when Al and the children came into our lives I lost my space. I have a huge closet and tall racks and bins for things but it was nice having an entire room to myself. I recently tried to convince Al to let me have the living room. I had a good argument. I told him it gets used rarely as most visitors migrate to our kitchen and dining room and the children have their own spaces. He wouldn't have it. I am not finished with this idea and I hate to give up too easily. I'm hoping my parents show up tonight or tomorrow morning and I'm hoping Mom will like her apron. I'll take a photo on the sly of her in it.
Good News. My ex mother-in-law's chemo is working on her cancer! So, her quilt will be a celebration gift when Mom finishes it.
Bad News. My ex found out yesterday that he is diabetic. He's upset. I had told him months ago that his losing weight quickly was not a good thing. The girls finally harassed him enough to get him into a checkup. They said he wanted to talk about it but they weren't good daughters and didn't want to talk. They are better than that and I have said so before. I'm not going to touch the subject for a few days because all girls, no matter what age, want to think their father is a Superman. I think they are processing and will bounce back in there for him. They were the Best when I was diagnosed so I know they can do it.
God was good to me last night. There wasn't any arguing in the house between children. Praise the Lord and pass the pancakes!

I think H looks like her father but she says she's a good mix of us both.