I have three days to help M, buy 3 birthday partys' stuff, finished a batch of headbands, finish a hair clip for my AL granddaughter, gather scrapbooking material and fun stuff from my stash for my grandkids, and get ready for our visit with them. I love visiting and seeing them since we only get to twice a year. We hardly know them so it's good to catch up.
The squirrels have been and are eating our corn as I write so we won't have any for the kids. Our garden is sad because of the drought lately and the squirrels obviously cannot find anything to eat and fresh corn is way better than dried seeds. Just ask them.
Yesterday's rain was nice, though. I'm hoping for more but my desire is mixed because of Hope Builders this week. I don't want their work to stop because of bad weather.
I need to go exercise, get my day on the way. I'll be hearing from M soon to plan my day around her. I have a dentist cleaning this afternoon so we're planning around that as well. I know how to have fun!
Monday, July 25, 2011
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Creating Again
I've had the time to create even though I spent time with a friend yesterday. We hadn't seen each other for about a month. She is a 4-year cancer survivor, had stage 4 breast cancer, had reconstruction surgery, more tumors in her brain, had radiation, whole-brain radiation, a multitude of drugs and is still kicking. Her energy is low but she is still able to do housework, shop, eat (sometimes it doesn't taste good or the texture is wierd--she says) and visit with me and her other friends but she is not able to drive and this is where we, her friends, come in. Her husband is very supportive and I commend him on that. So many spouses give up because of the constant turmoil but he's hung in there.
The supper Thurs night turned out well. Bill smoked meat and made ice cream. I pulled out some leftover salads and watermelon from Wed night and made corn and baked beans. Someone brought a pie and I had some oreos and a few leftover cookies. They seemed to enjoy the food and we had a good time visiting. I'm so NOT a hospitality lady but every once in a while I can turn to.
Two necklaces sold at Relics and she liked the flowers I'd made from her prototypes. I love figuring out how to make something and have it actually turn out. She asked me to make more in fall colors so I cut some out yesterday afternoon and will sew them up today. She had sold two of the four necklaces I took last Friday and has only four headbands left. I'm pleased that the things are selling.
It's nip and tuck at SC though. I don't know about a future there yet. "To be continued" on that one.
I'm back to making scripture books, little notebooks for the purse or pocket. Most of my previous mixed media works were inspired by scripture and I've been thinking I need to get back to that. God's word does not return void (Isaiah 55:11). I stand on that premise.
The supper Thurs night turned out well. Bill smoked meat and made ice cream. I pulled out some leftover salads and watermelon from Wed night and made corn and baked beans. Someone brought a pie and I had some oreos and a few leftover cookies. They seemed to enjoy the food and we had a good time visiting. I'm so NOT a hospitality lady but every once in a while I can turn to.
Two necklaces sold at Relics and she liked the flowers I'd made from her prototypes. I love figuring out how to make something and have it actually turn out. She asked me to make more in fall colors so I cut some out yesterday afternoon and will sew them up today. She had sold two of the four necklaces I took last Friday and has only four headbands left. I'm pleased that the things are selling.
It's nip and tuck at SC though. I don't know about a future there yet. "To be continued" on that one.
I'm back to making scripture books, little notebooks for the purse or pocket. Most of my previous mixed media works were inspired by scripture and I've been thinking I need to get back to that. God's word does not return void (Isaiah 55:11). I stand on that premise.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Early Morning
Up at 4 am! Bill with crazy notion to wash cars for World Changer people. Great idea but why you and not a group? on your day off? at 4 am? I'm wondering about that man.
Can't get back to sleep and I really needed the rest, so did he. Having 7 people over for supper, need to clean my house after having picked up yesterday morning (with supper service and two practices and more clean up after rehearsals yesterday as well) Spouses (mostly guys who won't or don't cook for themselves) from Mission Serve
Bill will be moving a refridge to our house at 10, having gone to Toulon to get it. At least J is helping him.
He said he'd smoke the meat for the supper, something I don't do. He is gungho for having the people over but neither of us will be able to communicate with them by this evening. What are we thinking?!!! Nice only goes as far as logic will let it.
Might as well shop early this morning before most of the heat. Off to do a shopping list. What fun! It actually was going to be fun if we had a good night's sleep. Onward and Upward on a great day off.
Can't get back to sleep and I really needed the rest, so did he. Having 7 people over for supper, need to clean my house after having picked up yesterday morning (with supper service and two practices and more clean up after rehearsals yesterday as well) Spouses (mostly guys who won't or don't cook for themselves) from Mission Serve
Bill will be moving a refridge to our house at 10, having gone to Toulon to get it. At least J is helping him.
He said he'd smoke the meat for the supper, something I don't do. He is gungho for having the people over but neither of us will be able to communicate with them by this evening. What are we thinking?!!! Nice only goes as far as logic will let it.
Might as well shop early this morning before most of the heat. Off to do a shopping list. What fun! It actually was going to be fun if we had a good night's sleep. Onward and Upward on a great day off.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
So Hot
The best place to be is inside today but that's not what happened. Tomorrow evening I'm cooking for Wed. supper at church and it's Hot Dog Your Way night. (Wish I'd put it in the bulletin like that--Coney, cheesy, chili or corn is how it appeared.) So today I shopped. I started at Aldi, never shopped there before but I hear you get good bargains. I had my cart loaded, swiped my card and found out that they don't take credit--just debit or cash. Good time to find out, right? No need being mad but I was mad at myself for assuming. "Who doesn't take credit these days?" one would ask. I just parked my cart, said I'll be right back, went home (about 5 min. away), got cash (just happened to have some), went back and they had already begun putting my cold stuff away. I wasn't gone 10 min. but they felt they had to replace it in the coolers and they were probably right but I still was delayed trying to sort out what they had put away, someone else's stuff that was put in my cart and what I had already paid for that I had left there as well. Fortunately, the girl who checked me out remembered me and we worked it out. Fun in the sun and on to the church. I called on the way for Bill to help me and got his answering machine. So...I unloaded the trunk myself after having looked for a cart to load, one sack, two, sacks, three sacks, one watermelon--"Oh, do you need help?" said the kid on the couch (three of the five left after seeing me enter with the first sack). "Sure, grab a watermelon out of the trunk." So I did get help with two watermelons. Better than nothing.
Not all--Went to Amy's before shopping to take a dress and other stuff I had made. I had called this morning to be sure she would be there and that I would get there before 12:00. I got there about 10 til 12:00 and she had gone to take her son somewhere. There was no note on the door--just a closed sign. I thought maybe something disasterous had happened, but no, just had to take him somewhere. So...after having to go to GFS because they didn't have everything I needed at Aldi's and taking the frozen stuff back home to freeze--then I went to Amy's. I'm glad she's only 5 min. away, too. She liked the dress but was not too keen on one of the two baby flower headbands--made especially in a different, more Smore Couture, way so to not be the same as the ones at Relics. She also said I owed her another flower clip in trade for some trim (that she got free!) We're a bit mercenary, aren't we? I am too, at times but today it kind of got to me. I'd already been around town in the middle of the day in this heat. Yep, I'm glad to be home for the evening. Bill's mowing!!! yes, in the heat. I sometimes wonder if he just does this to challenge himself--just to see if he can do it without dropping over. He's many times been to the "dropping over" stage by pushing himself too much. On top of that, the grass is drying out, not growing well, it's JULY! Oh, well, I've long since stopped griping...to him but in my little brain the gripe goes on. It doesn't do any good, though. I just gave him some ice water and wished him well. I'll have a piece of lemon meringe (sp) pie waiting when he's done--maybe even before supper. Speaking of...I need to be thinking about that. Leftovers sound good to me. Yep.
Not all--Went to Amy's before shopping to take a dress and other stuff I had made. I had called this morning to be sure she would be there and that I would get there before 12:00. I got there about 10 til 12:00 and she had gone to take her son somewhere. There was no note on the door--just a closed sign. I thought maybe something disasterous had happened, but no, just had to take him somewhere. So...after having to go to GFS because they didn't have everything I needed at Aldi's and taking the frozen stuff back home to freeze--then I went to Amy's. I'm glad she's only 5 min. away, too. She liked the dress but was not too keen on one of the two baby flower headbands--made especially in a different, more Smore Couture, way so to not be the same as the ones at Relics. She also said I owed her another flower clip in trade for some trim (that she got free!) We're a bit mercenary, aren't we? I am too, at times but today it kind of got to me. I'd already been around town in the middle of the day in this heat. Yep, I'm glad to be home for the evening. Bill's mowing!!! yes, in the heat. I sometimes wonder if he just does this to challenge himself--just to see if he can do it without dropping over. He's many times been to the "dropping over" stage by pushing himself too much. On top of that, the grass is drying out, not growing well, it's JULY! Oh, well, I've long since stopped griping...to him but in my little brain the gripe goes on. It doesn't do any good, though. I just gave him some ice water and wished him well. I'll have a piece of lemon meringe (sp) pie waiting when he's done--maybe even before supper. Speaking of...I need to be thinking about that. Leftovers sound good to me. Yep.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Now For a Cup of Coffee
...and a few minutes for me.
Very busy week. So glad I'm not in OH with the cooking team. C was bemoaning the fact that she was already tired and it was just Sun afternoon. They have all week left. I noticed in the planning of the kit. team that they were attempting to do WAY too much extra. Fixing two meals a day for 200 people is totally enough but someone was suggesting little niceities for the kids and special snacks at 10:00 p.m. after worship. I don't know who but they were going to do it. I'm afraid if I hadn't told them earlier that I was not going, hearing of these extras would have done me in. With less than two weeks since our church mission trip, I knew I would not be able to do it well. I could have done it if I just had to but they had 8 people going so that's enough to handle the job (don't know about the extra things they're planning.)
Speaking of the last two weeks, last week I slept from 8-10 hours every night. I think I'm getting caught up from the week before VBS, VBS week and mission trip--not even mentioning the visit from the kids just after the trip and M's trauma management of putting her husband in a nursing home. She depended on me that first week. I'm glad I didn't have anything planned that week. I was only able to accomplish a few things on my Create List. More creating was done last week because she had some extra travel help. I'm taking her today, staying for lunch and then bringing her home. R is actually improving even though he asks her to take him home everyday. L was visiting on Fri and Sat, went to visit him and noticed the improvement. He encouraged his dad to continue his exercise and socialization--that they were good for him. I don't think that will pacify R but maybe it did. I've told M that this is permanent. She seems to forget why he's there--she just can't take care of him at home anymore. Things look different from a different perspective. L talked to her about moving out there to adjacent housing but the cost is astronomical and there are already 4 condos for sale in her building alone. Selling one more would have to take a miracle. Not that God's not in that business. I've seen greater miracles in my lifetime.
I have to create a dress(es) for SC, A's request. I'm not a good seamstress and the time it takes to plan and adjust and execute it in the right way is more than I get for the dress--though I do enjoy recreating existing clothing, making new out of old gives me pleasure.
When I was delivering the items to Relics Sat. the shop owner asked me if I could make a little felt flower like the one he had there. I looked and said I could, went home, drew a template, cut out the felt pieces and made the flower. My felt is not the same texture, much more fluffy, but they turned out amazingly close to the original. Is it plagerism when I make my own pattern? I'm not selling it in the same on-line shop but in a small, cozy little shop in Averyville, IL. Artists say that techniques can be shared. Put your own touch on it and go for it. Yes, mine is different--felt, size, decorations, stitching, ribbon. Ok, I've talked myself into it. They're going there this week. He also mentioned another piece, a wedding headpiece. Yes, I can make that, too, I think. I'll try this week and post my results on my other blog.
Three grandboy's birthdays within ten days this month--one was 16 yesterday. Where does the time go? The others are 10 and 13 on the 20th and 27th. Needless to say, on top of everything else, I've had some birthday shopping going on, too. Must create for an hour before my M/R visit. Ta-ta for now.
Very busy week. So glad I'm not in OH with the cooking team. C was bemoaning the fact that she was already tired and it was just Sun afternoon. They have all week left. I noticed in the planning of the kit. team that they were attempting to do WAY too much extra. Fixing two meals a day for 200 people is totally enough but someone was suggesting little niceities for the kids and special snacks at 10:00 p.m. after worship. I don't know who but they were going to do it. I'm afraid if I hadn't told them earlier that I was not going, hearing of these extras would have done me in. With less than two weeks since our church mission trip, I knew I would not be able to do it well. I could have done it if I just had to but they had 8 people going so that's enough to handle the job (don't know about the extra things they're planning.)
Speaking of the last two weeks, last week I slept from 8-10 hours every night. I think I'm getting caught up from the week before VBS, VBS week and mission trip--not even mentioning the visit from the kids just after the trip and M's trauma management of putting her husband in a nursing home. She depended on me that first week. I'm glad I didn't have anything planned that week. I was only able to accomplish a few things on my Create List. More creating was done last week because she had some extra travel help. I'm taking her today, staying for lunch and then bringing her home. R is actually improving even though he asks her to take him home everyday. L was visiting on Fri and Sat, went to visit him and noticed the improvement. He encouraged his dad to continue his exercise and socialization--that they were good for him. I don't think that will pacify R but maybe it did. I've told M that this is permanent. She seems to forget why he's there--she just can't take care of him at home anymore. Things look different from a different perspective. L talked to her about moving out there to adjacent housing but the cost is astronomical and there are already 4 condos for sale in her building alone. Selling one more would have to take a miracle. Not that God's not in that business. I've seen greater miracles in my lifetime.
I have to create a dress(es) for SC, A's request. I'm not a good seamstress and the time it takes to plan and adjust and execute it in the right way is more than I get for the dress--though I do enjoy recreating existing clothing, making new out of old gives me pleasure.
When I was delivering the items to Relics Sat. the shop owner asked me if I could make a little felt flower like the one he had there. I looked and said I could, went home, drew a template, cut out the felt pieces and made the flower. My felt is not the same texture, much more fluffy, but they turned out amazingly close to the original. Is it plagerism when I make my own pattern? I'm not selling it in the same on-line shop but in a small, cozy little shop in Averyville, IL. Artists say that techniques can be shared. Put your own touch on it and go for it. Yes, mine is different--felt, size, decorations, stitching, ribbon. Ok, I've talked myself into it. They're going there this week. He also mentioned another piece, a wedding headpiece. Yes, I can make that, too, I think. I'll try this week and post my results on my other blog.
Three grandboy's birthdays within ten days this month--one was 16 yesterday. Where does the time go? The others are 10 and 13 on the 20th and 27th. Needless to say, on top of everything else, I've had some birthday shopping going on, too. Must create for an hour before my M/R visit. Ta-ta for now.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
So Many Things To Do
After the kids left I helped M for the next two days by taking her to see R in "the home." I didn't mind helping and was glad I had the week off to do so. I spent much time after each visit just visiting with her. Lonely is not a good place to be. Fortunately, that was only Tues and Wed and others stepped in to help after that.
I was able to get my house back in semi-shape and things organized enough for me to see what I needed to do. Three birthdays are coming up--Grandboys--so I started shopping on line. My son gave me a big hint for one but the price was so high on eBay that I was afraid I wouldn't be able to afford it--Yeah, got it at Target for 40% off the eBay price! I also got an idea for the oldest--money. How could he not like that? For the youngest one of the bunch I bought Nerf guns. That's always a hit and they always need them--comes with two shirts and two goggles, two guns and a bunch of squishy ammo.
I'm swamped with projects. Here's a list I made last weekend. (> = in progress, * = completed, 0 = still a dream.)
Relics:
feather dangle *
feather earrings *
baby flower headbands *
pearl crocheted bracelets*
RE-:
Rolled roses headbands >
Fall Fabric Embroidered domino necklaces 0
Smore Couture:
Bl' Hankies 0
Dress from Tablecloth 0
Blue sparkle loose double flower clip *
silk olive dress remake 0
boa dress >
dress from paisley slip*
Individuals:
gray flower -Laura >
Med. blue flower clip - Amy *
Red apron - Amy *
separate trims - Amy *
Photo Album - Mariam 0
Hot Pink earrings - Doris T. *
(Not a lot of *'s on that list--Update pending.)
I did get all the wedding stuff to Laura, paid, plus a tip. She said she'd be glad to recommend me to her friends and since there are seven bridesmaids, I might get some business from them.
Now, why is it that some days I can work with a needle and thread and some days I can't?
Got my new, as of Christmas!!, sewing machine up and running yesterday. No reverse on the other one was driving me crazy and I need it a lot in the next few weeks.
Off to Red Hats today--life's little "have-to." A minister's wife must socialize regardless of personal desire--at times. At least I get to eat out. Will work on some more stuff this afternoon--looking forward to it:+)
I was able to get my house back in semi-shape and things organized enough for me to see what I needed to do. Three birthdays are coming up--Grandboys--so I started shopping on line. My son gave me a big hint for one but the price was so high on eBay that I was afraid I wouldn't be able to afford it--Yeah, got it at Target for 40% off the eBay price! I also got an idea for the oldest--money. How could he not like that? For the youngest one of the bunch I bought Nerf guns. That's always a hit and they always need them--comes with two shirts and two goggles, two guns and a bunch of squishy ammo.
I'm swamped with projects. Here's a list I made last weekend. (> = in progress, * = completed, 0 = still a dream.)
Relics:
feather dangle *
feather earrings *
baby flower headbands *
pearl crocheted bracelets*
RE-:
Rolled roses headbands >
Fall Fabric Embroidered domino necklaces 0
Smore Couture:
Bl' Hankies 0
Dress from Tablecloth 0
Blue sparkle loose double flower clip *
silk olive dress remake 0
boa dress >
dress from paisley slip*
Individuals:
gray flower -Laura >
Med. blue flower clip - Amy *
Red apron - Amy *
separate trims - Amy *
Photo Album - Mariam 0
Hot Pink earrings - Doris T. *
(Not a lot of *'s on that list--Update pending.)
I did get all the wedding stuff to Laura, paid, plus a tip. She said she'd be glad to recommend me to her friends and since there are seven bridesmaids, I might get some business from them.
Now, why is it that some days I can work with a needle and thread and some days I can't?
Got my new, as of Christmas!!, sewing machine up and running yesterday. No reverse on the other one was driving me crazy and I need it a lot in the next few weeks.
Off to Red Hats today--life's little "have-to." A minister's wife must socialize regardless of personal desire--at times. At least I get to eat out. Will work on some more stuff this afternoon--looking forward to it:+)
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Family
My family's gone home.
toys to pick up
bathrooms to clean
floors to sweep and vacuum
bed linens to wash
bathrooms to clean
kitchen to reorganize
coffee to drink in silence
What shall I do first?
Guess I'll have to pick the lesser of evils here.
It was fun, though.
toys to pick up
bathrooms to clean
floors to sweep and vacuum
bed linens to wash
bathrooms to clean
kitchen to reorganize
coffee to drink in silence
What shall I do first?
Guess I'll have to pick the lesser of evils here.
It was fun, though.
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