I Won! I Won!!

I hardly ever win anything and boy was I surprised when I got an email from Suzanne AT Home With The Farmer's Wife that I won a Valentine's Day contest at her blog. There was a choice of three different Heart Shaped Keychains to choose from. I really don't care which one I get as they are all nice. I was just surprised that I won.

It was just a nice little pick me up to help get me out of my current "funk". I absolutely hate recovering from surgery! It absolutely drives me crazy that I can't go where I want to, and do what I want to, when I want to. I know part of that is just me wanting to be fully in charge of my life in all aspects. It's hard to sit back and wait and recover. I guess Patience is something I am still working on and haven't quite mastered.

I'm sure in a month or too I will look back and say wow I wish I could just get away with sitting on the couch in my p.j.'s and not having to do much of anything again and that I need a break. It's funny that we always want something that we don't have.

To Blog Or Not to Blog...That is the Question

I really do love that I have this silly little blog of mine that maybe 1 other person reads on a regular basis though (Thanks Debbie). I do get a little thrill though when someone decides to take the time to read my blog and leave me a comment. Especially when it is someone new and somehow they have stumbled upon my blog. With that comes some pressure and responsibility though.

I feel like I need to blog about interesting things. Things that I can write about and that people will enjoy. But, lately. Lately. Lately life has been a real snooze fest. Too cold to go out. Too wet to go out. Too sick to go out. And when I do get out..I go to the grocery store or to the Dollar store or to the fabric store. Sometimes I might even actually make it to all 3 stores in one day. Whoo. Hooo. I'm living on the edge. Very little excitement in my life as of late.

My posts lately have been boring. Boring. Boring. Boring. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. I'm sorry. I'm here and I'm awake. I'll try harder to not be so boring I promise you.

Quilting Fun with my Girl Friend

Yesterday I spent a wonderful day at my girlfriend Debbie's house quilting. We don't get to get together as often as we would like because of all the things that take up our time in our busy lives. So it is especially nice when we get to spend the better part of the day working together on our quilts and having the companionship of someone like you who enjoys doing the same types of things.

It really doesn't matter how much we get done or accomplish as long as we are having fun together. We sewed and sewed, cut and measured fabric, talked all day, and drank coffee. Some of my very favorite things to do! So it was a very nice day indeed!

I look forward to getting together with some of my other friends soon to quilt and sew with also. We have a little quilt group that tries to get together once a month to sew and encourage each other. Our group is called the Double D's. No! it's not what you think! It stands for Domestic Diva's.

It is so fun to see what type of projects the other ladies are working on and I think everyone both learns and teaches each other. Each one of the ladies brings something different to the group. We have a variety of different levels of quilters also. Some have been quilting for a really long time and there are those of us who are relatively new to quilting.



I personally have sewed since I was in Junior High School but haven't been quilting all that long. I started my first quilt about 15 years ago but then put it away for about 10 years before I started working on a quilt again. I've only been seriously quilting for about 4-5 years now. I know have way too many UFO's or Un-Finished Objects but I have found the time to finish a few quilts recently.

Be Happy

Life is too short to be wasted on anger.... smile, laugh, be happy!

Fall is a Wonderful Season

I know Fall will be here once all the kids start going back to school and the days start getting a little shorter. There will soon be a crispness in the air and it is all leading up to the wonderful season I love called Fall.

Here are a few reasons I love Fall:

-- Our seasonal trip or two up to Apple Hill to enjoy the day with our family at the apple farms eating caramel apples and bringing home delicious apple pies and apple cider.

-- Getting out all of our Fall decorations like pumpkins, scare crows, hay bales, dried gourds and all of the Fall foilage.

--I love the comfort foods of autumn, Mrs. Slagel's pumpkin bread recipe, homemade caramel dip, baked apple pies, spice cake, chicken and dumplings, mulled cider.

--Hay rides, mazes, apple and pumpkin picking with my family.

--Putting out our Jack-o-lantern, and making of Halloween costumes.

--The scents of the season, baked apples, cinnamon, spices....mmmmmm I love the smells.

--The warm colors of autumn, pumpkins overflowing on front porches, corn stalks, the jewel colored mounds of mums.

--Putting out throws and blankets on the couches for snuggling while watching an old movie. Adding the down comforters to our beds and snuggling in warm flannel sheets.

Fall is great!! We've already made it to Apple Hill already and it is just the start of our Fall fun!!

45 Wise Words of Advice

Wise Words of Advice.....
A sweet old friend sent this to me and I wanted to share. It is long but worth the time to read it......
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1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends & parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it. Then lean on him anyway.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first pay check.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't mess up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone for everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young. Rejoice!
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

Happy Birthday Sweet Connor!

Our sweet little grand baby turned 1 already on May 26th! Where or where does the time go? It seems like he was just born the other day. He has grown so much in such a short time. He is walking around (when he wants too!). He has several teeth and knows how to use them! He is such a sweet little thing and I am totally and completely in love with him! He definitely has this G-Ma wrapped around his cute little finger!



I told you he's gorgeous! He's got such a sweet loving spirit. He loves to laugh and cracks us,and himself, up all the time!



His daddy BBQ for all the 50 something guests. They served Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, and 3 differently seasoned Tri-Tip roasts. His mommy arranged for all of the other food with some guests pitching in. There was chips and dip, crackers and cheese, 7-layer dip and tortilla chips, french bread and artichoke dip, fruit salad, macaroni salad, potato salad, green beans, a tossed green salad and all kinds of other delicious dishes!



There was a bounce house for the kids to play in and they sure looked like they were having a lot of fun in there!



There was lots and lots of presents! I don't know how one little boy can need or use so much stuff! Clothes and clothes and toys and toys! Of course this G-Ma might have contributed a lot of the presents but what can I say. I love my grandson and I like to SHOP!!



Of course there was cake and cupcakes and ice cream for everyone.



Then there was a pinata for all the kids to try their luck at. I'm not sure if everyone got a turn though. They started with the birthday boy Connor and then let the kids have a turn by their age.



There was one tired little baby boy at the end of the day! He almost made it all the way through his party before he nodded off! Like a good little host he did stay awake long enough to see his guests off and made sure that they all went home with a goodie bag!