Paula's Pansy Patch

With this Ring......

2010-04-28T09:39:00.006-04:00

So, I went to work yesterday afternoon on a new quilt. I have always wanted a double wedding ring quilt. But they are so, so, so expensive. I decided to make me one.

I must admit that I have been intimidated by this quilt. As a quilter, I would rate myself a novice, a beginner. Even though my total number of quilts is now at 16, I think, I still consider myself a novice. I am getting better and I like to challenge myself at times to see if I can do it. I started blocks for about 3 different quilts, but they were a bit tough. I mean I had to use math to figure out the sizes and the dimensions of the pieces and it just about fried my brain. I need a program to do all that for me. Any suggestions?

So, the Double Wedding Ring. Such a traditional wedding gift (that I never got). And I WANT ONE!! We buried my sister with the one my gram'ma made. Someone is going to wonder about that some day, but we didn't want her to get cold. So we put a quilt on her. Besides, it was hers. And I want one of my own. Did I say that already? Well, I do.

Now the thing about this quilt is it has an arc. Or rather a curve. When you line up the fabirc, it don't match. How the crap do you sew it if the ends are down in the middle of the arch??? I worried and worried over this. I don't think I can do it. It just doesn't seem to work. But you know what? It worked. I simply made it work. I lined up one end and just wiggled it around until it worked. So this is what I have so far. A football with a spine. I am not joking it really does look like that, but not for long. I am going to make a Double wedding Ring Quilt!!! I am so excited about this one.

For all those interested in knowing how this is put together, please see my blog about quilting at www.hillsnhollowsquilting.blogspot.com for step by step construction of how I put this quilt together.

2010-01-22T08:54:00.002-05:00

So, I was being stalked. She called my house. She e-mailed me. Finally we connected. And she wanted me to make her a quilt. REALLY! She did. And I as so flattered. When do you need it by?....FRIDAY! This was the Sunday before the Friday she needed it. HOLY COW.

But I did it. I made her a quilt top and tacked it to a piece of bleached muslin and hand stitched the hem. What do you think? Yes, it is a baby quilt. And considering I only spent about 17 hours on the whole thing, including the hem, I think it is pretty good. It is crib sized and done in a simple 9 patch or patchwork pattern. My son said it looked like a checkerboard.

Well, it does. How observant you are, Son. Speaking of my son. This is him beside the new baby quilt. He is ten and is around 4 ft. tall. So I am thinking that is quilt will fit inside a baby crib quite nicely. Have you started any new projects lately? What is favorite pattern? I think I have asked you this before, but I would love to hear you ideas and I would love to know what you are working on. I might want to try it. Until next time.......KEEP SEWING!

Bob sledding, anyone?

2010-01-11T13:22:00.002-05:00

So, this is my driveway. It still looks like this. This was Friday at 1:00 when I attempted to go for the mail. I made it back up the first time I went off. I should have gotten the mail that morning and left it at that. But I didn't. maybe this evening I will post a video showing the drive up my hill. It is even scarier than going down. Especially when you start fishtailing and there isn't anywhere to get your traction back.

And this is how long my icecycles are on my house. Notice how it disappears into the bushes? I think it reaches to the ground, but seeing as the temp outside is 10 and I am nice and warm in the truck, I didn't get out to investigate. Maybe I will have one of the kids to do that.

I am still sitting in my truck here. Actually this is before we pulled out. What a lovely scene it is. All covered in white. Not very threatening is it? Right!

Needless to say, I survived the physical labor of getting stuck on this mountain and having to shovel my way to dirt through the snow and ice before I got back on the hill. But I won't be doing it for a while. I think that was my limit as far as hard work goes for this month.

Someone apologize to mother nature. I have had enough of the snow.

Snowbound!

2009-12-22T09:58:00.008-05:00

Need I say more. Even the dog has dug in. Can you see my car? I barely could. We had at least 14 inches. I am thinking it may have been more.

More Christmas Decorations

2009-12-17T22:03:00.003-05:00

SO, I had so much fun last night decorating. I tried it on my own. Enjoy these few pics. More later.

Decorating for Christmas.....

2009-12-09T15:44:00.019-05:00

So, I started to decorate for the holidays. A little bit late, but better than not at all. I felt really guilty about it when my son walked up and said, very pathetically, "So, I guess we aren't going to have a tree this year. Are we Mom?". Well, wouldn't you if he had batted his big ole brown eyes at you.

We started by clearing off a shelf. Then we found a few aprons that I had started making for family members, but didn't finish. Here is what we ended up with.
Ok, this one is before we cleaned off the entire shelf. See all the DVD cases there. Way too much junk on this shelf. I cleaned it up. What do you think? You should have see it before. The whole thing was loaded with tapes and DVD's. Here is a close up of the Santa grouping.

Well, have I impressed you with my decorating skills? Or rather my cleaning ability? For those of you who have been in my house and know how much JUNK I have.

Driving in a Winter Wonderland

2009-12-05T18:02:00.009-05:00

So, I had to go pick up my daughter at Clay. In the snow! This is what it started out as.

Sorry about the black frame, my camera just recently started doing this before it warms up.

Yeah an by the time she got to clay it was deeper (this is Nicki by they way the daughter she had to pick up. I stole the computer while my mom is doing something. This picture is when we were on our way back from clay. tee hee i took a lot of these pictures.....Haha....including this one.

She did take a lot of pics. But they are so pretty. This is the kind of snow I like. Where it doesn't stick to the road,

but it lays on the trees so nicely! Here are a few pics of my trip to Clay an back.

These are of the hill that is my driveway. I can't believe that my little car made it up it.

And yes, it was still snowing when we got back. I don't think it has stopped all day.

I will have you know that White Christmas and Winter wonderland have been playing in my head all day long.

And when we reached our little blue house on the hill...

guess what was waiting on us? The puppy that adopted us. He just showed up at our house one day and decided he liked it and has been here every since .

His name is Kyou, (pronounced kee-ooh) Nicki likes anime and she named him. I would have preferred Rex, Killer, Rover...something I can understand. You know!

It's getting colder.....

2009-11-29T21:27:00.003-05:00

Winter is just around the corner! I am in a sewing mood now. I made a new block. What do you think?

However, my scanner can't fit the whole thing in. You can see that half of it is missing.
I love these colors. I am hoping that my momma likes them too.

Listening to Christmas carols and Christmas songs in general. My new 2 favorites are Santa, Baby and Baby It's Cold Outside. I like the versions from the ELF soundtrack.

Christmas is my favorite time of year. It was the favorite of my sisters who have passed away also.

I had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner at my other sister's house. She has her place looking really good. Hopefully she has a few new pics that she can post for all to see. HINT HINT TERRY JO!!!!

"My maiden aunt's mind is vicious!" ha ha!

I LOVE CHRISTMAS!

I Believe......Do you?!

2009-11-09T13:16:00.004-05:00

So, I don’t know if you are aware, but I have been having some very difficult times here lately. They are mine to deal with and I won’t bore you with details. But I will tell you of the amazing two things that happened to me and my children over the weekend.

First of all, I felt lousy this weekend and my kids wanted to eat to Mickey Dees’ so I had my father in law take them to Smithers to eat. While they were there, an old man that was obviously homeless come in. Not only was he homeless, but not all there either. And he saw my kids with gran’ma and gran’pa and started talking to them. Now the in-laws were not happy about this. But my youngest, Scott, just chatted away. The old man ordered himself a thing of French fries and that was all. He told them that was all he had the money for. My son felt really sad about this. Considering our recent troubles, he wanted to help. The in-laws wouldn’t let him. But as they were getting ready to leave, Scott told his gran’pa to wait a minute. He turned around and went back inside and gave the extra coke they had ordered to the old man. Then gave him a hug and went back to car. I am doing something right I think. Although, to be honest, it is simply God working in my child's heart.

**My little angel in training.**

I felt really proud of my son for that generosity. It was all he had and he wanted to share it with someone who didn’t have as much as he did. (Wipe away a tear, I did.)

That was on Friday evening. I took the kids out again on Saturday evening to Bob Evans at Summersville. We sat down and ordered our meal. We talked and laughed and just had a really good dinner. I even relented on the sweets issue and got them a slice of pie to take home for dessert. We were all stuffed. When I flagged the waiter down to get the bill, he informed me that it had been taken care of. I was dumbfounded. WHAT?! Seriously, I am ready for the bill. What he gave me was this sentence. “A gentleman who was sitting behind you has already paid your bill. He said he didn’t know you but he just wanted to take care of it for you and he didn’t want you know who he was.” All he gave me was the bill for the desserts. $7.92. That is all it cost me to feed myself and the kids on Saturday evening at Bob Evans. It would have been around $50 or $60. And I just had to pay $7.92. All I could say was “Thank you Lord for your blessing.”

So, whoever he was, I thank him. And all of these angel stories that are circulating around, BELIEVE!!!! There are indeed angels unseen and they are working in our lives even though we cannot see them.

God Bless you all!

It's beginning the look alot like Christmas!

2009-10-15T08:26:00.006-04:00

So I know Halloween isn't even here yet, and Thanksgiving is a whole month away. I am, however, thinking about Christmas. I love Christmas. The twinkling lights, all the greenery, the yard decorations, the happy spirit that can't be dimmed; I love Christmas. So I am asking opinions about how to decorate for it. My main problem area is my back porch/den/sewing room. Here are a few pictures of how it looks now.

As you can see, my hubby likes to hang is army uniform there. My lonley little nutcracker is guarding my oil lamps. My fruit plaques are not supposed to go there, but I have very little room right now.

We want to change the paneling in this room to drywall. I will have pics of that next month.

But for now, the room has very little light and not enough outlets. As you can see, I have a phone line strung across the sewing part of the room to hold my quilts and also put the phone on the other side of the room. Notice the homemade quilt hanging on the shelf???? My own creation.

So in this view, you see my sewing table. Right in the middle of this farthest wall is a window. It is a 3 ft x 4ft slider aluminum window. Lots of air flows through this portal. We are planning on replacing that with a vinyl insulated one. The whole room is only 10 ft wide. With 8ft ceilings. Actually, I don't think that they are even 8ft. Very low. Concrete floors are waiting for laminated hardwood.

You should remember that my father-in-law built this house all on his own. I refer to it as my crooked house. He had a few troubles in getting it square. He told me that is what happens when you are building all by yourself! But that is another story.

Now this is the view across from the fireplace. My fruit plaques should be here, but there is just no room!

So what do you think? How would you decorate this very unusual room for Christmas?

Mom! Look at my pumpkin.........

2009-10-13T11:20:00.004-04:00

He did it all himself. He came and asked me if he could carve his pumpkin that gramma gave him and I said yes. Okay, I was quilting and lost in the pieceing as I tried to make sure the pieces continued the same pattern. Then I saw the knife!!!Then I had second thoughts as I saw the carving knife go out the back door with him. "NO RUNNING!" I yelled. I just had visions of a self inflicted stab wound. "Yes, Dr., he was running with the carving knife......No, I didn't see three blind mice, why do you ask?"

Sorry about that. Here is what he ended up with. He told me he made a baby jack-o-lantern. How do you know it's a baby? His answer........Because it has no teeth! Well, so it doesn't Do you think it will still scare the boogey monster away if it's a baby?

What do you think?

2009-10-08T11:12:00.006-04:00

So, a friend of mine asked the question on facebook last night if anyone remembered those latchhook rug kits. Well, yeah. I was traumatized from my 7th grade home economics class that failed mine because of the colors being in the wrong order. Well, I will have you know Ms. Pam Boggs, that I now have excellent color cordination. And no, I do not believe you failing me on my latch hook kit was the cause! It is my new found (well, not so new) confidence in what I think looks good and years of training by my little sis, so there!!!!

I don't think that mine had a heart or a smiley face on it. But hey my memory is not what it used to be either.

After she asked that, it made me wonder if I had seen any kits anywhere around here. And the answer was, No I haven't seen any. Now, for Christmas this year, I had planned to get the kiddies a WII system and a few games. But you know I am in a nostalgic frame of mind and they just might end up with little craft kits and jigsaw puzzles. If nothing else, it will keep them from constantly saying that they are bored. And wouldn't those just make the perfect things to keep them occupied this winter when the power is out and they can't get on the interenet or watch TV.

Where we live, when the wind blows and the rain falls, the phone and the power have a tendency to disappear. My son says it is alot like camping, but in the house. Which is the best way to camp if you ask me. It reminds me of the episode of Andy Griffith where Opie said that "adventure sleeping was an ironing board on two chairs". Or was it Barney? Humm....not sure, but it was on there.

So how do you spend your "down" time? Puzzles, craft kits, quilts or reading? I must say that I enjoy them all. You never know what I will end up doing.

Love to all!

Haven't forgotten you!

2009-09-23T11:44:00.003-04:00

So, I know it has been a while since I last posted, but I have issues. Mainly, kidney stone issues. I just haven't felt well for while now. The pain got the better of me on 9-04 and I ended up in the emergency room. They sent me home with a referral to a urologist, pain meds, anit-nausea meds and antibotics. So, the next day I called the urologist.....can't see me until the 21st! BUT I AM IN PAIN! I cried. Sorry, can't get you in until then.

So, I use the unwanted paid meds to get me through the week and half of torture my kidneys were putting me through. I have taken all the antibotics. I have only a few pain meds left. I went to see the urologist on the 21st and have had an appointment for something every day this week. The only day I don't have something is Thursday. I have a lithotripsy scheduled for 8:00 on Friday. Finally, some relief. Well, we will see, several folks have told me that I am going to feel as though I have been hit by a truck. I hope not, but it would have to be better than this.

So, Keep me in your prayers and I will keep you in mine.

More later!

Going to the Chapel!

2009-08-26T09:03:00.003-04:00

Well, Nicki and I attended a wedding on Saturday, August 22nd. It was so beautiful. It was at the state capitol in Charleston. Such a georgous day for a wedding. While I was getting ready, my son told me I was beautiful and he wanted to take my picture. He always tells me I am beautiful, but I AM HIS MOMMY!

Now, anyone of you who know me really well, will understand that this almost never happens. I don't do pictures. I don't photograph well, never have! But here is one of the pics that my son took. Isn't he a good photographer?! I think he may have some talent.

Unplugged and Disconnected

2009-07-28T08:47:00.003-04:00

My computer crashed. It wouldn't start up. It stayed on the black startup screen and wouldn't do anything else. It kept asking me which mode I wanted to start up in and I told it safe mode, but it wouldn't listen! Then it just died. NOTHING HAPPENED!

I had so much stuff on that computer! Pictures from the last six years. Preschool graduations, prom night, graduation night. Hubby coming hom from Iraq, twice. Copies of receipts for vehicle parts, (which hubby hasn't realized yet!) birth certificates, geneologies, spreadsheets, internet downloads (my games) all sorts of things that I have gotten used to over the years and now, there is nothing.

How important have these computers become that our lives are stored on them? Did the fellows who invented these things realize how much we would come to depend on them? Not only for storing informatin, but for entertainment and socalization. I don't think I could function normally if I didn't have some way to access the internet. I feel so disconnected.

This happened over the weekend and I am still trying to deal with it.

Fortunately, there is a fellow here at work that said he might me able to "mirror" my harddrive and see if he can recover all my stuff. He didn't guarantee all of it, he may not be able to even do it, but he is willing to try. Bless his little heart. So wish me the best as I struggle to recover my sanity, oops, I meant files!

So, there has to be at least one picture on here to lighten up the mood. These are the hands of my 15 year old. She has plaid tipped nails on. I must say, she has her own sense of style.

Garden Patch!

2009-07-20T09:07:00.008-04:00

Well, I have officially harvested from my real garden. I got 2 heads of cabbage from it. Now, what the heck am I going to make from 2 heads of cabbage? Some one send me a recipe for canning cabbage. I like kraut. No one else in my family does, but I do. I will make kraut.

I have also gotten green onions and peppers and cucumbers. Here have a look-see:

Isn't that something? I feel like I have done something productive. I feel like a country girl! I raised a garden.....well ok, Kathy raised a garden. But I pulled out the weeds that almost over took it. She doesn't like to weed, it gets too hot. Boy does it! And the bugs, ugh. But I did it, so now I claim this garden

as my own little green garden patch. You can almost see my marigolds around it. The five remaining corn stalks that actually have ears of corn growing on them. See:

I am so proud of this endeavor. Everyone laughed at me when I said I was going to grow a garden. Well keep laughing. All that positive energy is making my garden grow and produce....well produce!

So, fresh from my garden to your computer screen, enjoy a few pics of the cantaloupe and the pepper and the tomatoes that funny shaped and whatever else I have growing there. Not sure about some of the plants.

ENJOY!

2009-07-17T08:19:00.003-04:00

Wow! Has it really been over a month since I posted? Didn't mean for that to happen.

I suppose that Farmtown and Farkle took over me. I am so addicted to those games on Facebook. In addition to farming on Facebook, I am "farming" in real life. Farmtown on Facebook is soooo much easier.

Our garden is coming along quite nicely. We have 9 heads of cabbage forming-3 are ready to cut now. Need to do that this evening. We have potatoes growing (I think) it's hard to tell with them being in the ground and all. We only have 4 corn stalks left. The rabbits and the deer really like them. We have no beans left at all. The rabbits and the deer really LOVED those. Our carrots got washed out of the garden. They didn't come up at all. The rabbits ate the lettuce, too.

We have green onions and cucumbers and peppers. Cucumbers look kind of funny and they are turning yellow. Not sure what that is about. I thought they gew to be about 6 or 7 inches and were green. Maybe I should check and make sure they aren't squash instead. And finally, our tomatoes. We have about 6 regular ole tomatoe plants and we have 6 roma tomatoe plants. These plants are giving Greg fits. He came into the house last weekend and asked me if I had seen the tomatoe plants. "They are growing funny." I busted out laughing. Couldn't really get him to understand that they are still tomatoes, just shaped a little differently. I will pics for you tomorrow.

Better head out to get breakfast. Don't want my sugar dropping out again. Love to you all until tomorrow.

Daddy and Nicki

2009-06-07T11:14:00.004-04:00

So, we get in from shopping yesterday and there is anumber on our caller ID from Ivydale. I yell at Nicki and tell her that her friend Danielle has called. Because that is who I think the number belongs to. And she calls the number back. It is NOT Danielle. It is a boy! My ever so tactful daughter asks him "Why did you call me?" Oh, let's just get right to the point! She doesn't mess around, my Nicki.

But it didn't deter him, they talked for about 10 minutes with just me here, and then Daddy walked in. Now he is used to Nicki being on the phone...teenage girls do this. What he is not used to is her talking to a boy. He probably wouldn't have even noticed that she was talking to a boy, but, I told on her! Yes! I did. It didn't take long for the phone call to be finished at that point either.

Now Dad starts talking to Nicki about this boy: who is he? where does he live? how old is he? who are his parents? what does he like to do? Nicki's answers: MT (let us protect him for now) Ivydale, he is my age, I don't know, we talked about mango. Well, she lost us. We have no clue what mango is. Anyone else have a clue?

Now he is questioning her about band, because she tells us that she is in marching band at school this coming year. I don't recall my hubby being in band when we were in school, but he informs us that he knows what goes on in the band room. I know what went on in the band room, I was in there quite a bit, don't remember him being in there. But he says he knows.

She also tells us that she has to go to band camp. I have never been to band camp. To my knowledge neither has Dad, but again, he KNOWS what goes on there also. I am beginning to think that I don't know my hubby as well as I thought. Now he is insisting that she will NOT be going to band camp. But I have news for him. She will have to go. Can you imagine my Nicki in band camp.

Well, maybe I can. I hope she excells at it. She plays the flute. She has always remined me of an elf and the flute seems very appropriate. (spelling) Good luck my daughter! Take life as you please.

Triple Threat to my Sanity.

2009-06-01T19:26:00.004-04:00

Nicki, Holly & Danielle....THE TRIPLE THREAT!!!!

They swam, they clowned around in their swim suits....

They almost got kicked out of wally world for playing with the big balls in the toy dept, and I am thinking it had something to do with the way they were dressed. I didn't have my camera in wally world, but here is the remenants of their dress once we got back home.

They ditched their skirts for jeans but kept the mismatched socks and boots.

Well, you can still sort of see Nicki's socks. These 3 were something else. Let me tell you, BUT, they had fun.

I don't think that Scott had any fun. He begged me to take him somewhere that he could play with boys. These 3 were not his style. So he went to a friends house and we had a ladies night at my house.

AND....I survived! Yeah Me! (Thank you London from Zack and Cody)

Reflections!

2009-05-15T13:47:00.003-04:00

You know, I told someone that if I had a party no one would come because I didn't know that many people. That is not true. I know oodles and oodles of folks. I know folks from my family, the whole blessed clan! I know folks living in colorado, texas, arkansas, arizona, missouri, north carolina, kentucky and florida.

My family is my lifeline. If I don't talk to my sister at least once a week, I think she is mad at me for something I don't know that I have done. My extended family makes my day whenever they comment on my facebook or myspace. I feel like Sally Field "They like me, they really like me!" (HA HA)

Then I have my family at work. People who accept me for who I am and really seem to like me. I don't know how you spend your days at work, I don't know what different things you do. But we have lunches together...

Even the wildlife gets a little something for lunch.

This is my gang, ya'all! Brenda, Bob and Debra. Usually we have Jeff and Chris with us, I am not sure why they weren't out this day. But we have loads of fun.

Today I had lunch with a couple of sweet ladies from the Am. Heart Assoc. I used to work with them. I really miss those two. I left the Heart Assoc. in 2003 when Greg was activated the first time. For a while, I regretted not staying there. But now, I have even more friends. I think, as long as I am able, I will keep working. (Yes, Evelyn, I do work!) I would miss everyone too much.

Wow I think I made a major life decision and didn't realize it. I am also majorly upset about grey's anatomy last night. I cried my eyes out. They are making such a HUGE mistake taking those two off.

And that is all I am going to say about that. . . Forest Gump

Hi ho, hi ho it's off to shop we go!

2009-05-13T12:39:00.008-04:00

See that smile? Do you know what that means? I do. It means that Kathy is going shopping!

Well, let me go back and tell you that when we left yesterday morning at 10:00, we left laundry piled around the living room and basically a mess in every room of the house. We left in such a hurry. She was going shopping! "No Mom, don't dry your hair, just put it up like you usually do and let's go!!!!" So we left the mess and headed out for our shopping day.

We spend 1 hour at the bank setting up her account. She picked out checks and ordered her cover. She went with a gardening theme. Then we headed back home to pick up hubby. However, when we get there, he has a phone call from the guards; he has been activated--flood duty. Hubby is not happy. He needs to be up at the armory in Summersville as soon as he can get there. You know what that means: a frantic search and pack episode ensues to make sure everything is ready to go into his suitcase. But while he is packing, he decides when he gets there is when he gets there. We had things scheduled for today. He was going to be a part of this shopping day. He was going to take a shower. Then he thought he needed a hair cut. So now, it is 1:00p.m.

Now, Kathy has realized we aren't leaving anytime soon, she goes back to bed. She stayed up all night long and most of the morning. She was so excited to be going shopping. It just tuckered her out. And we had not even left yet. She went upstairs to sleep and her cat didn't even make it that far! He passed out under the coffee table. It must be nice to be a cat. To just lay down whereever you are when sudden nap attacks happen.

I am wondering why he tucks his head under like this? Aren't his little paws so cute tucked up like he is begging?

Anyways, I digress. At this point in time, Nicki walks in the door. What are you doing here? ( I know the answer to this becasue all night the night before, she said "I can't believe that you guys are going to Wal-mart without me!")

Her response, "I got sick at school and they made me call home."

My response "I didn't hear the phone ring. I have been here helping daddy pack for flood duty for the last hour."

Her response, "I told them that I felt better after throwing up but they made me call home and I didn't think you all would be here so I called gran'ma. They made me come home Mom!" Foot stomp and up the stairs she goes.

Now, hubby has heard all of this because he is now out of the shower and has even shaved while we were having this conversation. But no word from him. Now he needs a hair cut. So I get out the clippers, he gets a sheet to cover up with because it makes so much sense to cut your hair after you shower! I cut his hair and trim him up nice and pretty for all his fellow soldiers. No hair can touch his ears or the collar of his jacket. Lovely little guidelines to follow from the army. So, we have spent another 45 minutes putting off flood duty. It is now 1:45 p.m.

Oh, I forgot to mention that we are waiting on a call from his supervisor at the mines. He happened to be underground when hubby called to tell them the news of flood duty. He hasn't called back. I have had enough. Kathy has waited for 3 years to get her disability money and she wants to shop. I tell him..."Call them back and leave your cell phone #. Tell them that you will be on there in about 20 minutes and let's go. I am going to school to pick up Scott and I will meet you at KFC in Summersville!" Out the door I go.

So, we went shopping. Kathy definately knows how to shop. 4 hours we spent shopping for her things. Including new cell phones for her, me and Nicki. My daughter is so very generous. Now we are heading home and my new cell phone rings. It is hubby and he wants to know if we stopped at the the UPS store to send off a nintendo DS to get fixed. Uh, NO, I am going home. Well, don't want it to be a wasted trip. Turn around and go to the store. UGH!

So, while we are waiting for the lady to finish with our box, we decide that we are stopping at an ice cream stand on the way home for a treat. Everyone agrees, we scream for ice cream!! Now, when we finally get home and drop off Nicki and Scott and all the loot that Kathy bought, hubby says since she is wanting a laptop, we should go ahead and get it for her while he is still here. Now folks, he is so technically illiterate he got upset at my cell phone because he couldn't figure it out. But he insists on being there when we buy "Kathy's" new laptop. He drives me crazy.

Then another hour was spent trying to decide which laptop she wanted. She finally decided on a Toshiba. There went a chunk of change, let me tell you. But she is happy and her BFF is supposed to be at the house with her today. All night she kept telling me, "This is the best day EVER!" And then she and nicki started singing spongebob.

The best day ever is over. Money is spent. Loot is strung all over my house, but Kathy is happy, therefore, I am happy!

PS. My being happy has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that hubby is away for 2 weeks. Nope, not a thing!!!!

Notice My Links!

2009-05-08T10:18:00.002-04:00

I think that I am addicted to blogging. My sister and I were on the phone last night for over 3 hours!! It was really funny, she told her daughter she needed the computer for just a second...yeah...it was several seconds...10,800 of them.

But it was worth it. Isn't my blog so pretty. And I have to tell you that I now have several links on my page to a few of the blogs that I follow and (sigh--shamless plug) my new site for my quilts that I make. I added a price list on the side and posted pics of my patterns that I have done. There are several that I haven't got on there, but I will have.

So, after you have read all the "fresh from the garden" posts on the patch, hop over a hollow and meet me at the top of the hill for some pretty quilts.

Love to all!
Cheryl

P.S. I am not stopping this blog, so check back often to see what else I am up to.

Friends! I love them.

2009-05-06T08:25:00.000-04:00

Don't you like my new layout? Thank you to Russell, who worked on the layout for me. Thank you to Terry Jo, who designed it for me. Without the both of them, my site would be pretty boring! Just thought I would give them praise for helping a person out.

Hope that everyone is staying dry and that the waters haven't invaded your homes. Stay safe and dry, all.

Now I am headed off to Access class. More later!

2009-05-05T12:57:00.000-04:00

This blog is named in honor of my older sister that passed away some time ago. She taught me how to read and write, she helped me with homework and taught me to be a quick thinker. No one could change a subject faster than she could if she didn't want to talk about something. I never quite got the hang of that.

Also in this photo is Laura Annette. My younger sister. She also spoke her mind and didn't care if you liked it or not. She also told you every year what you were getting her for her birthday and Christmas.

Laura passed away a few years ago. They left me, my brother Jay Bird, and my baby sister, Terry Jo behind to take care of mom, Patsy. I miss these girls sooo much. I wonder why they had to leave us so early. So, that is why this blog is about the mundane things that happen in my life everyday. These girls were always laughing and gave so much joy to others. Did I say I missed them.

Finally, a garden!

2009-05-01T22:35:00.000-04:00

I think this is a funny picture. It is me, as if you didn't know. I am watching two 16 year old boys plow my garden for the second time. This time was even funnier than the last. The stabilizing bar that goes on the back of the tiller, wasn't there. They left that part off. So as they are plowing the garden, they are trying to hold it down and to be quite honest, it was winning the fight. After only 10 minutes, they both had sweat pouring off their noses. Not used to that much work I am thinking. Hubby says it will be a while before they say they can till a garden. I know that I learnt quite a bit by watching them.

Oh yeah, sorry about not telling you to wear sunglasses. My legs do not tan. So next time my son has the camera, I will try to have him not get my legs!

Purple Pansy Header

2009-04-29T15:33:00.000-04:00

Do you think this is a nice header for my pansy patch? I am trying to design a nicer page. Let me know your comments and thoughts and if you think that I should take pictures of real pansys and put on here. Also, if you like the purple. Some folks don't like the purple too well. I happen to love it.
Sorry it is such a short post. But I promise more later!!

A walk in the Woods

2009-04-22T20:03:00.000-04:00

So, last week, I told you that I had taken a walk in the woods and showed you the beginning of that walk. (Remember the horses?) Today I will show you the beautiful hillside full of "Lillies of the Valley", a few of the little streams criss crossing the valley and what I think is a dragon. For those that don't know me very well, I have a very active imagination.

First picture is of the lillies:

Try to over look the shadow of Nicki and me. We were fighting over the camera. I won! This next one is of me and Scott. Just to prove I really was out in the woods. I finally let Nicki take the picture.

Don't really remember what I was saying to her, I actually think that I was taking a hair out of my mouth, uck! Step on the log and cross the stream. Easy, peasy, right? WRONG! That thing won't hold me. So guess what I did, I jumped over it. Yes the tubby wubby woman jumped over the iddy biddy stream. And what did I find on the over side?
A FAIRY COURT! (there is my imagination, I knew I hadn't lost it!) Right in the center of the four trees, a dancing stone. Don't ask me why I think it is that, I just do. When you find your own fairy court, you can certainly call any stones within said court what ever you want to. And why do I think it is a fairy court? Because of the dragon guarding it of course! See his tail behind the stone and tree border? No, how about this view of him.

He is peeking over his shoulder at us. We gave him plenty of room so he wouldn't shot us with his fire breath. Hey it could happen. What do you find on your walks? How often do you take them? Do you use your imagination while you are on your walks? And finally, do you encourage your children to use theirs? Let me know, I am really interested to see what you see on your walks.

Spring is Sprung!

2009-04-20T08:51:00.000-04:00

This is what I want. Beautiful, colorful flowers everywhere! This lovely garden belongs to my great aunt Zola. I love driving by her house every year to see her beautiful garden. It is my spring goal.

However, this is what I have: little bitty buds that haven't opened up as of last weekend.

When I went outside on Saturday morning, this is what I found. Not a lot of them, but it's a start. I plan to add more this october for next spring in order to have a garden like Zola's.

This is the last of the daffodils. They are tired. This lovely little group of flowers lasted from the 28th of March until this weekend when they dropped their heads.

We found a lovely box of flower seeds that are called rain flowers. Such colorful, delicate little flowers. I am planting those above this bed on the hill side. It stays wet in here and the box said that they love moist shady places. This will be perfect. Can't wait to post those for you. More later folks.

2009-04-17T10:09:00.000-04:00

Now I had intended to show you by tulip buds, however, this was standing beside the flower. See my shadow addressing my sons shadow. You had better get that back inside where it belongs. I see no attacking animals that we need protected from.

So he headed back to the house with his BB gun. Whew! I worry about him sometimes.

Also in this pic, you can see my moldings from the kitchen leaning against the house and some remnents of the paneling left in the yard. Chore for the kids today--clean up the yard!

Hello Stormy! My aren't you friendly today. I am, as you all know, a big coward. This normally would have freaked me out. But the stars aligned yesterday and the horses were actually pretty friendly. Well, I am the nicest person you would ever want to meet. Didn't I tell you that? Wait, you think he is looking at something else? Naw, he is looking at me..... isn't he? Let me see........

Well, seems they are both NOT looking at me or wanting my attention. What could they be looking at?

Seems apple blossoms in Nicki's hand holds more appeal than me with my bitty camera. "Nicki, what are you doing with those blossoms? "

He's a very secure little stallion! Our Storm! Flowers in his mane doesn't bother him any at all.

We need to get him saddle broke. He follows the kids around like a puppy dog. But we would love to be able to ride him and Shadow. However, we need the assistance of a cowboy. Anyone know of any cowboys in WV? If you do, send them my way. We also need a farrier. They need shoed in the worst way. I just don't know how to it. And quite honestly I wouln't be willing to get that close to their feet. It hurts when they step on you.

If you are wondering why I am showing the horses and not the woods; we had to cross through the horse pen to get to the woods. If you look closely enough, you can see the woods in the background. Now I am going to show you what I mean by following the kids like dogs.

Boy this is getting lengthy. Maybe I will post more over the weekend.

2009-04-17T08:45:00.000-04:00

Ok, I have one pic of the new countertop and then its more of my walk through the woods with my kiddies.

I actually thought it was darker than what it is. But I am still happy with it. And just for my sister, I added some color for you since Ms. Earthtones said it was TOO brown.

PICTURES OF MY KITCHEN

2009-04-14T11:46:00.000-04:00

I have pictures! Enjoy!

This is the wall heading into my living room. And you will notice, the microwave still hasn't fell.

I am so in love with my new kitchen. Can you believe I had doubts about this.

Okay, still no countertops, they should be here tomorrow. I can't wait!

Leave me comments. I am wondering what you all think of my new kitchen.

WARNING: I AM VENTING ABOUT HUBBY!!!

2009-04-13T10:18:00.001-04:00

Yes, he spent two days working on the kitchen. (BTW, I have new pics of it.) We put up the paneling together on Friday, all day, with no arguments. We even took breaks when I needed them. We did so well on Friday that I decided to go ahead and work with him again on Saturday. Still went rather well, but there was an extra person around that day, his dad.
I love his dad. He does anything I ask him to. My mother-in-law says if she wants something done, she tells me and I tell him. I love my father-in-law. But, I digress. . .
So on saturday while his dad was there, he no longer appreciates me trying to explain to him how to cut the paneling to fit around the cabinets. Nevermind that I tried to get him to put something on the walls before the cabinets went in. So, I guess I was embarassing him in front of his dad. He got really out of sorts over me marking a sheet of paneling to fit over the cabinet. Why was I doing that? Why did I think it would fit over the cabinet if I cut out a hole for the cabinet? Well, duh, silly! "I just don't undersatnd what you are doing!" So anyway, after we get the peice in place, perfectly, I no longer am welcomed into the kitchen. MY KITCHEN! So, no problem, I am tired anyway. I will just play on the computer for a while; only he has the electricity off. UGH!
How am I supposed to post pics of my work in progress if there is no electricity to my puter? So I took a walk around my hosue with my camera and took lots of pics to post on here. (Sorry, maybe tomorrow.) Man I am out of shape, but that is another post.
So, after working on Friday and Saturday to help with the kitchen, and keeping up with him pretty well, I wanted to rest all day yesterday. I didn't want to go anywhere or do anything. I was tired! I didn't even get out of my jammies until my shower this moring. Let me tell you now, this is why I am venting. HE DIDN'T MOVE FROM HIS CHAIR! ALL DAY.
Now, why does this bother me. I have no intention of moving from the house all day. I have to return to work just the same as he does. So why can't I sit around the house all day as well? Do nothing but watch TV and relax. Did he let me do this? NO! HE DIDN'T! This is how my day went.
Well, let me start with Saturday night. After his dad goes home, we finish putting up the paneling over the top of the cabinets. We stopped at around 6:30 that evening. Now, he goes and he sits down in the recliner and stays there while I begin cleaning up the mess that was left over. Ok so he does just a little bit; but not much. Not only did I clean up the kitchen and start a load of dirty dishes in the dishwasher, but I also started cooking dinner. Yes, instead of ordering pizza or heading out to Mickey D's, I COOKED! As tired as I was, I cooked. I ate dinner and then I went to bed. My butt was dragging by that time.
Now, I was not a good girl on Sunday morning, I didn't go to church. I did send the kids off with my mother-in-law, though. But I stayed home and cleaned up the mess left from the evening before. Then I made homemade french toast for BOTH of us. (He didn't go to church either.) He slept while I was cleaning the kitchen up and fixed breakfast for us. He got out of bed and sat down in his recliner. I carried his plate to him. (It was Easter.) Then I fixed my plate and sat down to eat. I had barely finished my first slice of toast when he started asking me what I was going to do all day. Well, first I am going to finish my breakfast. He is already done with his. Well, can I please put his work clothes into the washer since he has to go to work that evening. Well sure honey anything for you!
Now, I am sitting at the computer playing Age of Mytholody. The washer stops.

Hubby: "The washer stopped."

Me: "So."

Hubby: "Shouldn't you put them in the dryer?"

Are you seeing a beginning of my irritation?

Me: "If I have to. Are you just going to sit there all day?"

Hubby: "Yep, I am sitting here all day and not doing a thing."

Me: !@!#!@#!@#!@#MEN!

So, I dried his clothes. I then sat back down to continue my game. Now, his clothes are washed and they are drying. He's happy right? WRONG!

Hubby: " You not going to put another load in?"

Me: "Nope, I am tired and want to rest a little bit. If you will just give me time, I will throw a load in when I feel better."

Hubby: "Right."

I glare at him. I am silently cursing him under my breath. Happy #### Easter. Maybe I should have warned him that it is PMS time. Maybe not. I feel justified in my anger. He is sooooo selfish.

For the next 1 hour, every 10 minutes, "You going to do anything today?"

DID I DO ANYTHING TODAY!!!!!!!!!

Kitchen follow up.

2009-04-09T13:09:00.000-04:00

Well, I don't have any new pics to show you. Hubby did go get my beadboard paneling, but it isn't on the walls yet. Hopefully, even though it is Easter, it will go up on Saturday. My sister suggested that I paint it red. My hubby vetoed that idea. NO WAY! He isn't a big fan of red walls.
So, my mom will be happy, we are leaving it all natural; in keeping with the country theme that I have somehow adopted. I am not a country person, but it looks I might be a secret country person. I really like it.
Check back later to see what I do next. It could be a new bathroom, patio or mud room. Doing my part to stimulate the economy.
I am liking the idea of a mud room. I absolutely abhore the mess that gets tracked into my dining/sewing room and kitchen. Coal miners definately need a room to enter and derobe before coming all the way in to the house.

I wanted a new kitchen and voila!

2009-04-08T12:22:00.000-04:00

So, I wanted a new kitchen. The one that I had was decorated by my mother-in-law. It hadn't been changed in well...43 years. So, I went to Lowe's and bought some cabinets. They weren't what I orginally wanted, but aren't they pretty? They are hickory. See the bitty bit of yellow peeking at you from the bottom of the pic? That is what color her kitchen was. I sort of like it. But it doesn't match the wall paper. So now I get to decide if I want to repaper the kitchen or if I want add something different. We had originally decided on the small panels that look like the old-fashioned tin ceilings. However, those things are $20 a panel and they only measure about 18 inches by 21 inches. Not going to happen. I am my father's daughter and my sister's sister, I am not paying that much for something that small!

So we go looking around for something else to put between my counter and my upper cabinets. We looked a sheet of paneling that looked like 3 inch tiles, but they were white with black speckles. I don't think that would have matched very well. Then we looked at beadboard paneling. I think this is going to look better and that is what we decided on. Hubby and daddy-in-law are going today to pick it up. So, tomorrow I should have a totally different look on my walls. I will take pics and post to show you what it looks like.

Until then, here are my new cabinets for your enjoyment!!

Yeah, I can't explain the chair in front of the stove. But you know, I am really liking the yellow paint. By the way, I helped to install the microwave above the stove. And you will notice, it hasn't fell down yet!

And this is the other side of the same wall.Please over look the mess made by the hubby and kids while I was sleeping. I did clean it up after I took the pics.

This is the side wall with the fridge. Notice the absence of countertops? I am using plywood with contact paper for countertops until the butterscotch run counters arrive hopefully next week!

Even though it isn't what I orginally wanted, it is more in keeping with the type of home that we have, farmhouse. Next, I want a new bathroom. We will see.

An unusual evening

2009-04-07T23:32:00.000-04:00

So, here I sit enjoying the quiet. Usually it isn't this quiet. I have Kathy chasing Scott who is chasing the cat and Nicki is typing away on her puter to her friends. They yell at each other and there is lots of laughing, mostly, until the cat screeches and then they are all off trying to catch him again. That poor cat, he lives a very rough life until Scott goes to bed. I think we need to get him a puppy.

If you read my facebook post, you will know that I fell asleep after dinner this evening. I am blaming it on my diabetes. There is no way I am so old that a 3 hour (ok, 4) nap is normal. I just do not have any energy anymore. I think that maybe there might be something else going on. I have a low fever and my throat is sore. I think I will blame it on that. I am sick. The nap was a medical requirement for recharging my defenses against a mother nature that is really confused these days.

So, now that I have had my nap and everyone in my house is in bed except for me and the cat, I think I will go back to bed. I have been up from my nap for about 2 hours. Yeah I think it is time to sleep again. good night.

A funny happened....

2009-04-07T08:23:00.000-04:00

Well, I made it through the evening pretty well. I went to meet my mom at Hartland to take her a Tupperware order.

She is so funny. She was sitting in my passenger seat with her drug store reading glasses (which made her eyes look magnified 10x) and fuzzy pink hoodie with a lap full of tupperware books and worried the whole time we were sitting there that the cops would show up and arrest us for drug trafficking. I asked her if she had a guilty conscience. She looked at me through her reading glasses and blinked. I was reminded of an owl. Hummm. (Sorry Mom!)

I just had to share the funny!

My First Blog!

2009-04-06T12:41:00.000-04:00

OMG! I actually did this. Usually my line would be "I know just enough to make me dangerous!" Thank you Google for making this way too easy. I have things I want to say and I have things that are just crazy and I really want to share. So, I am going to think up things to talk about and share with you all later. Right now I just want to preview what I have written and see how it looks.