WEDDING DAY!

Well, it finally arrived!!! She was beautiful.  I'm going to post only a couple of pictures - we don't have the professional ones yet - will post more when we get those.  This one is where they were exchanging rings.

At the reception...

The beautiful bride

The day was rainy and the pictures had to be taken other than planned so we will see how they turn out - not sure how long it will take to get the professional ones back.  But I will post them as soon as they are here. 

We still have the new husband's family here in our home - they leave to go back to Haiti on Friday - bright and early.  They are out shopping at the present moment.  The three of us (ds's and I) are busy with schoolwork/computer work right now... nice and quiet for a few hours :)  and we are taking advantage of it. 

I was sitting here wondering where I want to go with this blog - IF I want to do much more... 2010 will be a bit quieter, I think... maybe set some goals in different areas - homekeeping, handwork, organization of time/things, sewing, reading, prayer/devotional life... we'll see...

Wedding Bells Rang!

Yesterday our daughter was married!!!  The wedding was beautiful, she was beautiful - a wonderful day - despite the rain!!  Can't wait to post pictures!

24 hours

From now we will have a new family member - son-in-law!!!

Six days and counting

We have six more days until the wedding!!  I will definitely post pictures after the fact.  We went to the mall last night to find a jacket for the groom.  He found one in Macy's for half price!!  Good deal.  While they were at one end of the mall finding a jacket we were at the other finding shoes for 50% off!!!  Work boots for the Appliance Man and wedding shoes for me!!  We weren't even looking for them - just giving a ride to the bride/groom!  God is good.  My outfit is complete.  Appliance Man, aka Father of the Bride, has only to get his suit out of the cleaners and buy a shirt.  Brothers of the Bride need shoes and one pair of pants, maybe some socks...  we need to buy a few more plates/bowls/silverware/etc.  Food is ready.  Cupcakes assigned.  By Friday I am hoping to be able to just sit back and relax...  :)  I WILL sit back and relax. 

This morning in Sunday school we were studying chapter 3 of Esther.  We are using Beth Moore's study.  This study is the first women's Bible study I've sat in on for 9.5 years - ONLY because I've been employed by the church and was constantly being interrupted in class and felt that was not fair to the other ladies.  I LOVE the Bible study - - talk about for 'such a time as this' - oh my - - - perfect study for the last few months of my life.  I love it.  Learning so much.

And one last thought - before closing today - I watched a movie the other day - can't remember the name of it, bummer, but one phrase stuck out in the whole movie - so much in the movie I could relate to - but the phrase - "be happy with what you do have."   Good thought.

The Day After

The day after Thanksgiving, that is...

MUCH cooler weather has finally arrived here in S FL!!  Lovin' it.  Our windows are open and the breeze is blowing - I'm sure we will have to shut them later, but for now we're enjoying it.  We had a great day yesterday. Turkey in the oven nice and early.  Plenty of food to share for all 14 of us... everyone helped out.  After dinner everyone helped clean up.  Today - leftovers, of course.  I have bones and left over meat (some stuck to the bones) cooking for turkey broth as we speak - smells so good!!!  I will make soup tomorrow - yummo!!! And THEN on Sunday I will make more soup for a class at church. 

Our tree was JUST lit!!! Our youngest DS, who has to stay busy to be happy, put it up for me.  Now later this evening or tomorrow we'll put the decorations up!!!  I love Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Such a neat time of year.  The only problem we have  - our araticficial tree was purchased to go into our 20' high living room - we now spend the majority of our time in our 8' high family room - - - we can see the tree lights, but it's just not the same... know what I mean?  Oh well - last year we bought a real tree to put in the family room, but finances are tight now - we'll work with what we have and be glad we have the artificial one!!  Can't wait to see it decorated!!

Working on the quilt for my friend.... pieced and sandwiched - now quilting it by hand... I'll post pics as soon as it's done.

Wedding is a week from tomorrow - SO HARD TO BELIEVE!!!  Tons of travel picking family/wedding party up and then back to the airport...

Well, I'm going to see if we can go out to eat now - DH is home!!!

Oh, my goodness!

So sorry I've taken so long to get back here - TONS of stuff... DD and her fiance are here - we have been busy getting ready for the wedding and Thanksgiving and so much company after the wedding as his family is staying with us after the wedding for a few more days!!  Busy, busy, busy.  His family consists of Grandma, Mom, Dad, two sisters, three brothers and one of their friends possibly!!  Our usually quiet home will be full of activity for a bit of time.  And then the trips south to the airport seem endless for a bit here - oh my... so overwhelming.  I just suggested to DH last night that we make way to our retreat property for Christmas - just to get some quiet!!! :)  I hope he takes us!!! 

Wedding planning is hectic - so many people want to help  but they also want to tell us what we want!! ;) - - very frustrating on one hand but also very endearing - in a slight way.  We know what we want and how we want it... we meet in a day or two to finalize all plans with the person being the 'heavy' for us!!  Some last minute purchases right up to the wedding day!!

Thankfully one big thing for me - my outfit. I HAVE IT!!!  A nice A-line skirt/print with a 3/4 length sleeve and a 3/4 sleeve lightweight sweater - very, very pretty.  A friend of mine and gone into the store and put it aside for me and then DD and I went in to see it - I fell in love right away.  So glad to have that out of the way.  Next - the guys - hopefully this week they will be outfitted.

Thanksgiving dinner - have no idea who all, if anyone is even coming.  Invited family but we'll see what happens.  I love Thanksgiving and love having lots of people over - I hope it turns out a crowd this year.

Wedding plans

December 5th is just a short three weeks away - - - seems like forever since it was announced and now here it is!!!  Plans are coming together - but so hectic.  Elopement looks good - but she better not!! :)  Her dress is purchased and waiting for her to come home to see it.  Rehearsal dinner is set.  Reception - not so good - we are still looking for a place to have it - :(...  Food - well, that's a whole story in itself... Italian buffet - but so many cooks!! :)   Hope all goes well...

Otherwise things are ok - - - after my stint in the hosptial life is settling in again... back to quilting - a beautiful quilt in progress - simple patten/beautiful fabrics.  Can't wait to see them get it and see what they think.

Weather is gorgeous today here in S. FL!!!  If only it could be this way all year - I'd love it here then - well, maybe... nope - still want to be up north!!  Can't wait to get there...

Saturday

Well, here I sit - still recuperating from cellulitis.  Spent two days in the hospital on intravenous antibiotics.  Sent home with oral antibiotics and orders to keep my leg elevated... elevated it is!!!  And will be for a couple more days.  It is getting better daily.  Much improved each morning when I first look at it.  I am able to read a book and do some handquilting while down.  But I cannot wait until I'm back up and sewing on the machine - I have orders for several quilts!!  Want to get them done!! 

It's very hot here in S. FL - setting records with high temps again.  We'll probably skip Fall and go right to winter...  oh well we went from winter to summer this year - no spring...  I love FL winters!!!  The sky is so blue. 

Plans for the wedding are slowly but surely coming together.  Dec 5 will be here before we know it!!

I'm home

This past weekend found me very sick with the flu... Sparing you the details - it was the worst flu I have ever had - more pains than aches it seems.  But was better within about 36 hours. Just to wake up to something I've never experienced before...

I woke at midnight on Sunday - I noticed my leg was red - just thought it was how I'd slept so went back to sleep - Woke up Monday morning with a much redder, hotter, more swollen leg (mid-shin down).  Not being a doctor type person - I decided to let it go to see what happened.  Ended up in the ER on Tuesday - - diagnosis (after testing for blood clot) - cellulitis - needing intravenous antibiotics.  Two days in the hospital put a big bite into the infection and now I'm home.  Oral antibiotics for 10 days and a trip to the doctor in a week... hopefully a complete recovery will be achieved soon!!

ok... Here we go...

I promised a true attempt to make this interesting.  I've looked at so many other people's blogs to see what they do to make theirs interesting.  I see, often, things like Monday Menu, Wacky Wednesday - you know alliteration!!! - -- short of being REALLY genuis (which I'm not) or a copycat (which I'd rather  not be) I cannot think of anything so creative as something different for each day... consistency...  so, for today, Monday I'll just post the blocks for the bom's that five other ladies and myself are doing.  We began in July.  Each of the six of us chose 2 blocks each and we are each making blocks of the month.  I have through November done - plus one more (Ok, I got out of sequence on one of them!). I chose to do them in florals - all scrappy.  I love doing scrappy quilts I have found!!!  I will definitely be doing another one, or two, or three... :) I have chosen to make two blocks of each because I want a queen size quilt for our guest room - Ok here they are...

This is one that is called Antique Tile

This is called Lover's Knot

The other Lover's Knot

This one is called... ???? I forget!!! And I only have one - I do not like the block - but will do the other one to make sure my quilt is 'even.'! :)

This one is called Jacob's Ladder as is the next one

Depression Block for the next two

You can see how these are opposites too

This one and the next one is Snail's Trail - don't care a whole lot about this pattern either - made a mistake in one of them... :(

Here is the last one - Antique Tile again.

Flu

It hit Saturday and it hit hard... never hurt so badly and deeply before in my life.  It was bad.  All day Saturday I was sleeping off and on into Sunday afternoon... then this morning when I got up all was better - as if it never happened... except now I have something wrong with one of my legs.  The lower part of my left lef is read and hot - not swollen, a bit sore but not bad... keeping an eye on it.

Ok...

... I feel like I've approached this blog like a diet - "Starting tomorrow, I'm going to eat less"/ "Starting tomorrow, I'm going to blog faithfully/meaningfully."  EGAD!!!  I AM getting routine down here at home - and am really trying.  This morning as we were doing our character study for school we were discussing 'diligence' - I had to confess to the boys that I am not always the most diligent person and need to work onit as much as they should be.  They just sort of looked at me!!!  :)  It is sadly true - I used to be so self-disciplined - but am truly lacking of late. 

I am going to TRY really hard to be consistent with my blog offerings and hopefully will be able to give some words of wisdom from time to time.  Still want to keep all updated on our family as well.

SO - - - - I am going to spend some time this weekend committing myself to figuring out exactly what I want this blog to do... Here's to Monday and the unveiling... ;)

QUILT ORDERS

I am in the middle of making three quilt projects that others have ordered.  One lady has ordered a lapsize quilt for her husband and then she'd like a king size quilt for their bed!!! :)  Another lady who was a teacher's aide at the school where I taught for two years is meeting with me next week to talk about a queensize for herself!  Slowly but surely this will happen.  I'd love to be able to do this all the time but I just need to find an outlet for my quilting projects.  I have a new table runner ready to be quilted - it only took me a couple hours to get it together and will take about three hours, maybe four to finish it - I have stockings ready, some little kleenex package holders (Great teacher gifts!) to sell - just no market... maybe one day.

Haiti

Well, DH came home on Monday - needless to say we've been busy since.  His trip was very successful and all he wanted to accomplish he did!  Pictures in a day or two.  One of the guys who was scheduled to go with him could not - he cut his finger, to the bone, and the doctor advised him, strongly, to stay out of any third world country!!  He will hopefully be able to go in January when we go again.  The other two men who went enjoyed their time there. 

DD is sick - in Haiti.  Seems she may have gotten bitten by a mosquito carrying dengue fever - nothing fatal, thank goodness, but she is still sick and I cannot be there to help her.  Thankfully she has her future mil there - she is taking care of her :)

Took orders yesterday for Angel Food boxes - well, only one order so far.  We do have about six more orders this time than before - that is a good thing.  Prayerfully we will have tons more next time. 

Sunday and cooler weather

Finally - a break from the hot weather of summer - we woke up to the 50's this morning -what a welcome cool front... just hope the cooler weather is here to stay.  After record breaking October weather this is so nice - our windows are open and the breezes are blowing.  Our sky is the beautiful winter blue of S FL!!!

And DH comes home tomorrow!!!  Been a long week - lots of emotions and mental stuff going on - spiritual warfare for sure... he did, however, get to go see our dd and her fiance as a surprise - I'm sure they were glad to see him!! 

Been busy while he has been gone - I finished and sent the four quilts to IN - hope the kids love them as much as I've loved making them... can't wait to hear and see pictures...  I will post some here of the tops - never had the chance to photograph the pics of finished quilts - camera in Haiti and the quilts needed to go - it is COLD in IN!!  Pictures later this week...

I made a table runner top - same table runner I already have but DD wanted one to take to Haiti with her - she will get to take it next time she goes (Dec.).  I also was able to make three blocks for my BOM with five other women.  I am done through November now - need to get Dec done soon as Dec will be a very busy month for us - because of the wedding...  and Christmas... and getting ready to go to Haiti in January. 

I love being busy at home.  Tomorrow night we will be having chili - cool weather is a perfect time for it!!
More later in the week...

Finally, some pictures

This is my oldest stepdaughter with her quilt - she chose all the fabrics and loves the quilt...

This is the back of her quilt - You can see the quilting quite well

This is my new nephew (Great nephew, actually) Isn't he cute?

Can you see where I quilted his name on here - Jonathan Paul?

Here is the quilt - the yellow/white is flannel.  His mom loves it - and he will too!! :)

  So DH is still in Haiti -we are missing him but he is doing God's will so we are keeping busy trying to not miss him too much!! :)

Good days/bad days

Anyone reading this, and I know one person checks in!, knows I just resigned my job that I held for nine and a half years.  Without going into detail I have had a rough three years - mentally and emotionally.  Now it seems to be effecting me physically also from time to time.  I seem to suddenly run out of steam at odd hours of the day.  Today, DH and I were out to lunch and to buy some items for him to take on his out of the country trip on Monday.  We ate at Olive Garden (gift card!) and as we were finishing, I ran out of steam... this usually means a two hour nap - the sooner the better...  we still had to go shopping.  I've not really spoken much to anyone, DH included, about my last three years - learned as a child to just suck it up and take it.  SO... when we came out of the store something was said and I let him know - briefly, that I am not the 'wimpless' person people seem to think I am... while he is wonderful, he just does not understand... I came home and took a nap... still in a funk, but physically feel better :)  Now, I just need to get up and start tying the last quilt... and then start on the order of the one I have to do, plus quilt another top AND make our DD's wedding quilt.  Thankfully, quilting makes me relaxed...

Just found out...

... how I could make a more intersting looking page... hope you enjoy!!

Quilt Lessons

Many years ago, we won't say when!, I came to college here in S FL.  I was away from home for the very first time for a long period of time.  I mean I'd spent, at the most two weeks, away from the rest of my family.  Now, I was about to embark on the adventure of my life.  I came down a week early (that's when my ride was leaving!).  I stayed with my, then future, brother-in-law's sister who'd been here a couple of years ahead of me for that first week.  Then into the dorms, with a good friend from high school as a roommate.  Do you remember that first semester in college, away from home - a small town as a hometown, where you had TONS of friends?  Well, I had plenty of friends my first semester, but it wasn't family.  Then the rains came.  S FL - rain... uh huh!!  It was a rare thing for November but it was RAINY that Thanksgiving.  Every year there was a Thanksgiving Banquet so the Jr. class in the college could raise money.  The electricity in the dorm was out - how in the world could we get dressed and ready!?!?  Then my friend, Cheryl, decided to invite a couple of us, maybe three - don't remember - to one of her classmate's mobile homes on campus so we could get ready there - they had electric.  Little did I know how that trip to their home would change my life. 
I met a man and his wife I'd seen around campus but did not know... Mr. and Mrs. H.  - and their three year old son and BRAND SPANKING NEW twins.  To make a long story get to the point - quilt lessons - suffice it to say - this entire family influenced my life - by entire I mean entire - - - His parents and younger sister moved down soon after, his next oldest brother/sil were already here and his youngest brother/sil moved down shortly after.  They were ALL here!! I became very good friends with the whole family. 
However, as time would have it... I graduated (after many, many, many visits to their various homes) and moved on... they began moving away (some of them) and we all went our ways, sometimes crossing paths...

THEN - Facebook happened.  I re-connected with the wives for two of the brothers and also the younger sister...  The younger sister - DA - is about to become a grandmother and wanted to learn how to quilt - to make the baby a quilt, of course.  We were just not able to get together .... until yesterday... she called me as her husband was out of town for the weekend.  I just happened to have planned a 'teacher work day' with the boys so I had no responsibility there!!  DA and I were talking - we had YEARS, literally, of catching up to do - but to the quilt.  I was trying to explain to her what to do - we just were not communicating - so I asked if she had a webcam - sure enough!! - we both got on our computers and webcammed our first quilt lesson!!! :)  It was a blast!!  Her granddaughter will now have a wonderfully beautiful quilt and we have re-connected - hopefully to the point that we can continue to share our lives more often.  We spent four hours on our quilt lesson... ending it just in time for me to be able to get our supper prepared and still be ready when my DH returned home from work.  I love quilt lessons!! :)

Ok, Wednesday already

I can hardly believe it's already Wednesday.  The days are just flying by.  I was supposed to post a recipe on Monday, wasn't I?  My days at home are extrememely busy - I'm so surprised.  I truly thought when I came home from working after nine and a half years I'd be so looking for something to do that I wouldn't know what to do... NOT!!  :)  I am busy all the time -  not enough time in any day!! :)  I'm glad - it's better than being bored and looking for something to do.  Tomorrow night we have company coming so I'll post THAT recipe now... Black beans and rice... it's a 'meeting' dinner for those who are going to Haiti next Monday :) - don't you think the whole beans and rice thing is appropriate!?  Anyways - make the beans like you normally would - soak them overnight in water (or boil for a bit of time first thing in the morning).  Drain the original water and fill the pan about an inch above the beans, bring to a boil.  Add a diced onion, some garlic (however much you like to your taste).  Do not add salt until the beans are cooked.  After the beans have cooked for several hours they should be soft.  Add salt, pepper and any seasoning.  Make the rice (I use brown rice) before the beans are done.  I also cook my rice in chicken broth - a tastier rice!!  Do not drain the beans, just set the pot on the table, set the pan of cooked rice on the table.  While both are cooking - dice a red onion, a red pepper, mash an avocado, shred some cheddar cheese, and put some sour cream in a bowl.  Keep all these in separate bowls and place them on the table also.  Let everyone put their own toppings on the beans/rice... so good - you may want to provide some extra hot seasoning for those who are hearty and like some spiciness!!  ENJOY! - This is very tasty and addicting.

Sunday evening

It's quiet in our home right this minute so I thought I'd sneak a post in...  Boys are in bed for the night - DD and fiance have made it to Haiti for the next seven weeks - we talked to her today via Skype! - and DH is outside.  Old "I Love  Lucy" reruns are on the TV - but I'm not watching it.

Church this morning, sandwiches for lunch, nap and then Bible study tonight.  Home and quiet for the rest of the evening. 

Beginning tomorrow I will try to post a recipe I've found that we enjoy each Monday.  I would LOVE to be able to post something each day of the week - but time will tell.

I am almost done with one of the quilts for my great nieces/nephews - binding almost handstitched all the way around... the binding is machine sewn on another (just waiting to be handstitched on the back.)  I will begin the last two tomorrow - need to piece the backs for them, tie them and then bind them also.  I promised they'd be on their way in two weeks time so I'd better hurry.  I then have another top to quilt for my stepdaughter but have to wait to be able to buy the backing.  And I have two orders for quilts - a lap size and a king size (both to the same person).  I will need to get those done quickly.  I am letting people know that if they will buy the fabrics/thread/batting/etc for any items I will donate the labor costs to our dd and her husband to be in Haiti for their support - for one year.  Today I gave the ordered item (a dish soap 'apron') to someone who'd ordered it - wasn't paid - hopefully she will give me money for it next week :) - if not, well, a lesson learned - get money up front when possible...  we'll see.  Granted it was from scraps, but I STILL had to pay for it at some point... I will need to just let it go if she chooses to not pay...

Well, DH just walked in - I will go for now - tomorrow I will post a recipe of some kind :)

Saturday night

Well, here I am again.  I had a busy three days.
On Thursday we took DD and her fiance to the airport (1.5 hrs away) EARLY in the morning - made for a very long day.  Came home and intended to get the backings ready for four quilts that need to be done.  Could not even make it to the bed hardly - before I went back to sleep - way too early to be up - we had to get up at 3:30!!!  Went to church to do Angel Food Ministry with our Food Pantry people.  Sold six boxes!!  Then home to continue recuperating!

Friday spent about six hours on the quilts - backing's made, batting's cut, fronts ironed.  Then a friend came over to help with the tying - we finished tying two of them. 

Saturday, spent the morning machine sewing the binding on the quilts (what I did not finish yesterday) and hand sewed about 1.5 of one of them.  It is coming along nicely now.  But I am TIRED.  My DH says it's age - I pointed out I'm ONLY 47 - he said, "That's what I mean!!"  :)  Gotta' love 'im!! :)

This evening we had to go out and buy a new computer.  The first two 'sales' we found - they were 'just' sold out - we went to five or six stores and ended up buying one at WalMart - we still have to buy MS Word - have a trial version...  Happy to be back on line though.

Tomorrow is Sunday and I hope that this is the week I can keep up with this blog and begin downloading then uploading some pictures...

Baby Quilt

Ok, the quilt is just about done - I will have to take pictures of it and post them.  I have to sew the binding on today, ship it off tomorrow.

Up around 7:00 this morning.  Out to the garden with DH this morning.  We have so many zinnias - we've had a bouquet on our table now for about two weeks - just add to it each day - and take away the bad ones...  beautiful flowers and such a variety of colors.  God has a wonderful creative streak!! ;)  We see two blooms now on the marigolds - thought we'd have more by now - just not there yet.  Four eggplant will be ready soon - they are so yummy fresh from the garden.  We had okra last night - can't seem to find a way to cook it that everyone likes.

Came back in and watched Fox and Friends and then decided to use up the last  couple of batches of Ezekiel flour I made the other day - DS#1 was up first so he chose chocolate chip miniature muffins.  I had another batch of flour so I added a banana and a few chips and made regular size muffins also - they'll all be gone by tonight - wonderful snacking!!

Studying Esther in Sunday School.  Trying to go more indepth on my own.  It's an amazing book to study and analyze.  I don't know alot about the customs of the day but will find out what I can.

This morning was beautiful - I also started cleaning the wicker (plastic) furniture out on the patio - we were driving by a house the other day - it was out on the garbage pile so the guys went and 'garbage picked' and brought it home!!  NOTHING is wrong with it - except a bit of cleaning needed.  I used bleach stuff on it - it's getting there.  It's comfortable enough to not need cushions!! But that's not to say we won't eventually get some.  I thought this morning would've been a good time to go out and sit for a few minutes... maybe tomorrow morning - it was MUCH cooler this morning than it has been.

Well, need to get off here and finish the binding.  Will post pictures later.

Welcome

I have tried my hand on blogging in the past, but have never really tried too hard.  I was working outside our home and did not have much time for such things - now I can do it at least every other day, so I am here to hopefully and some thoughts and/or ideas that can help others.  I love to quilt and sew and take care of our home.  I am constantly looking for ways to save money, decorate less expensively and find healthy recipes for our family. 

Today I picked up a new cookbook I'd ordered - The Truth about Whole Grains - I looked through it on our way home - it looks great and I will be reading it tonight as I finish up the evening... I'll let you know what I found out in it!! 

I am currently working on a few new quilts and a few older projects that are needing to be finished.  I'll post more about those in the next few days and post pictures...

For now - goodnight.