President's Day Weekend~~~~

I had a medical appointment Friday morning and didn't know how my body would react to the testings, so took the whole day off (good thing I did too, my tummy didn't like me for a while!) The "tech" didn't see anything amiss, but we have to wait on all the lab reports altho I'm not worried.

After my tummy had calmed down...I hit the road! I met with some friends for some shopping and food on the east side of Columbus before heading on west...FUN!! FUN!!FUN!! After quite a few breaks along the way, I arrived in Bellbrook, OH. Spent a few hours with Lesa then we headed over to help set up for the retreat..I was fortunate enough to be able to attend a retreat sponsored by the Miami Valley Quilt Guild (http://www.miamivalleyquiltersguild.org/) that was held Saturday-Monday. No school Monday, so this was a real treat for me!!Three days of NO cooking, NO cleaning, No laundry, NO "Mom!" awwwwww!

Can you imagine 110 ladies at a retreat just sewing and quilting?? What a blast! Lots of fun, fellowship, and food! Gained a lot of new ideas and made new friendships..lost A LOT of sleep but worth every minute of it!!! This is where the retreat was held: http://www.bergamocenter.org/. Would I go again--yep, in a heartbeat! A huge thanks to the retreat committee for all the wonderful work they put into the planing! really hated to have to leave Monday night and make the 3+ hr. drive home but.......

(will be continued...)

Mr. Crud

is visiting our home and I wish someone would take him away! The Hubby was sick a few weeks ago and I escaped, or so I thought! Got up Saturday morning and went back to bed! I at least am feeling better, but oh the stuffy nose, achy bones feeling is still with me. An COLD!! I am never cold, but for the last few days, I've been freezing! This to shall pass, I'm sure.

A lot of the kids on my bus route have the same thing...some worse! I haven't had a "full" route in over a week! Am praying this all leaves soon and SPRING comes!! We are getting snow right now and cold weekend temps predicted--of course, a weekend when I have to work all day Saturday---

Been lazy, playing computer games and reading-----

Irene

My Dad.....

...fell last Tuesday and hasn't recovered very well so am asking for your thoughts and prayers.
He didn't break anything, but really bruised his back. Being a heart and diabetic patient on top of this, leaves to a very slow recovery!

From Tuesday-Friday early afternoon he was in the hospital. We then had him moved to Walnut Hills Rehab Center. All has NOT gone so well there either! He is confused at times and just seems to have given up. ACK!!!! We are praying that everything starts in an up-swing this week!

Needless to say, I haven't touched my sewing machine lately! Nor have I been able to consentrate on hand stitching. Maybe if I cleaned up the studio, I'd be able to steal a few minutes here and there? So, I'm off to see what can be accomplished before heading back to work. Will stop and see my Dad on the way home this evening...this will become a daily thing for now.

Have a great week!

A tornado visits us....

...this afternoon! Stacy and I had just finished up the strawberries when hubby came home telling us a town west of us had their tornado sirens going......about then the sirens in our town went off! Not the best feeling in the world! We delayed Stacy leaving for home as the sky was getting really dark and not a bird could be heard! I am so happy we did as she would driven right into a tornado!!!!

Our State Route through town runs east/west and the darkest skies were to the north of the road.......standing on our back deck,which is just south of 39, we watched the rolling dark clouds then as the rain drops began to fall hurried inside and to safety as the sirens blew again.....

Yes, a tornado passed through less than 2000 feet from my back yard but we were spared any damage! Several businesses were damaged, some barns on nearby farms were damaged, a few houses lost roofs or parts of them (including my Aunt), trees uprooted, power lines downed, and more flooding but at last report--NO ONE was injured!!!!

at my Aunt's House (also lost their garage roof)

~New Ride~

Haven't been in the studio since Monday altho I feel the "itch!" I've been pretty busy doing our taxes and at work--moving my "stuff" from bus #20 into bus #8 and test driving #8. It will take a few "runs" to be completely comfortable driving the new bus, but so far I really like it!

On the road for the first offical run at 2:40 pm this afternoon!

Ucky---

is the way I have felt the past few days...very upset tummy and just plain don't feel like doing much of anything! Feeling better today, so let's cross our fingers that whatever got me is gone!

Did start a "hobo" bag, but need to get the "rings" before I can finish...hope to do that tonight. Not much of anything else accomplished except bakes some cookies for the college kids (who are stopping in town tomorrow night--Yippee!

Now back to work......................

~Sweet Corn~

Very little going on in the sewing room this week! "The" family has managed to gather up 50 doz ears of sweet corn that had to be put into the freezers (65 quarts) this week! Did some on Monday, then again on Wednesday, and finished up today.....Not even sure I could eat any right now--I am corned out!

I have been stealing a few minutes here and there at the hand quilting frame---going is slow but I see progress.

Am going to be alone for a few days as DH is on-the-road again--I hate when he's gone over the weekend, time drags! Also, it's that time again so I dug out my paperwork from last school year--. Am I ready to go back? Yes and no! I miss the kids but I don't miss getting up at 4:30! And I want the summer weather to last a loooooong time!

Think I'll go sit on the deck with a glass of iced tea and let the water fountain sooth my spirit tonight............




Irene

Ut-OH

The screen on my laptop took a dump! It shattered and most of my pictures are on there! Hoping to finally hear from the repairman this week on a replacement??

I have been busy and will add some updates as soon as I can get the pictures!

Irene

Catching up?

At least I'm trying to! Sent a few days in bed last week with the "crud." Not my idea of fun!! Anyway, am better and trying to get caught up....many basketball games going on this week, Final Four in Columbus for our girls team, and the guys are in Regionals. I can't make it to all of the games, but sure wish them the best of luck..... GO HAWKS!!! This also messes up the work schedule with a 3 PM game two hours away!!! Not sure sometimes if I'm coming or going!

Also start spring break at 5 PM on Friday---AYEEE!!! Plans are to be out of town a few days---wonder who would dare to mess those plans up for me???? Have to decide what I am taking with me as time will be spent sewing/quilting---UNINTERRUPTED!!!! Is it Friday yet?????

Haven't sewn much, played around with some designs tho.......interesting. Am working on "spring" cleaning the house.....temperatures are warmer and the suns been shining so want to get this all done before I leave......am leaving the yard to Adin!!! (well, I can dream right?)

So have a good week and I'll check in from Lesa's!




Irene

Busy busy busy...

Been busy around here, not sure doing what, but time slips away from me!

I am still working on the black and silver quilt....so tired of making 9-patches, but they need to be made! Also helping Stacy.....she definately is "into" piecing quilt tops! She raided my stash again and pulled fabrics for a "Jelly Bargelly." She was home again yesterday and we got the strips all cut and she started sewing them together.....will be intersting to see the final outcome! I also have basted Stacy's third quilt top and hope to start quilting that later this week--oh wait, I have field trip tomorrow, so may have to wait until next week......

Mic is home on spring break, so spend as much time with her and her S.O. as I can......seems we just get involved in a project and I have to go back to work . But, I am thnakful I have a job to go to!

We've also been baking a lot of cookies! Am sure if ther are an left on Sunday, Mic will take them back to school with her! Some days I feel like all I do is cook and clean! Am ok with that too as there are so many days when everyone is gone that I spend alone (and no, I don't like that one bit!)

So for now, I back to the kitchen, another batch of cookies waiting to be baked!

UT-OH

Nothing much going on as far as quilting.....so sad. I did make Mic a pair of lounging pants out of Nascar fabric this past week before my world fell apart. Due to some "life crisis" I am taking a leave of absence. Hopefully after school's back in session everything will get back on track. I don't enjoy the situation I'm in, but am positive with time it will get better.

back soon, I hope.



Irene

Tired.....

Been a busy week. Cleaning and moving rooms around here at home....was going to finish up today but a phone call changed my plans.

My Mom called at 8 this morning and informed me that Dad had taken a turn for the worse, he's been sick since Tuesday. In fact she was in the process of calling 911......I of course dropped everything and dove the five miles to their house. Got there before the "squad" and found a very pale, clammy, man sitting in his lift chair. Took his b/p and checked his sugar level immediately and they were ok........did find out he was having dizziness again and felt like passing out-----not exactly what I wanted to hear! He's already fallen 14 times since Jan. 1st!

A ride to ER in the squad for him and Mom and I followed in the car. Tests were run, again, and about all they can find is an inner ear infection and soe dehydration. Since he already has a lot of health roblems, it was decided he would stay in the hospital for a few days for observation. I fneally left there around 5:30 . Nine hours at the hospital was NOT how I had planned on spending my day alone! I WAS going toget my sewing room cleaned up and everything in place so I could sew and quilt again next week----oh well, my dad will be 76 on Wednesday, so time spent with him is pretty precious right now!

So now I am going to try to get some sleep and will check in later this week....

Irene

Painting & Moving........

I haven't touched my sewing machine lately! Believe me, I look at it longingly daily, but just have been to busy with other "things."

Ry and Amber found a 3 bedroom mobile home last Monday to rent, getting them ut of thier small one bedroom apartment. BUT, all the walls were a ucky gray/black, so we started painting. Primer was put on Tuesday and Wednesday and we started the final coats on Thursday. All repainted except the "office" by noon on Saturday and the moving began. Had everything moved by 6 but not unpacked.......they will take their time unpacking this week after work.

I also attended my 35th class reunion Saturday evening---what a joy to see some classmates I haven't seen in awhile (some 37 years!). Had a wondeful time.

Yesterday I decided it was time to finally empty out the storage room and turn it into the guest bedroom it is supposed to be! Mic wasn't to thrilled with me as she had the day off and had to help! But, there is actually "moving" room in there now. Two trips to the Goodwill box, a few bags into the trash, everthing sorted and put back into place.....looks pretty good if I say so myself! Now if only the other two rooms I want to change around were done! Maybe if I ask nicely, Stac will come home and help me? Mic has to work everyday now until she leaves for college so my "helper" is gone during the day.........we shall see.

Kids that are here tonight are watching a ball game and on thier laptops, so maybe I'll go sew for a little while? Altho a nap sounds wonderful!

Irene

Day to Day

Last week was a really hard week for me! I am so used to having people around me all the time and all of a sudden I found myself totally alone!!! I will admit I had a breakdown one day, but through the thoughts & prayers of friends, I made it through! Now, I guess I know what I'm in for when Mic leaves for college next month?? But then I will also be back to work, so may be able to deal with it better?

Anyway, I did get to work on the quilt I started for "T." Thought I was done with the top until I laid it out to match up the backing---whoa! The top wasn't "square" like it should of been so now I am redoing all the borders. Have the last round to add yet. Need to finish it up today as I have an appointment with a machine quilter on Thursday to quilt it.

Stac was home one day and looking at a quilt book Carolyn (http://ohioquilter.blogspot.com/)sent me. She saw a quilt pictured in there she really liked so went on a hunt for fabric in "stash." She found a few larger pieces she liked and ask if I thought she could make the top? Well, yeah, you can sew and you can learn how to piece quilts too! She left for home with one block completed, the fabric, the book, one of my cutting mats, a cutter, an 18" ruler and a square ruler! Oh, she also grabbed the back-up sewing machine. I get a few calls a day when she runs into snags, but she is progressing well. I can't wait to see the top! I am thrilled that at least one of my girls is starting to share my love of quilting!

Mic is working again now that she's home from Chicago (she went there with the youth group last week). She also is playing some soccer and softball. Keeps me busy in the evevnings. Last night she played soccer in Wooster at 7. We found out earlier in the day that a gal we met in Hawaii was playing at 6, so we ventured up early to watch Makenzie play. They then stayed for Mic's game and we all went to Applebee's for dinner. Was wonderful seeing our new friends from Mansfield again!

I hope to do a little better keeping my blog updated. Would love if you'd leave a note telling me if anyone actually reads this!

Now, on to face the beutiful sunny day god has given us!

Irene

In Memory of Cody

We pause to remember Cody Brackin, Michelle's classmate, who was killed in an auto accident October 10, 2008. We miss you lots buddy!

Landscaping Project

We bought and moved to this property Aug. 2005, just before winter so didn't get much of a chance to redo some of the landscaping. Then, with the passing of my In-Laws in the summer of 2006, it was pushed off again. Don't know where 2007 went but we finally have started!

before

after

before

after

I can hardly wait for all the flowers to bloom now! Just wish the rest of it was done!

Another last.......

Tonight before the last home softball game, the three seniors were honored.


(Lauren, Amy, Michelle)

Each received a scrapbook of their senior year in softball, a monogramed fleece blanket, a softball basket filled with candy, and a candy bouquet. Of course, none of the Mother's shed a tear--wrong! Now what will we do in the evenings since we won't be at the ballpark anymore?

Amy rules 1st base:

Third base belongs to Michelle:


Lauren doninates the mound:


Best wishes to each of you as you continue on life's journey. I will miss all thegreat times we had together!

Computer problems

We are having computer/server problems and are basically crashed. Only able to get on-line occassionaly......will be back on-line asap.

Until then, enjoy the wonderful spring weather!


Irene

Another Sad week

Another sad week for our family. Our dear friend, Sue Davenport, went to her Heavenly home Monday evening due to complications from open heart surgery. Many years ago Sue and her husband, Bill, helped us when our children wanted to raise and show rabbits. For ten plus years, they were there at our side through the wins and losses at the shows! Our two campers parked side by side was a familiar sight! Sue and I worked also worked together through 4-H for many years.

Now there will be an empty seat at the cook-outs and picnics and the campground will never be the same as "The Life of the Party" has moved on.....How she will be missed.

May she rest in peace.
Irene

Prayers for Lesa

Thoughts and prayers for my friend, Lesa (http://www.lesabame.blogspot.com/) today during surgery. May it be successful and may she have a speedy recovery!



Luv ya GF!
Irene