Quilt Tale

Last week a long-time family friend passed away from cancer. But one good thing happened at the visitation....

When her youngest daughter was pregnant I made this baby quilt for her. If you know me, I tend to go overboard on baby quilts when it comes to size; I feel that if I am going to spend that much time making it, then the child should get more than a few months of being able to use it! I do NOT make itty-bitty baby quilts! Well, this quilt tale shows why.

The first thing her mother said when she saw me was, "She still sleeps with the baby quilt that you made her."The baby's name is Cindy, and I finally got to meet her at the visitation for her grandma. Her mother introduced me as "this is the lady that made your baby quilt that you still sleep with." I got a hug from the THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD and a thank you! It seems that it is her pride and joy. I can't tell you how warm and fuzzy that made me feel! After all this time, for her to not only still have it, but to still cherish it. Doing the happy dance, y'all.... And apparently it is still in good condition, even after MULTIPLE washings. So, I did good. After that moment, I decided to not hang up the needles just yet.... still have some love to share.

Incidentally, that's my youngest daughter (now known as Amanda) holding the quilt for display. In the other photo that I can't find here at the library, she and Alae are holding it together so that you can see the actual size. This one was more for detail. Amanda is now a senior in high school, so looking at this photo really brings back the memories.....

Fuzzy fuzzy joy joy. Gives me faith that I will be able to finish the Super Quilt that I have planned...... and that it will be worth the needle-stabs.

I'm Baaaaack!

Wow, with all the excitement of the NEW APARTMENT I didn't realize how long since I have posted!

We are all moved in now, still plenty of boxes and bags to sort out and figure out the placement of their contents. But have movies on the shelf, books on the shelf, and some of the knick-knacks on the shelf. All different shelves, that is one really nice thing about the apartment, plenty of shelves and closets and hidey-holes. (I even have a Harry Potter room in our bedroom). Plus with the shelf units we brought from the old hole, I mean home, lots and lots of space for display.

Less than a month there, and yesterday I felt the need to rearrange the bedroom furniture. Can you say "NEVER AGAIN," children? Wouldn't have been so bad had we not had to work around unpacked boxes. Would have been much worse without my brother there to help with moving the bed! And all the other moving he helped with...

Thanks also to John (picture to be posted later when I find what safe spot I put the digital camera in)... for lifting, for driving, for the new tv stand, and especially for my famed Half Coffee Cup that I have been looking for ever since my folks sold the restaurant back in the late seventies! Will post a picture of that one too..... eventually.....

But the best house-warming gift of all was a visit from my bestest friend in this and any other universe! Diana and her hubby Oscar drove all the way from Ypsi to see me. Yes, I finally got to meet the famous Oscar, and I approve of him. (grin) In spite of some hormonal issues from my oldest, a great time was had by all. This is the first time I have seen Dusty in person since before I was pregnant with my son, so it was a visit long looked forward to! And worth the wait.... although I hope it won't be another thirteen years before the next visit! I love my Diana, she is the true Google Goddess. Even when she wasn't around, she has been a cornerstone of my life.

The kids are home from the dreaded foster care, Liam has his own room (being the only boy, he gets the special treatment). Ruthi (now going by Amanda) and Alanda have to share a room. This is not the best idea in the world, but it's only a three bedroom apartment. And I am NOT sleeping in the living room with a perfectly good bedroom downstairs that is big enough for my beautiful BED (thanks again, Katrina!!). They will live; they shared a room when they were much younger and survived. And they get the biggest bedroom, which is just about big enough to be two bedrooms. So they have plenty of space (they would argue with that statement!), it's just a matter of getting everything arranged "fairly"... glad I have a set of earplugs!

Still trying to find another job besides the laundrymat; still trying to figure out how to afford a car; still allergic to cardboard boxes; still jumping through the hoops for the government. Some things never change.

Still helping with the music system for the Community Unlimited play, The Tales of Scherezade. Still trying to get the songs out of my head while washing dishes, laundry, typing.... At least they are all in tune when I hear them in my head..... {giggle}

Rumors of My Death, Yada Yada Yada

Still alive. Just very busy: packing, trying to find a new home, trying to get the damn Hotmail to work here at the library, working with Community Unlimited, packing, reading (now hooked on Kim Harrison and P.N. Elrod), crafting, laundry, new group I joined on Yahoo (thanks, Dusty!!!), watching movies (waiting for "new" Vicar of Dibley tapes from the library, and drooling over Capt. Jack Sparrow in At World's End), writing letters to my beloved children who are still in foster care, and trying to not overdose on pain pills and anti-depressants....





Amanda Ruth had Concert Band Festival last weekend; they garnered straight 1s (perfect score). Liam has now read all of the Harry Potter books (except for Deathly Hallows, a little too intense for him right now) and is working on the Charlie Bone books by Jenny Nimmo (by this time, he is probably finished with them). Casting is scheduled for this week for the community play, Scherezade, Amanda and Alanda both want the leading part. Both would be excellent for it, but then, I admit to being biased!

Then, to add to all the stress, I get the message that my Mom is in the hospital from high blood pressure. She went home yesterday, I got time on my cell phone and called her, and found out the Rest of The Story: she had had a mild stroke. So she is now home, not driving, using a walker, but able to speak clearly again. Off work for awhile, just what she needs to reduce the stress in HER life (she is the only wage earner, Dad is retired). My younger sister has previously had at least one mini-stroke (that *I* know of); so the news that my cholesterol was "a little high" at my annual check-up was no surprise. Actually, it has been "a little high" for the past five years, but apparently not high enough to warrant medication for it. This year I did get one surprise, my blood sugar was "a little high" as well. Normally my blood sugar is too low; I was always kind of relieved about that, as there is a history of "The D Word" in my family. But as my stepmom said, too low can change overnight to too high. Gee, here I was so happy because with all the stress and depression and DBFs I had been eating less and walking more and actually lost close to 20 pounds, thus thinking I was getting healthier. But no, just the opposite. When will I learn, STOP THINKING because it SO frequently turns out to be bass-ackwards!!!!!!

Thank Goddess for the Internet, my friends Dusty and Deb and my new friends at the disabled pagans group!

Bah Humbug

'Nuff said.

Unlike Ebenezeer Scrooge, I won't be finding the inherent Christmas spirit this year (although I am living with the Spirit of Christmas past, everyone who missed the play this year really missed a great performance). Not that anybody cares (except Dusty), but y'all should remember the old adage, "If Momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy" and guess what, Momma ain't happy. We will be celebrating a new holiday when the kids come home, it shall be known forevermore as Dickless Bastard Day. Until then, small dolls shall be getting piercings, voodoo style... not as actual voodoo, please understand, as I DON'T do the dark side of magick. It is strictly therapy. And yes, it feels good. At least I am honest about my failings.

Have been cleaning out my stashes -- crafts, that is! Have a box of yarn for Martha, she knits afghans and lap robes with her church circle to donate to long-term care facilities. (With thanks to George Carlin for correcting my politically incorrect use of the phrase, nursing home.) And a bag of fabrics for Aunt Sally, whom I HOPE is still quilting. If not, then at least I know she will find a good home for the stuff. Have donated boxes upon boxes to the local thrift shop, and still have more boxes at home. Don't ask about the bags of trash that have left the house! I am trying to find homes for everything usable, rather than just throw away everything that I don't desperately need at this moment in time. What can't be used, I don't feel guilty disposing of, but if it is still serviceable-- well, I wasn't raised to just trash stuff, there are others that may need or want what I don't. So better that they get it, than to have the dumps filled up with items that are still good. For those who disagree and think that I should just play Bag Everything And Throw It Away No Matter What It Is, take a flying leap. I am sticking to my guns (metaphysically speaking, as there are no guns in my house, haven't been for a long time and probably a very good thing right now!). But I digress... if it is still good, it will go to another home, not just get trashed. It's my stuff and as an American I hope that I still have the right to dispose of my belongings as I wish. Although as a low-income American, my rights are minimal, in the system as it stands now.

Anyway, happy frigging whatever holiday you celebrate, and if you need books (yes, I am getting rid of books, mark this day on your calendars, people!) or clothes, please stop by the house soon. It's (almost) all going....

My Mom's Treasure

This is an ashtray from my grandparents' restaurant. Cousin Shelley's cousin gave it to her after his mom died, and Shelley gave it to my mother at the family reunion this summer. This dates back even before my time; I don't know exactly when, but I know as a child in the 60s they used plain glass ashtrays without advertising. So when Shelley gave this to my mom, it became a Genuine Family Heirloom. Since I don't get it until mom passes on (if my brother doesn't accidentally break it by then!), she was kind enough to let me photograph it. So this photo is my heirloom, and I hope very much that I don't get the real thing for a LONG time! I love my mommy!

I Needle Little Lovin'

I got to try my hand at spinning Saturday at a craft festival. I totally sucked at it, but was great fun to try!

This is a photo of some of the famous recycled tote-bags I have been working on. The red one was a gift to a neighbor, the two smaller ones are currently in use for small projects when I am on-the-go, and I also made a purple one like the big red one for myself. The big ones (and some of the small ones) have an extra "pocket" inside to tuck scissors, hook, etc. Is this a great use for old laundry soap bottles or what! And there are more to come, of a totally different design. The smaller ones shown are made using old bleach bottles. The unshown design... is made from all sorts of laundry soap bottles. Photo forthcoming when I get a new battery for my camera (it's an older one that uses the more expensive watch batteries, not the cheapie AA ones...) Can't complain about the cost of the better batteries, as much as I get to use my camera nowadays, the batteries literally last years. Can't even remember what year I last replaced them! (Not that THAT is surprising, I can't remember squat anymore...)

Have also been refining the pattern I have for 2-needle socks. The original pattern is for 2-3 year old kids; by changing needle sizes I have been able to make them adult size. Even doubled the yarn and use size 15 needles to make super-thick ones. Yummy warm, but need to refine the leg part a little more. Have been partying with the box of yarn Dusty sent and making shorty socks and super-sorty socks. The super-shorty ones are basically just slippers, but there are a lot of people that wear socks that are that short, so I am calling them socks! They are so pretty, because Dusty sends BEAUTIFUL yarns! My mom will be getting a green pair for Christmas, made with super-soft green yarn and green eyelash yarn that Dusty sent; luckily Mom doesn't get online unless I am with her to help, so I can tell that big secret! And will include a photo when I get the famous batteries. (Actually have the socks FINISHED already. Wow me!!) And I totally love the result, so will be making quite a few more pairs for her (and eventually myself--- always after everyone else's). Providing I still have use of my hands after all the typing I am doing today!

Watched "Phenomenon" this week, or at least parts of it. Warning: VENTING NEXT MILE! One fellow claimed to be channeling the spirit of an author to learn what selected item was in a sealed box. He communicated via "spirit writing".

The item turned out to be a toy car. The "author's" description was: "Metal. Rectangle. 4 weels."
Yes, that is an accurate transcription. "Weels". Now, if *I* were a deceased author, communicating by WRITING on LIVE NATIONAL TV, I would certainly take the brief half second necessary to SPELL THE WORD "WHEELS" CORRECTLY!!!!! An AUTHOR, for crying out loud! I wanted to reach into the screen and bitch-slap the guy. And tell him that his acting sucked worse than my spinning; did a great impression of a gran mal seizure, but not of interacting with spirits. Unless he was being possessed by a demon, and we all know that authors aren't demons: EDITORS are!

OK, now I feel better. Thank you. Back to watching "The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" and banning the show "Phenomenon" from my television set permanently. Even though Ross the Intern was one of the "judges"-- I love Ross, but even he can't make up for that!

Great. DH is here, so need to end this and get offline. And now have to give up the computer anyway. Happy frigging Monday...

Spoons and Forks and Spatulas, Oh My!

Wow, I rode Alanda's bike to the Community Unlimited meeting last night because I had left later than intended. Bicycles and I are not good friends, more specifically, bicycles and my KNEES are not good friends. Although riding the bike downhill on Park Street with my cape billowing behind me was incredible, today I am paying for it.

On the walk to town to use the library computers, not only did Alanda have to walk behind and give me a gentle nudge up the hill, but when we got to Town and I faced the steps to the sidewalk, I learned that I couldn't bend my knee to go up them. Tried, got one step, and learned that I couldn't put the pressure on the knee to actually move up the steps. Had to walk the long way around to where the sidewalk levels out, which would be ok except that in order to avoid even the single step in front of the library, I would have had to walk another half-block and then back. Which, of course, my knees were hurting too much to permit. So ended up sitting on the short wall and swinging my legs around, and let Alanda pull me up to standing. How embarassing, not to mention painful. At least she knows enough to not just jerk on my arm, or I would be in even worse shape.

This is so pathetic. I hurt too much to walk but am not to the point of needing a wheelchair. Which is a very good thing, as I would never be able to get in or out of my house, since the landlord removed the ramp at the back door when they tore down my garage. Thank Goddess that George is able to walk better since he had the stent put in, or I would have to sue the landlord to get another ramp. He had an awful time making that step, when he was having so much trouble with his legs and balance. So guess that I shouldn't complain. But dammit, my knees hurt and I am tired of living like this and the condescending looks from people that think I am less than worthy because I don't have a job. People would be a bit more polite if I had an "obvious" disability; Parkinson's, for example, or a cast or brace, or something that shows the whole frigging world that "Yes, I do have physical issues, I am not 'just being lazy' or 'thinking I am too good to do certain jobs'." There are days that I want to just pull my hair out by the roots, except it hurts too much to lift my arms that high. (Thought: is that why I am determined to grow my hair long in spite of the care hassles? Trying to get it long enough to pull out without having to lift my arms? Hmmm, could be....)

I realize that there are people in the world with much worse problems than my own, so don't start lecturing me on how I should count my blessings. Believe me, I do appreciate what I do have. Starting with friends like Dusty, who passed the Spoon theory on in her blog. Gives me something to make funny remarks with, such as the time I said I had not only used up all my spoons but had even worn out the spatula. If I couldn't be sarcastic or amusing or whatever you want to call it, I would be so whiney that Dr. Jack would break his parole... For the good of everyone around me, of course; ease their suffering of having to listen to me! (See, more funny ha-ha comments.)

Now that I have typed all this, I am looking forward to going home and sucking down a handful of pain pills. OK, really just one or two. With the arthritis I probably couldn't actually hold a real handful, so put down the phone, I am NOT suicidal. But I will have to put off the pain pills for a few more hours, because tonight is Ruthi's band festival at the high school and I really want to go; and while the pain pills work (sort of), they knock me out more than anything. I don't want to lay down for a little nap before the festival because of the pain pills; I know that it would be more like "Wake up it's MORNING" instead. So, the pills will wait until much later. Wish I could find a compromise, something that makes the pain go away without making me sleep for ten hours... Oh well. (Deep subject: turn it sideways and you have a tunnel. Sorry, had to throw that comment in for old times sake!)

Going to mosey over to My Yearbook and MySpace and see what is happening with the rest of the world. See you in Cyberworld!

Everything in a Nutshell (and I'm the Nut!)

My mom is the bomb. She found a bunch of old photos--- and I do mean old! We went to the library and I scanned them and uploaded them to my Flickr account. Now to get hold of various relatives and see if anyone can identify some of the photos. There is one with about thirty women; we know my grandmother, her mother, her sister, and her grandmother, but the rest are unknown. Taking a wild guess that it was a special family reunion, though, because my grandma and her mom are wearing matching dresses. And my grandma only wore a dress two other times in her life; once for grandpa’s retirement party, and once for her father’s funeral. So I can guarantee that it was SOME special event!

Have been working on some of my crochet projects; overdid it yesterday and today so am paying for it with very sore and tired hands. Makes the typing a bit slower (not that it CAN be much slower…). But I got my purple project bag done, the red one for my neighbor done, the red one for my friend Joanne done, and the autumnal-colored smaller bag done for my mommy. Even got photos, this time! The film is at the store awaiting developing, should be back by Wednesday but then I have to get to Coldwater and have $$$$ at the same time. One or the other I can usually do; it’s the simultaneous activity that throws me off. Hopefully the photos will turn out, since it turns out that my batteries finally died. They do last a long time…. But not forever!

George goes in Thursday to have cataract surgery. Hopefully he will be able to see better afterward, and able to read again. Next step is to get him a hearing aid, so he can stop YELLING BECAUSE HE CAN’T HEAR HIMSELF OR ANYONE ELSE! Not that I am complaining… there are times that his hearing is perfect, usually when you don’t want him to hear you. But the majority of the time, he mishears you just enough to get a good fight going. And of course, he swears that he heard you right. One of my favorite quotes comes to mind: I know you think you understand what I’m saying, but I don’t believe that what you heard is the same as what I said. Or something like that; used to have it on a card somewhere. Now that card is in A Safe Place.

Updated my Myspace profile a bit, check it out. Gotta get home and read the Charlaine Harris novel that the library got for me. And all the other ones in the stack! Easier on the fingers than crocheting, but at least with the crocheting I can watch TV or movies while I work, the kinetic memory works while the brain vegs out on brain-numbing Hypno-gourd activity (if you don’t follow that reference, then go and read anything Xanth by Piers Anthony!).