Monday, May 28, 2012

Happy Memorial Day

The day really got away from me, but I  wanted to do a little tribute to all the men and women of our Armed Forces who have or are currently protecting and fighting for our freedom. 
Flying our American flag is one way of doing that. 
I have a little flag out, but no one can see it unless they are in my garden.
We used to always proudly fly the American Flag on our house.

I found some pictures on Pinterest  with flags, so thought I would share a few.




After a day of  hanging out with family today and getting some things done I have been working on, I went to a friends house for dinner to celebrate the birthday of our friend, Linda.  
We always joke that this is the longest decorating season of all.
I started putting out my Red, White and Blue this week for Memorial Day and as I add more, I will also be decorating for Flag Day, 4th of July and Labor Day before I start thinking about fall.

So even though I showed you pictures from Pinterest,  I will be taking some of my own soon.
I love red, white and blue, so I should have lots to share once I get started.

I hope you had a great day with family and friends.




God is Good!!
Life is Good!!



Saturday, May 26, 2012

Honoring a Special Lady

Today we headed up the hill to Tehachapi to a very special luncheon for special lady that is part of our extended family.  This is Evelyn or Gram to everyone who loves her.
It is her 90th birthday.
She is the Grandma of my DIL Stefani, who is my oldest son's wife.
I knew Evelyn long before I knew Stefani was going to become part of our family.
She is a lovely, Godly woman who has become sort of an adopted Mom to me and grandma to my kids and grand kids.
The affair was held at the church which was our church when we lived in Tehachapi.
The food was catered by Evelyn's daughter who owns a catering and baking business.
When we walked into the foyer we were "met" with two beautiful tables full of goodness.
These bird houses are cakes...can you believe that?
Little individual  servings of  so many yummy desserts, complete with tiny spoons.
Cake pops, more of those little desserts and  little heart shaped sugar cookies.
Across on the other side of the foyer was a candy bar.
Every kind of pink candy you can imagine.
There were little drawstring bags to fill with all your favorites.
What a cute way to do favors.
At one end was a tower of mini cupcakes in many flavors.
At this point, I'm thinking (after skipping breakfast to get dressed)
maybe...dessert before lunch wouldn't be a bad idea at all.
But just around the corner was a mile long table full of salads and sandwiches.
Slaw, jello, broccoli, pasta, potato, green, more pasta...yum!
Then there was this tree with a marinated tomato, mozzarella ball and basil leaf on a pick.
I asked and the green  is Kale. It was too pretty to eat, but... I did have a taste or two.
I think they had been marinated in something.
Lots of pretty fruit too.
Center pieces on the tables.
The stage was decorated to look like a garden.
A place for Evelyn and her 4 daughters to sit during the program.
Her daughters honored her with a slide show of her life along with a tearful  narration and some of her favorite hymns.

Here's Gram with her grandaughter and my daughter in law, Stefani.
Oh I forgot to tell you, Stefani did all the decorations. 
It was a fun afternoon. We got to see and visit with friends we hadn't seen in so many years.
The Tehachapi Church of the Nazarene still feels like home after all this time. (We have been gone for seventeen years, but it seems like yesterday.)




Totally on a different subject...which is kinda the way my brain works these days.
I didn't feel I could buy something new to wear, but hearing Payless shoe store was having a sale, I decided a new pair of shoes to spruce up my old outfit was in order.
and spruce it up I did with these and a new silver purse.
A little bling can certainly make a girl feel fashionable.
Oh!  And of course these weren't on sale, but being from Payless, they didn't break the bank.



God is Good!!
Life is Good!!




Wednesday, May 23, 2012

I'm So Excited


A couple of weeks ago, I found the perfect fabric for grandson Jack's birthday shirt.
At Strawberry Patches, of course
He's turning 6 on June 1st.
I had several size 6 patterns, but his mommy told me an 8 would be better, so I was
going shopping today for a new pattern.

Yesterday, I was looking through a box in our store room for something else and I came accross some vintage patterns I had found at a flea market. Most were girls patterns and "someday" I was going to frame them for the kids room I had in our former house.
I was so excited to find this pattern among my treasures.

Look what size it is and don't miss the price.  New patterns run from $10 to $15 dollars now.
The pattern was all cut out with all the pieces and in very good shape. I'm thinking it's maybe from the sixties. What do you think.  Boys styles don't change much do they.
I compared this to the patterns I had and other than a pocket restyling, and some topstitching, I think it will be very stylish for my little big boy.

I love this fabric. I didn't want anything too whimsical, because after all, Jack is a big boy now and will be in 1st grade next year.
He played baseball for the first time this year and this realistic ball and glove fabric just seemed to say  "Jack" to me

I got it all cut out yesterday and am ready to sew.


As soon as I find a good spot to photograph the other treasures I found, I will post them.
It's so fun finding something I thought had gone bye-bye in my garage sale.


When I titled this post, a song started going through my mind as I was typing.
"I'm So Excited" by the Pointer Sisters. Anyone out there as ancient as I am remember that song from the 80"s?
It was the song played constantly as a theme for the 1985 World Softball tournament held in Fargo,
North Dakota.
Mr. SS  and his Bakersfield Ammco Astros' Softball team won that tournament.
Well...a story for another post.
Amazing how a song can bring back so many memories.


I'm off to the sewing machine.  A cute little baseball shirt is calling my name.




God is Good!
Life is Good!


Sunday, May 20, 2012

Ladybug, Ladybug


"Fly away home. Your house is on fire and your children are all alone."

Always seems sad to me, but that's what I was taught to say as a child when I caught a ladybug.
I taught it to my kids and grandkids.

It seems most little girls love lady bugs...some more than others.
A couple of months ago, a friend, Enid, from the monthly meeting I go to at Strawberry Patches, asked me to make a Girly Girl purse for her niece.
This is what I made and blogged about it back in February, I think.
I expressed that that was the only Ladybug fabric I could find.

The next month she brought in several pieces of  lady bug fabric and got scissors, cut them in half and shared them with me. I had told her most of my granddaughters loved ladybugs too and she wanted me to have them
Isn't that just sew sweet?


It just happened that I had purchased a child's apron pattern  from SP  with the cutest Ladybug aprons
So, I made two aprons from the fabric (I still have tons left) An over all lady bug print with matching red with black dots. I had the black dot already. It was a fun fast pattern
I will let Enid pick one of them for her niece and the other will got to 4 yr. old Brooke who just loooooves
Ladybugs.

There wasn't quite as much of the other two coordinating pieces.
This piece just screamed baby bib at me.
Last night I got inspired to get out my embroidery module for my machine (it hasn't worked well for a long time).  I just had to try it and it stitched beautifully without a hitch.
I think I held my breath most of the time it was stitching.
Mr. SS nearly jumped out of his seat at about midnight when I yelled 
Woo-Hoo
It worked.

I even put a real buttonhole instead of the velcro I usually put behind the button.
Emmy just rips off the bibs with velcro, so a tie or button is the only way to go with her.
It's not only bibs she rips off...she doesn't like to wear clothes either and is often running around the yard...well "nakey, nakey" as she says.  It must be a two year old thing.

Tonight, I took dinner to the family that lives in our front yard and the bib.
Emmy said "Awww.  Thank you Mamaw" and got to wear it for dinner.
About halfway through the meal she picked up the bib and said "It has ladybugs"
to anyone who was listening.

Sooooo...I'm sewing again after two weeks with out touching my machine.
It felt so good  to hear my machine hum, and hummmm it did. I had not had a chance to use it since it came home from the hospital and WOW what a difference. Guess it rewarded me for having it tuned up and decided a pretty embroidery was in order. Will let you know how the next one goes. Hopfully I won't be growling.




God is Good!!
Life is Good!!

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

A Little Late

The story of my life lately, but hoping you all had a great Mother's Day.
I tried to do a post with pictures on Mother's Day, but the pictures just disappeared and I had to give up.  I also tried to post last week pictures of the place we stay in San Diego and they wouldn't load.
My desktop is going to the doctor first later this week, then the laptop. Soooo frustrating.

Anyway, back to Mother's Day...I had a great time. We headed to the mountains of Tehachapi to my sons's house.
It was a lot cooler there and we had a lovely time visiting and eating, of course.

I received lots of lovely things this one included:

Isn't that the cutest ivy topiary. Hope I can keep it alive.  There is not a lot of good light in my RV small cottage.
OMG! I didn't notice the birds in the heart until I downloaded the picture.


Anyway, the day is was not about the gifts...spending time with loved ones is such a blessing.
I have said it before and it is worth repeating...
I feel like the most blessed wife, Mom and Mamaw in the whole world.


I'm having sewing withdrawels. Haven't touched my machine in 12 days. And yes I am counting.
This has to be a record for me. I have done a little handwork though to keep me sane. LOL
(Mr. SS would deny that it is working)

We are off today in the motorhome to Fresno. My son, the varsity baseball coach  has his first CIF playoff game and we are taking his kids (all 6) and his wife for a little adventure.

I made tacos to eat on the way home and taking lots of snacks, games and movies (only a 2 hour drive each way, but gotta keep those kids busy)



God is Good!!
Life is Good!!


Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Playing Catch Up


Mr. SS's job in La Jolla was finished on Friday, so we packed up the motor home and came home to stay until we are called again for...who knows where.

We left four weeks ago, the day after Easter.  I came home feeling kinda unraveled. Don't know really why.
Maybe because we left the day after Easter and I was already a little behind getting ready for that.

We only had about 48 hrs. notice about the job, so I didn't do the things I usually do when we leave town.

Then two weeks later came home to a crazy, fun weekend with my cousin, her daughter and my BIL here for a visit, three ball games and a birthday party and off again.

After a 6 hour drive, we got home late Friday night, had 3 ballgames on Saturday. I had to visit Strawberry Patches who was in the middle of a 3 day Shop Hop. We went to Tehachapi on Sunday for my oldest grandson's baptism.
Here he is with his Papaw (who is standing on a 5"curb) Don't you dare tell Mr. SS I told you!!
Kyle is taller than his Papaw and Dad.
Where did my first "grandbaby" go?

Sunday afternoon, I just couldn't get enough of my grandkids. Sat in the shade and watched them and just wanted to hold the little ones...good luck with that.
Brooke sat still just long enough for this:


Silly Emmy, riding Belle, laying down. she thinks she is so funny...and she is.
Emmy and Daddy Brandon


Monday, I cleaned the Motor Home and readied it for going back to storage.
Then another ball game.

Tuesday, I made dinner for the family who lives in our "front yard". But I still had that unraveled feeling.

Got up this morning with the same feeling and did something I haven't done since we closed down our business, sold our home and moved into our RV small cottage...I made a list.
I used to live by my lists.

You know what?  It helped. Even though it is a very long list, and I won't get it done today, I feel more together than I have since we got home. On top of the list was to do a blog post (which I haven't wanted to do) and now I believe that has helped to.
I think blogging gets my mind  in an organized state of mind and I feel ready to tackle that list.

About the blogging thing... I am still having trouble with the new format. Right now nothing is lined up. I can only see the top half of the tool bar and where I browse for pictures is all messed up. Anyone else having problems?

While I'm at it...Pinterest is messed up too. Where I scroll for my boards  is not working right.

Well, thanks for "listening" to me try to put my life back in order.  I promise, I will be back to myself in my next post.

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

I Have Always Known


that quilters are the nicest people. This "universal truth" could not have been anymore evident than when I walked through these doors last night.


The sweet lady in the middle is Annelies (of shared Pam Kitty Morning fabric win from Strawberry Patches with me ). She teaches here at Eleanor Burns Quilt in a Day Quilt store. 
I looked up the store on Mapquest and it was only about 35 miles from where we are staying, so when Anne invited me to visit a class, (actually, I think I invited myself) I decided  to attend last night.

There were about 12 ladies besides me and Annelies. I am terrible at names, and I didn't get pictures of all of them, but  they all had smiles and were so sweet to me.

This lady has a three year old at home, and she was sewing cutting and ironing right up to the last minute. I complimented her on all she got done, and she said she likes to take advantage of every minute of class time. I totally understood that...with a toddler at home...

I called this lady the keeper of the goodies. She worked hard all night and had that sweet blue and yellow quilt top done by the end of the evening. She said it was her first quilt ever.
Oh, and from
 what I could gather about the "goodies", theres always plenty when this group gets together.

One lady, (Laurie, I think) had this finished quilt to show us.
I especially wanted a picture of this as my granddaughter Lexie is determined to be a surfer since she read the book and saw the movie of the young girl in Hawaii who lost her arm to a shark while surfing. Now wouldn't that just make you want to surf too.?

Anyway, It was a beautiful quilt.

Annelies says this group of ladies meet to bring whatever they are working on.  She went from table to table asking anyone if they needed help.  She threaded machines, helped rip out, helped tape a quilt to the table read to be basted, gave color and fabric advice and was so encouraging. It was easy to see why people come to her classes.
She was teaching last night, tonight, Thursday day and an all day Saturday class.

To be truthful, I was  a little jealous.  Seeing her interaction with her students made me miss teaching.  I guess just being in that setting, brought back lots of memories.
You see,  when I first started teaching, I taught Quilt in a Day Log Cabin quilt. Back in the day when we ripped (oh how that sounds crazy now) strips. Before the rotary cutter.  I took classes from Eleanor Burns at Quilt market and became certified to teach her quilts. She is the one that "forced" me to use a rotary cutter by making me come to the front of the class and demonstrate.
Now, I don't know how I ever quilted without one.

All in all, the evening was just the most fun.
Mr. SS really doesn't like me to be gone in the evenings, but even he admitted he could tell how much I enjoyed my evening with Annelies and her quilting class.

Watch out Strawberry Patches, I am going to your newsletter right now to see how many classes I can sign up for.  Now if I can just convince Mr. SS not to take any more out of town jobs (not likely) and not to mind me being gone in the evenings (even less likely).  But a girl can dream, can't she.



God is Good!!
Life is Good!!