Life As We Know It

Where has the time gone? Well, one thing is for certain, it sure hasn't been passed with me writing on this ole blog! I can't believe how many years it's been since I posted on here and the only excuse I have is life has gotten in the way.

So much has happened since I last wrote. Of course Keith and I have grown older (I'm now on SS. Does that make me offically retired? HA) and we've definitely slowed down. Things I used to do in the blink of an eye now takes me hours. And where I once could do two or three things at the same time, I now have to concentrate to do even one. Oh well, even though Keith has had a lot of medical problems, we're both still able to get out of bed each morning and for that I'm very thankful.

One of the best things to happen to us is we've added more precious grandchildren to our household. No matter how old I get, I definitely find that my grandbabies are of the most outstanding things in my life. Our children all live HOURS from us now but we still manage to gather every two or three months. Our little house is really crowded when the kids and their families are all home and it's a lot of work to have them here but I wouldn't give it up for anything.

In my old age I'm still crafting away. A new thrift store has opened in our little town and as of three weeks ago, I have a booth in it. This booth is a lot bigger than the one I had in Iola so it's still not 'full' and there's still a lot of work I want to do to it. That will come with time and I'm sure having fun working towards do it.

I've also sold several rugs and samplers. I used to think rug hooking was my favorite hobby but now I'm not so sure....I love designing heirloom school samplers for people. Each one is different and made with their family member in mind. I never get tired of doing them. I just hope these old eyes hang in there as it's getting harder and harder to see the holes on that fine linen.

While I've been busy working on my things, Keith has been busy designing and building furniture. Even with his poor eye sight (He had cateract surgery that went terribly wrong and he almost lost his left eye.) he's really turned out some gorgeous primitive pieces. Hmmm, come to think about it, maybe growing old isn't so bad after all! HA

Along with all this, I'm still busy cooking up a storm. I've spent a lot of time this past year organizing all my recipes and working on daily menus. The result is our family is eating better and I'm in the kitchen less. So, it's a winning situation for the whole family.

Well, there's still thing to catch up on but that's going to have to wait for another day. Blogspot has changed so much since I've been on here that it's going to take me a few minutes to post this. Hopefully the next time I write I'll have figured out how to post pictures so I can share some the things we've been doing around here.

You all have a great day and I pray your not having this horrible heat we're having in Kansas. If so, please try and stay cool.

Blessings,

Sher

~~The Thrill of the Hunt~~

    One of the best things about summer in my opinion are yard sales.  You can take me to a high dollar store, hand me a fistful of cash and I’ll just stand there.  That is of course unless the store happens to be an antique shop.  If that’s the case, stand back, I’m going to be running down those isles.   But take me a yard sale, give me a five dollar bill and the hunt is on.

     It always amazes me the things people get rid of.~~~~And for very little money.   For a few dollars a person can come home with a whole carload of great items.   This year Keith & I have noticed there’s been a change in yard sales.   It doesn’t seem as if the items are of high quality and the prices aren’t as cheap, low as they once were.   Maybe the economy has something to do with it?   That hasn’t stopped us!   Every time we see a ‘sign’ we pull over.

        This weekend there was only one yard sale in our local paper.   I hated the thought of getting up early for just one sale but I hated the idea more of what I could miss if I didn’t! HA   So, bright and early, out the door we went.

       At this sale we found several neat things.~~~A cushion for one of our pool chairs, a Chinese tea set (For when we have our Chinese Gathering.), an antique pitcher and glass set (For another one of our Gatherings.) and a whole box full of jars with lids.  (I have a million and one uses for those!)

      On our way out of town we found two unadvertised sales.   One of the sales was out in the country and I knew the family having it.   This family lives in a gorgeous new home and I was pretty sure they wouldn’t have ‘my kind of junk’.   For that reason we almost didn’t go to it.  What a mistake that would have been!

      The minute we drove in the yard I spotted this wonderful white antique cabinet.   From the way it’s built, I’m sure at one time it graced the kitchen walls of an old farm house.   The whole time I was looking at it I was trying to think of a place to put it in our little house and how much I could get it for.  (The sign on it said, “Make an Offer”.)

      I had no more than started looking at it when the husband came out of the house.   He told me his wife had paid a lot of money for that piece (I’m sure she did!) but when they remodeled their kitchen there was no place to put it.   I told him I would really like to have it but like them, I really didn’t have anywhere to go with it.   He said they had been holding the yard sale for the past two days and that’s what everyone was saying.     Finally I offered him such a low price I’m even ashamed to say what it was.    When he said he’d take it I about dropped my teeth.   Honestly, I was so afraid the wife would say she couldn’t let it go for that I couldn’t pay him fast enough.   Poor Keith, as he was putting down the seats in the jeep so we could get it in, I continued shopping.  (I have that man trained right! HA)

      I picked up several other things at this sale, including this old carpenters tool box.      I must have ten or twelve of these things but I can’t bring myself to pass one up.   You can do so many things with them.   I think one is going to end up on my front porch.

      All the way home my mind was racing on what I was going to do with my new cabinet.    I knew there was no way I could work it into our little house (Unless I wanted to move a bed or two out!)  but the cabin was another story.   Out there I have a small white antique cabinet that I’ve had for years.   My thought was to 'marry’ the two pieces.    Keith said he didn’t think that was going to work because he thought this cabinet was wider.   I couldn’t get home fast enough.    A quick measurement said it would be close but we might be able to make it work.    Sure enough, we got it on there.

   Isn’t it gorgeous????   The perfect place to store more treasures!  I spent a lot in the cabinet yesterday and will be heading back out there shortly.    It’s so darn peaceful out there.   The perfect place to forget the troubles of the world.   Today I’ll be working on it’s front porch.   Oh how I love having two ‘houses’ to decorate!

       Well, it’s time for my day to begin so I’d better get in gear.   Have a great day & remember….Never pass up a yard sale just because you know the people having it.   You just might miss out on the find of the century!  

                            Blessings, Sher

Summer 2012

    The days of summer are flying by.    We started our summer out with our niece, Emily’s, graduation from pharmacy school.  (Not only did she graduate from Pharmacy School but she graduated as a Doctor of Pharmacy!!)  Emily is a beautiful young lady (Tall & super skinny~~Aunt Sher as always said she should have been a model!) and she graduated with the second highest grades in her class.    My Mom is still talking about her graduation and loves to tell Jeni that she has to do as well as her other granddaughters, Emily, Alex and Kara, has done.  Thanks Mom for putting more pressure on us!

      Next our Jeni graduated from 8th grade.   One of the tallest girls in her class, everyone remarked that she looked just like a model walking down a runway.   High school is just around the corner & ole Mom here sure isn’t ready.   They’re growing up much to fast for their dad & I.

      School had no more than came to a close when I ended up sick.   What started out as simple summer cold soon turned into the full blown flu.  For one week I laid in bed in misery.  I still have the cold but at least feel like I’m going to live.  (Wasn’t sure about that for several days.)

      Now that I’m back on my feet, I’m trying to play ‘catch up’ with life.   This weekend we’ve had a lot of company.~~Including our precious new grandson Kolton.  I swear there has never been a better baby than Kolt.  I don’t think he even knows what the word cry means.   I told Kara if she hand-picked that child she couldn’t have gotten a better one.   She may be going to China next month on business & if she does, we’re planning on baby-sitting him for four or five days.  Kara & Paul don’t know it, but we plan to spoil him so rotten they won’t want him back!

      Since I lost a week of my life due to sickness, I’m having to work like crazy to get new things done for my booth.    As of this morning I’ve completed four Needle Punch projects and I have a Patriotic rug half hooked.   My near friend Sher from New York sent me a goodie box last week (Wanna see the wonderful primitive summer prairie bonnets she sent?…. Aren’t they gorgeous?   I’m gonna be honest, if they don’t sell the first month, this ole gal is gonna buy them and they are gonna hang in MY house!!!)   Between all the things she sent and the things I’ve been making, my booth should have a whole new look shortly.

     While I’ve been busy doing my thing, Keith has been busy doing his.  In getting our pool ready for summer, he decided to re-do the pool deck and make it a little bigger.   It took him over a week but at last everyone is back to swimming the summer away.

     So, life is going on and we’re flowing with it.  Hopefully next time I write I’ll have more pictures to share.  Until then, remember to make the most of every precious moment and take time to do the things you love.  Blessings, Sher

My Bucket List

     There comes a time in life when you know your getting old.   Oh, you don’t notice it all at once.   It’s an ache here, a pain there.   Suddenly you realize your not twenty anymore.   Oh let’s be honest, you realize your not sixty anymore!

     Okay, being old isn’t all that bad.  Your retired so you don’t have to get up and go to work each morning.   Your kids rush to help you do each and every little thing.     And, no one gives a second thought if you gain a pound or two.  Or fifty.

     But who wants to be old?   Who wants to think the good times are over and your one step from the Nursing Home?   Not me!   I like to think this is the time in life to go after all those things I’ve been putting off.  It’s the time to go places, meet new people, try new things.   In other words, it’s the time to really enjoy life!

     And what better way to do that than to start a “Bucket List”.

     Over the next few months I’m going to share some of the things on my list & how I’m working towards crossing them off.   I will add here that a lot of things I’ve always wanted to do I was lucky enough to do when I was younger…….Have a large family, adopt children, live in a little white house with a white picket fence, have a little cabin behind behind my house, have my own shop, have a greenhouse and a zillion and one other fun things.   BUT there’s a lot of other things I want to accomplish before my time here on earth is done.

     So, let’s start out with number one on my list.~~~To have a booth in a Flea Market.   This dream came true about three months ago.  Granit, it’s just a small booth but it’s MY booth and I love it!  I’m having so much fun making and thinking of new things to make for it.   And when something sells it thrills me to no end.   Now the best part of my booth is receiving ‘goodie boxes’ from my dear friend Sher in New York.  Sher is a very talented lady & I love having her things (Small quilts, prairie bonnets, candle mats, ect…) to add to add to mine.   It’s became a joint venture between two friends, even though they live miles apart.   The e-mails fly back & forth and there’s lots of laughter mixed in with ideas of what to do  and how to decorate the booth  next.

       If any of you have ever entertained the idea of having your own booth, let me be the first to encourage you.   I’m certainly no expert but here would be my tips to get you started.

(1) Check out all the different flea markets in your area.   Then choose the one that best suits the things your wanting to sell.   In my case, I choose a store that handles mostly vintage & primitive items.

(2) Next start getting your items together several weeks or even  months before you plan to open.   Even if your booth is small it will take a lot of things to make it look full.

(3)Before you set your booth up in the shop, be sure to do a trial run at home.     Poor Keith, although he did our background at home, when we got to the store it wouldn’t fit in.  (We didn’t realize there were some boards sticking out behind the other gals background.)   He had to do some finagling when we started setting up the actual booth but thankfully it all went together.   Be sure your background fits the items you’ll be selling.   For me, that meant using old doors and barn wood.   They made the perfect back drop for my hooked rugs and reproduction samplers.

(3) Once you get your booth set up, treat it like you would any job.   Devote time to it each day.   If your offering crafts, make sure you work on something each day for it.   At least once every two weeks re-work the whole booth.   Even if you don’t have new things to add, re-do everything else.  It’s amazing how many different looks you can get using the same items.   And changing things around will give customers a chance to see all you have to offer.

      I guess by now you know how happy I am that I have followed my heart and completed the first thing on my Bucket List.    Remember, the only way you’ll do everything you’ve always wanted is to work towards your goals.

In a few days I’ll share another thing I’ve crossed off my list.   Until later….Do what makes you happy.  Hugs, Sher

Cinco de Mayo Gathering

    It’s time to tell the truth about our family.   The whole truth, no matter how much it hurts.   Are you ready? Okay, here it goes….

    My family is nuts!   Now I don’t mean are the dangerous kind of nuts, we just sound that way.    We’re the good kind of nuts.   We’re the family that if you drop in when we’re all together you wonder if the line between normal and abnormal has been crossed.

        WELCOME TO OUR WORLD!

       For the past sixteen years, Keith & I have been the host of the family Gatherings.   In the last two years those Gatherings have suddenly became every six weeks and have now gone in a whole new direction.~~Now each Gathering has a theme.   You’d think we’d be running out of ideas but not this bunch.   You put three sisters and an their 84 year old mother together and the ideas flow like water.

      This past weekend we hosted the Cinco de Mayo Gathering.  I have to admit , this was really a tough gathering for me.  Oh, the food was easy….We all love Mexican food so I have tons of recipes.   It was the decorating that was so hard.   It’s next to impossible to come up with anything Mexican related in our area.   Luckily my daughter Kara was able to pick up the paper products & I was able to fill in with lots of sombreros and wild striped sheets.

        Since we knew Kara would arrive early, my DIL, Renee, & I made short order of our cooking….We wanted to get in some “Kolt lov’en time” before everyone else arrived.   And love that baby we did!   Poor little guy was passed around like a football all day long.   He sure didn’t seem to mind as he slept through the whole party.    I swear, he’s the best baby ever.   I don’t think he even knows how to cry.  Kara & Paul sure lucked out with this one.

    Our guest started arriving around 10:00.  (Twenty-one people in all.)  That’s when the laughter and teasing started.   We always try to dress ‘in costume’ and who ever has the best wins a prize.   Believe it or not, the prize usually goes to my Mom.  I don’t know how she does it but just with things from her closet she always looks the part.   Well, this month she was beat out by my little sister Shelia and her family.  From the moment they walked up those front porch steps, the laughter started. Dressed in simple, authentic  decorated dresses, Shelia and Alex were a hit.   And Glenn was hysterical in his fake mustache.  (Which he lost while eating lunch!)   Of course they won the prize but I couldn’t help but hope they would have car trouble going home….I would have loved for the rest of the world to see my ‘always perfect’ sister dressed that way. HA

      As usual, each & everyone out did themselves in the food department.  I’ve never seen our tables so loaded with food.   We honestly could have fed twenty more people with food to spare.    Each recipe was authentic, down to our dessert of Mexican cake. (Thanks Sindy!)

     After lunch we had a pinata for the little ones.   Starting with the youngest to the oldest grandchild, each child got several ‘whacks’ until it finally broke, spilling candy everywhere.   Little hands made quick order of loading their waiting sacks.

      Then came the news we had all been waiting for.~~Seth & Codi told us the gender of our newest grandchild.  In our typical nutty fashion, this too had to be done in game form.   In the middle of our outdoor coffee table, there was a pink baby gift and a blue baby gift.   Seth & Codi were suppose to pick up the gift that told us whether it was a boy or girl.   First they picked up the blue gift but it was quickly put down and the pink one took it’s place.~~~Another little girl!   How exciting!   This will make us five grandsons & five granddaughters.  WOW   Our family is growing!

      From there we moved on to gifts for Sam & Renee’s little one.  (They won’t be back for our next gathering.)   And then it was time for a small Mother’s Day Party for Mom.~~She’ll be spending Mother’s Day watching Sindy’s daughter, Emily, graduate from Pharmacy school.  Oh how I wish daddy had lived long enough to see this day too.   I know there was never any doubt in his mind she would do it.   And Sindy is to be commended for working two jobs all these years to put her through.   Talk about a Mother’s love!

      Our day ended with hugs, laughter and talk of our next gathering.  (And NO Shelia, I am not going to dig a pit to roast a pig in my back yard!!)   Would you like to join us for Christmas in July?   (The more the merrier!)   It’s sure to be a day of laughter, tears and priceless memories.

Strange….but true!

     I’m the first to admit, I love a good ghost story or mystery.   As a young girl I was known to write a few ‘hard to believe’ stories myself when asked to write something for school.  However, the story I’m about to tell is true.

     Two years ago we lost my Dad to heart failure.   He’d had a heart attack earlier but we were Blessed to have had him for seventeen more months.  During those seventeen months, Keith & I purchased a cell phone on our plan so no matter where he was he would always be able to summons help.   And it just wasn’t any old cell phone either~~It had to be one just like his friend Bob’s.   He loved that cell phone and wouldn’t go anywhere without it.  And  use it he did!   Each month when the phone bill would arrive, we always joked how Daddy had used more minutes than Keith & I combined.    When he passed away, we gave the phone to Mom so she too would have help no matter where she was at.

      As I’ve told you before, I know nothing about cell phones. My knowledge is limited to turning one on & off and checking missed calls.   Sad I know but I really don’t want to know anymore than that~~I have better things to do with my life than to walk around with a cell phone to my ear.   That being said, after this week, I do wish I knew a little more about one.   And here is why……….

       Last Wednesday, Keith & I made our weekly tip to Iola for groceries.   As always when I leave home, I turn my cell phone on (After all, I do want my kids or family members to be able to reach me if there’s an emergency.) and when we came home I turned it off and set it in it’s usual place in one of my old cupboards.

       That evening I was out feeding the farm cats when Jeni came running out, cell phone in hand.  Her face was completely white and as she shoved the phone at me she said, “It sounds like Grandpa!”   Taking the phone from her I said, “Hello” and I swear, in a voice that sounded just like my Dad’s a man said, “Shelia?”   Now Shelia is my little sisters name and she’s the only one of us girls that my Dad ever called.   I was so shocked all I could say was, “Who?”.   Once again the man said, “Shelia?”.   I told him he must have the wrong number and he said, “Oh, sorry.” and hung up.

       Closing the phone I was so shaken I could hardly talk.   It didn’t help that Jeni kept saying, “Mom, that sounded just like Grandpa!”   Like I didn’t know it!   And I was thinking how I knew I turned that phone off when I got home so how did it get turned back on?

     At first I wasn’t going to tell anyone but Keith  what had happened.   Let’s face it, something like this might qualify me to be committed for life.   However, when my sister Sindy called yesterday I decided to tell her about my “Phone call from Daddy.”   I fully expected to hear laughter on the other end of the line and then for her tell me that now she knows I’m nuts.   Instead, there was complete silence.  Finally she asked what day of the week this happened and I told her Wednesday and asked why.    That’s when she told me her story.

      On Tuesday she was at work in her office.    Like me, she never has her cell phone on and suddenly it started ringing.  She said it scared her half to death and by the time she got to it, the caller had hung up.    When she checked missed calls it said, “Dad’s cell”.   (Even though Mom now has the phone, we both still have it listed as dad’s cell on our phones.)   Thinking Mom was trying to reach her she called her right back.   Imagine her surprise when Mom said she hadn’t used the cell phone all day!

       After several minutes of silence we both started laughing.    I told her couldn’t have been Dad , he didn’t get to take his cell phone with him.   Mom got it!

       I suppose this is one of those things we’ll never know the answer to.    I’d like to think Daddy was checking up on me, even if he did think he was calling Shelia.   After all, even in life Dad never could get our names straight!  

 

Catching Up

Good Morning!

       While it’s Spring in Kansas, it’s honestly felt more like Summer.   Yesterday we hit a record 97 and today promises to be just as hot.  Okay, that’s a little to hot for April but we’ll take what we can get…..As long as there are no strong thunderstorms in the mix.

      So much as been going on here in the country.    Our much awaited grandson made his arrival a week early.    Meet our precious Kolton Dean…………………..

Isn’t this picture of mother and son precious?    For someone who never wanted a family, Kara has taken to motherhood like a duck to water.   Both her & Paul love that little guy (Okay, honestly, how could anyone not love him???) and this ole grandma is thrilled with daily pictures of him.   They’ll be home next weekend and I can’t wait to get my hands on him.

      Since we are going to have a houseful next weekend, I decided it was time to clean out the playhouse for the little ones.   Since our ‘babies’ are now 13 & 14 you know it’s been a few years since it had a good cleaning.  What a mess!!!  Once we got it cleaned out we decided it was time to move on to the greenhouse.   Out everything came and once again we started pitching junk.   Since we had rain predicted we just through everything back in there but at least now when I feel up to it, I can go out and get it all back in order without having to do a lot of lifting.

      Doing all this cleaning/lifting work has really taken it’s toll on Keith & I’s backs.    I spent all Tuesday in bed and Keith laid most of yesterday afternoon.   We’ve both agreed we can not do hard, physical  work like this and yet there is so much to do around this ole farm.   Next on the list is my shop but it’s going to be done with a little here, a little there.   No more pushing ourselves to get something done in a day or two.  From now on we are going to stretch these cleaning projects out over several weeks.

      I don’t want you to think that work is all we have been up to.   There has been many rugs, mats, samplers, pinkeeps,  and furniture made on this ole farm.   All with a purpose in mind.   In the next few days I’ll be talking about that.

       Our little ones have just a little over three weeks left of school.   I don’t know who’s more excited, me or them!    I look forward to having them home all day and they look forward to sleeping in.  Within the next two weeks Keith will be getting the swimming pool ready and then we’ll know Summer has arrived.

       Well, rain is predicted tomorrow and there’s a pile of laundry sky high so it’s time to get it washed and hung out.    I hope everyone is enjoying warmer days and stay safe from all the tornadoes that have been hitting our country.   Until later…….

                                     Hugs, Sher

~~Exciting News~~

Good Morning~

      It’s going to be another gorgeous day here on the farm.   Warm weather & blue skies.   Now I ask you, does it get any better than that for the month of February?   Actually, the whole winter has been like this.   We’ve only had one real snowfall and even that didn’t last.   Really makes you wonder what our Spring is going to be like.   Pray it’s not going to filled with tornado’s like a lot of the older people are predicting.   That we don’t need!!!!

      As as I mentioned in my last post, we’ve had some exciting news in our family and it just keeps coming……It started in Oct. when our son & his wife Renee announced they were expecting again.   Reese’s little brother (Yes, it’s a boy!!!) is due in June.  I can’t tell you how happy that makes us.

     Two weeks ago we (Keith, Mom, my sister Sindy and myself) were in our local clinic waiting for Mother to see the doctor for a check-up on her knee.  As we were sitting there I could hear my phone ringing but since it was at the bottom of my purse (Yes, we are old and could care less about cell phones.   Only carry one for emergencies.) I couldn’t get to it.   When I finally dug it out I saw that I had missed call from our daughter Kara.   Because she works, Kara never calls during the day so my first thought was something was wrong.   I immediately called her back.   When she answered the phone and I heard her voice I knew I was right.     The first words out of my mouth were, “What’s wrong?”   She said, “Mom, how would you like to be a grandma again?”   Okay, Kara & Paul are big dog lovers so my first thought was they were getting another one.   And that’s just what I said.    She said, “No, I just found out I’m pregnant!”.    Now for a little background here….Kara has never wanted a family.   She loves her job and their dogs have always been her babies.    To say I was in shock is the understatement of the year.   However, the real shock was still to come.   

      Of course I’m yelling out to everyone that Kara’s going to have a baby & everyone is saying how wonderful it was.   I then asked her when she was due.    She said, “March”.   Now I might be old but I still thought it took nine months for a baby to get here.   How could she be due in March.   That was only a few weeks away.   Did she mean next March?    I was really confused.   She then told us she had just came from the doctors office and the doctor told her she was not only pregnant but due in eight weeks and it was a little boy!!!

      How could someone be seven months pregnant and not know it???  Yes, it’s true Kara has really packed on the pounds since her and Paul married a little over two years ago but she’s always called them her “happy pounds”.   But wouldn’t she have felt a baby moving???   Apparently not when you have the stomach problems she experiences.

    To say this family is overjoyed is the understatement of the year.   We are beyond thrilled.   After all these years to think she’s going to have a baby.    And now that the shock of it has wore off, she’s thrilled too.  (Paul has always wanted a baby and now he’s going to have a son!)

     Now we are going wild trying to get things ready for a little boy who will be arriving in less than five weeks.   We are having a shower for her this weekend and the nursery is well underway….It’s being done in a monkey theme.

      In all the excitement of this, our son Seth & his wife Codi brought my late birthday present to me.   Unwrapping it we found a gorgeous frame announcing once again we were going to be grandparents…Their little one is due in Sept.!

      How could anyone be more Blessed than we’ve been?   Three grandbabies in one year!!!!   Every time Keith & I think about it we laugh.  Can you imagine how full this little house is going to be with three babies crawling around on the floor?  And if Seth & Codi have a little boy it’s going to be three little boys crawling around!

    I’m sure the year 2012 will bring it’s share of heartaches and tears, for no year goes by without them.   But for now we will dwell on the good and look forward to the new children joining our family.    Blessed We Are, Sher

     

     

Coming Full Circle

    Life at our house has came full circle.    When your young your parents take care of you.   As your parents grow older, you take care of them.     We never think it will happen but suddenly, without warning that day arrives.   The middle of December my Mom had a full knee replacement.    At the tender age of 84 we knew recovery would be slow, no one knew there would be other problems to contend with.

      For two months my sister Sindy & I have taken care of her every need.   I have to be honest, Sindy has had the majority of the work since Mom’ has been staying at her house.  My ‘job’ has been to go in daily with meals and run her to various appointments while Sindy works one of her two jobs.

      While it was hard to be away from my own home so much, I have to be honest and admit the memories I made with Mom were priceless.    We talked about everything from their feelings when we adopted our son,Michael from South Korea, to what she wanted each one of us girls to have when she’s gone.    These were things that needed to be said now before it’s to late.

      A week ago she felt as if she was strong enough to go home so Keith & I loaded her up and took her back to the farm.    Walking into the house I could tell by expression on her face she was overjoyed to be home.   You could tell she wanted to us to hurry up and leave.   I’m sure she was wanting to ‘talk to daddy’ and tell him what’s been going on.  I know just being home has made her feel as if he’s with her once more.

     She’s been doing pretty good until Friday.   Once again her knee is swollen, as well as her foot.   Keith & I took her to the doctor and she’s on some new medication.    My youngest sister & her husband has been home from Louisiana for Glen’s mothers funeral so they’ve been keeping an eye on her.   They flew back today so tomorrow I’ll call and see how she’s doing.   Hopefully between the medication and bed rest the knee has returned to normal.

     Now that I’m home full time, I’m back to working on a zillion & one different things.  This afternoon I pulled the last loop on my latest rug and tomorrow I’ll start whipping the edges.   I’m excited to get it done so I can start another one.

      Well, it’s getting late and I still haven’t told you our families exciting news.   Guess that will have to wait until my next post.   For now I’m going to head to bed so I can get up super early and start on my rug.   I hope your all staying warm and enjoying these last few days of winter.   Hugs, Sher

~~Feeling The Season~~

 

     It’s a dark, dreary morning here on the farm.   There’s rain in the forecast for the next two days.   After a very dry summer we welcome the rain but it would be nice if we could see a little snow.   After all, we are entering the Christmas Season!

     And speaking of the season~~~I’m happy to announce the house is all decked out in red & greens.   Since we now have three kitties (What was I thinking?) in the house I really didn’t want to put the main tree up until the last possible minute.    However, Keith saw things differently. (Like he’s going to be in here to pull the kitties off it!) so up it went.   Actually they’ve done pretty good where it’s concerned.   They like to sit in the old buggy seat and bat the balls around but for the most part really haven’t bothered it.

     Now I don’t want you to think they are little angles either!    Earlier this month I NP four little sheep off my dear friend Betty’s (From Primitivebetty’s)  “Symple~Herb Filled Sheep” pattern.    Girls if you don’t have that pattern, run right out and buy it.   I swear they are darling and if someone with my sewing skills can put them together, you know the pattern is easy!   I made these for my dear friend Carolyn, trying to duplicate two of her sheep.   I knew wouldn’t see Carolyn before Christmas so decided to stick them in a bowl with some greenery and display them in my house. Starting off, they were on my Hoosier cabinet.  That lasted all of one hour.   Our cat “Baby” must have thought they looked like mice (Hmmm, maybe my sewing skills aren’t as great as I think they are?) and the next thing I know, she’s walking around with one in her mouth!   Screaming “Bad Kitty” and chasing her for five minutes I finally  manage to get it away from her.   By this time I knew they were going to have to be displayed somewhere else.   Deciding high up on my kitchen table would be a safe place, I went happily to bed.    The next morning I awoke to greenery scattered like leaves in the wind and a bowl missing two sheep!   It was hours before I finally found them….One tucked under a throw rug and another under the loveseat.

     Now during the day they are still displayed on the table but each night, bowl & all they are carried to the master bedroom to sleep safely through the night.   Sorry Baby, no more having fun with my sheep while I sleep.

     Since we have so many young’uns they will all be coming home at different times this year for Christmas.   This means ole Mom gets to do tons of baking all month long.   Luckily they each have their ‘favorites’ so I’m not cooking the same old things over & over.   The storage containers are quickly filling up (And un-filling as my crew snacks on them.) and I’m having fun trying out lots of new recipes.   Is it any wonder we are all getting so fat????

     Well girls, the day is quickly passing & I’m not getting anything done.   It’s time to get in gear and who knows, maybe they’ll even be time to pull a few loops on the new rug in there on my frame.    Have a great day and stay warm.   Hugs, Sher

      

A Fall Walk Through Our Cabin

Good Morning!

    Another Thanksgiving has came & gone here on Old Crow Farm.   For the first time in 43 years I didn’t fix the traditional Thanksgiving meal.   It seemed so strange not to have turkey (We opted for a spiral ham which my crew eats much better than turkey.  It was even eaten the night before with our son Seth & his wife Codi.) but I’m thrilled not to be throwing out turkey this morning.    Even though I didn’t bake a turkey, we still had one Thanksgiving day…..We ate with my Mom and three of my sisters and their family.    We had a wonderful day and spent as much time laughing as we did eating.   Okay, that’s probably a lie.   We ate a lot!!!!

       Now that we have one holiday behind us, it’s time to move on to the next…..Christmas!    Apparently the weatherman has decided it’s time to let the Thanksgiving season go too as cold weather is in the forecast.    The perfect time to start a fire in the fireplace, remove all the Fall decorations and replace them with our Christmas things.

     Before I do that though, I wanted to take you on our walk through our little cabin all decorated for the Fall season.     Are you ready?   Grab your coat & a hot drink as it’s getting chilly out there.

      Okay, let’s walk through the front door.        How do you like my chair?    It’s the perfect place to curl up with a good book or your favorite stitching project.    And that second chair with little foot stool is just perfect to invite a friend to stitch or hook with you.

       Now if it’s cold, we can start a fire in the fireplace.   Okay, maybe we be better do a ‘pretend’ fire.    We don’t want to burn the place down! HA

       If we get tired of stitching, we can always set on the sofa and watch a movie.   Or if we get really bored we can open one of my many cupboards and go through recipe books.    

     No matter what we do, I’m sure we’ll have a good time.    I mean, how can you help but have fun when your with a good friend?     

     Okay, it’s time to drag out the Christmas decorations.   Grab your coat and let’s go back to the ‘big house’.    Your welcome to stay but if you do have to run (I know…We’re both a little late for all the Black Friday specials!) I understand you can can come back any ole time you want.

     I hope you’ve had a Blessed Thanksgiving and have had a lot to be thankful for.   Heck, just have you as a friend is Blessings enough for me.    Hugs, Sher

~~What A Day!!~~

     I know I promised to share pictures of the cabin the next time I posted but have you ever had one of those days that you just had to put down in writing so you wouldn’t forget it? Or maybe I want it in writing to make sure I never do anything so dumb again!  Trust me, yesterday was one of those days for me.

    It all started out so innocent.   A perfectly normal day….Fighting with the little ones to get up and get around for school.   Making sure everyone had breakfast and all school books were in one spot.   Then things started to change.   Not just change, I mean it was like a ball rolling downhill. 

    First, I went to the basement to get  meat out of the deepfreeze for supper and to bring up a gallon of milk from our second refrigerator.    Since I’m old & hate to make those stairs, I decided to bring up some other things I was needing at the same time.   That was my first mistake of the day.   With hands full, I reached for a can from our storage unit and dropped the milk.   That plastic bottle shattered like a glass on concrete and in slow motion I watched one gallon of milk flow over that basement floor.  I was in such shock I just watched it running like a river over rocks.   By the time I came to my senses I had milk everywhere!!!!

      I flew up those stairs (Yes by this time who cared about a few stairs!) to grab the mop and a bucket.   Before that could happen, Keith yelled that the garbage cans (Which sit down at the end or our drive on a very busy highway) were gone….The wind had blown them onto the highway!  I just stood there no knowing which way to go.    Did I clean up milk that was making it’s way to our furnace  or run after garbage cans that could cause a wreck?   Thankfully Keith had gotten dressed and said he’s go after the cans.   It was back to the basement for me.

     This weekend is our monthly family get-together and being the smart stupid person I am, I decided this would be a good time to do a little fall cleaning.   Now in case there are any other smart stupid people like me, let me issue a warning here….DO NOT clean a super tiny bathroom with more than one chemical cleaner at a time.  I almost gassed myself to death.    Yes, I have a clean shower floor but no lungs!

     Thanks to my morning ‘milk spill’ I had no milk for our supper.    So, I got really creative and planned a meal around the lack of it.   Since Drew wouldn’t be having the mashed potatoes I had told him he was having, I decided to try a new recipe for a chocolate popcorn for our dessert.    Now this is where my day really took a nose-dive.

     The recipe called for Kettle Corn and staying in tune with the rest of my day, I burnt the first batch.   While the second one was popping, I turned on the oven and started making the sauce.    Suddenly the house was filled with aroma of sweet, gooey goodness.    Being the smart stupid person that I am, I’m thinking this has to be the most wonderful sauce ever to smell so good.   The only thing I couldn’t figure out was why it didn’t smell like chocolate since there was so much chocolate in it.   It was then I opened my oven door.   Inside, puffed up and dripping down from the rack to the oven bottom was a large bag of what had once had been marshmallows!  Yes, one of my darling family members (Okay, maybe it was me!) had stuck a bag of marshmallows in the oven to get it off the counter.    If you haven’t seen what marshmallows and the plastic bag they come in look like melted, just take my word for it….It’s not a pretty sight!!!!

   Of course I screamed and that started a whole new set of problems. ~~~~ Drew’s cat Stormy decided she’d better check out the commotion so she comes running in.     By this time I had pulled out the whole rack (Dripping, hot, gooey marshmallows with every move.) and then stood there no knowing which way to turn.  

      I finally decided the trash can would be my best bet.   If I haven’t lost you by now, keep reading…….. Imagine one fat woman, holding a hot baking rack, dripping hot, sticky marshmallows over a trash can and a large gray cat reaching to pull those very same marshmallows off.  (And we all wondered where the saying, “Curiosity killed the cat” came from!!!)   Of course I’m still screaming only this time I’m trying to kick the cat away from the hot marshmallows.  I didn’t make it.    She dipped both front paws in and then calmly laid down and started licking her prize from her feet.   Yes, she’s enjoying herself and I’m going nuts.

      If you’ve never cleaned hard (Yes, they harden once melted) marshmallows and hard plastic from your oven racks you might want to take my advice and not try it.  It’s not a fun adventure.

     By the time night came I was more than ready to climb into bed and be thankful the whole day was over.   I’m sure each time I turn on the oven these next few weeks I’ll be greeted by the smell of warm marshmallows.   Heck, maybe the day wasn’t so bad after all.    Hugs, Sher

~~ Finally…Fall ~~

     For several weeks now the signs of Fall have been coming to Old Crow Farm.    Gone are the super long, hot days of Summer.   In their place are cooler, shorter days.   Days when you can walk out the door and actually not have your breath taken away.   No longer is the grass bright green.   It’s been replaced with dry, brown earth.   The trees are doing their magic, turning once green leaves to shades of gold, brown, red, yellow and orange.   Fall, you’ve got to love it.

      Long before we actually saw or felt these changes, I was starting to make some changes of my own.    It seemed as if every rug I hooked had a pumpkin or two in it.    I made Keith dig out my “Fall Tote” (He had to do the digging because he had moved it from it where I normally keep it!) and that’s when the real fun started.   

   Each year I add a little something new to my Fall collection so I have tons of things to work with.   Some of the old favorites are left in the bottom of the tote to be replaced with new, others are set out first.   Within hours my “Americana themed” house is transformed with touches of orange.

     Since we’ll be hosting the Halloween party for my side of the family in a few weeks, I’ve gone all out in decorating the outside of our place too.   I started with our tiny little front porch.    I made Keith haul an old primitive table (Which is much to big for that tiny space.) out of his shed and together we some how got it fitted in.     When everyone is here I’ll lay a Fall themed rug on it but for now this is how it looks…..

[The rug will be between the large pumpkin in the wire basket and the small pumpkin in the old metal bucket.]   I haven’t taken a picture of it yet but to the left of the big pumpkin, there’s a an old wooden piece Keith made sixteen years ago hanging.   From it I’ve hung an old ratty broom and a skeleton.      See, I told you I was taking this Fall decorating seriously! HA

      Not to leave any stone unturned, I next moved on to our little bus stop house.  (Which looks more like an outhouse! HA)   I normally decorate with mums out there but this year I decided not to waste my money.   Instead I went with small pumpkins and some hay.   I love the look….Simple & cheap!   In my next post I’ll tell you how I’ve decorated our little cabin for the season.

     The change in our season has also brought some changes to me.   Maybe it’s because I’m getting older or maybe it’s because I’ve suddenly realized I’m never going to accomplish everything I want to do in my life.    Whatever, I’ve decided to start using my time more wisely.   No longer do I spend hours online reading what everyone has been up to.  No longer do I rush to ‘do it all’.   I now have set aside time to do all that’s important to me.   Oh, I’ll never give up my favorite blogs…But they are now checked within the first few hours of my day.   But once that’s been done, I quickly move on to the things that really matter….My family, my home and my many hobbies.   Not only has it made me a much happier person but it’s made my family feel the same way.   The house is clean, there’s wonderful meals on the table, yummy desserts waiting to be ate and I’m smiling because I’ve actually done something FUN that day.    Does it get any better than that????

      So join me on this new journey and let’s see how much I can get accomplished before the snow starts to fall.    Hugs, Sher 

     

     

~~Getting Ready For Fall~~

    Well, this is the day we have been waiting for....The little ones go back to school. It's such a mixed feeling day. I'm definitely not ready for them to be gone all day long but these past few weeks they've became restless so I know they are ready to be back among their friends. Do you remember what that feeling was like? You couldn't wait to see what your friends had been doing all summer and to catch up on the latest gossip. Two days later and you were ready for the weekend so you could be away from everyone! HA



   Of course having the kids gone all day long has it's advantages....I get to have Keith all to myself. Normally when the kids start back to school we have a 'date'. We go out for a special lunch and then hit all the flea markets. This year things will be different. Drew had a dental appointment yesterday in Lawrence and since we were so close to Topeka, we decided to swing by and do our monthly Sam's Club run. Since Keith's surgeries every little thing wears him out so there is no way we can run two days in a row. So, instead of an outing, we'll be heading to town for a light lunch and a visit to the library. Exciting times! HA Actually, they sound pretty good to me. That means I'll have the majority of the day to work on fun things around the house.


     The weather in Kansas has finally started to cool off. Okay, truthfully they say the heat will be returning over the next couple of days but this past week has been wonderful. For the first time in months there is the hope that Fall is right around the corner. I'm so excited!!!! Not only is it my favorite time of year weather wise but it's also my favorite time of year to decorate. It seems I'm not alone in my feelings either...The blogs & magazine are all full of the colors of Fall. Naturally I've been pouring over all of them and making list of the things I want to make for my house.


     And speaking of fall........The kids will start their first full week of school Monday and that's when I'll start giving this ole house the evil eye and be deciding how it's going to be decorated. I can't wait for the earthy colors to come out. They can't help but make me feel cooler and the days more crisp. (Okay, that's what I'm telling myself.) I have so many plans and naturally most of them include the color orange, rust, brown, deep reds and gold. Time will tell if they all make it into the house.


     And it's just not the inside of the house we'll be decorating but the outside too. Tiny though our front porch is, I have some ideas of bring it into the season. From there I'm moving on to the cabin and giving it a make-over. I guess you can tell I really am excited to get everything started. HA


     On my list of things to make & do are rugs, rugs and more rugs! HA I just finished a wonderful rug pattern {"Five Pumpkins"} by Judy Cripps of Rustic Rugs. I did my border a little different than she did hers (Okay, let's be honest here...I couldn't get the border to hook up as neatly as she did...My fault, not the patterns.) but I still love it. In fact, everyone who comes in my house goes on & on about it. So, if your a rug hooker, give Judy a call and order that pattern. It's definitely a winner. I'm now working on another pumpkin rug and hope to have it ready to show early next week.



    Well I could ramble on for hours but it's time to run to town and then the fun begins....I'm gonna spend my afternoon hooking. I hope your all enjoying cooler temperatures and thinking thoughts of Fall. Until later......Blessings from Old Crow Farm & Sher

Change

      Life is always changing.   Sometimes it's a good thing.   Sometimes it's a bad thing.   One thing you can always count on, nothing is ever going to stay the same for to long at a time.
       These past few months Keith & I have been reminded how quickly things can go from good to bad in the blink of an eye.   It started with an ambulance ride for Keith and a six day hospital stay.   Heart surgery and home to recover.   From the time we got home we knew things weren't right.   Another heart surgery last weekend and home once again.   The chest pains are still there so I'm sure he's facing by-pass surgery in the near future.
        We have now officially became 'old people'.   No dropping things and taking off at the blink of an eye.   Now everything is thought about half a dozen times before we actually do it.
       As for good ole home-cooked meals..... Yes, even those have taken a turn for the worse.   Do you know what it's like to watch calories, sodium and cholesterol?  Trust me, it's not fun!    I've had to learn a whole new way of cooking but learn I have.   I even amaze myself with some of the things I come up with.
       I've told you the bad part of our lives, now let me tell you the good.  Keith is still with us and all this time at home as gave us more time to do the things that really matter.   To kick back and look at how fortunate we are to be at the stage of life when we don't have to get up and go to work every morning.   To not have to worry about how were going to do each & every little thing.  (Thank God for older children who have picked up the slack and make sure were okay.)   Yes, life is still good, it's just a lot slower than it used to be.
       In the next few days I'll be telling you how good life can be when a person is home all the time.   In the meantime everyone please stay in from this horrid heat and enjoy your homes.    Hugs, Sher

Thursday on the Farm

Good Morning!
      The last day of March and what a gloomy day!  Actually, the whole week has been gloomy.   We've had everything from rain, to sleet to snow.   Notice I didn't mention sunshine?   That's because we've only seen the sun for about ten minutes this whole week.   Tomorrow that is suppose to change and I pray for once the weathermen are right...I do not handle dark, dreary days so you can about imagine what my mood has been like.   I'm definitely not someone you would want to be around right now.

     Because I'm getting older and the ole eye sight is going, dark days make it hard for me to work on any sort of craft...I need direct sunlight to see!   I have managed to pull a few loops on a rug for my friend Carolyn..........

But those loops have been far and few between.  Hopefully tomorrow when the sun is shinning all of that will change and I'll be back to hooking away.
        One thing the darkness has been good for is cooking.   I've tried several new recipes these past few days and most of them have been keepers.  Because we were having such cold weather I refuse to go to town {I refuse to get out when it's cold unless I just have to!} and since I was down to a fourth of a gallon of milk, I had to get very creative on the meals I fixed.   At first it was a challenge but by the end of day four I was starting to see we really could get by without milk.  Try it sometime, you'll find your family eating a whole new way.  
     And there is definitely an up-side about the days being dark~~It's the perfect time to drag out a good book  to curl up with.   I've been doing my fair share of that too.   I'm halfway through my second book this week.   Hmmm, maybe these days aren't so bad after all.
       Well, my day is quickly passing by so I'd best bring this to a close and get something constructive done.   Wishing you warm, sunny days!   Sher

The Gorgeous days of March

Good Morning!

     Once again Spring has came to Kansas.   The grass is getting green, the trees are budding out and the weather has turned off gorgeous.   Okay, I’ll admit it….I’m a Winter Girl!   I love it when the snow is softly falling and the air has a nip to it.   But I have to be honest and admit there is something about Spring that is wonderful too.   When the air is cool and the sun is shining one can’t help but feel God it standing right beside you.   What a wonderful feeling!

      This year my family decided to do a little something different to celebrate Spring’s arrival.   We decided to have  St. Patrick’s Day party.   Not one of our usual gatherings but a real St. Patrick’s day celebration.     Out came the green decorations, the table held a real shamrock center piece (Oxalis), Irish music played in the background, everyone dressed in green and we had all Irish food.   I was really feeling snug about everything I had fixed and then my sister Sindy had to show me up….She did tons of research and came up with traditional Irish food.  The potato dish with bacon & cabbage had everyone asking for the recipe!

     Now if her food wasn’t enough, she decided we should all have real Irish Coffee.   And just not any Irish whiskey could be used, it had to be this real expensive stuff.  (Sorry I can’t remember the name of it.)  Imagine a bunch of ole Kansas gals fixing real Irish Coffee, it was a sight to behold.   You never saw so much laughing in your life.   Or heard so many directions being given…“Now lightly whip that cream just until it’s slightly whipped!” “Pour that cream slowly over the back of the spoon so it doesn’t sink to the bottom”.   It was hysterical but we had so much fun!

     So much fun that we decided we were going to have a special gathering with a different theme each time the kids come home.   Our next one is going to be in May and the theme for it is Mexican.  This ole gal won’t be outdone in the food department for it….I’m on a search for real Mexican food that will out-do everyone else's!    Yes, we definitely need to get a life!

      With our gathering over, it’s time to get back into my real world…One of cooking, cleaning and working on some new things to decorate my home.    I’m happy to report my newest rug is just about complete.   Want a to take a peek at it?…..

Yep, once again I got wild on the colors.    I’m not sure what’s going on with me but for some reason my last two rugs have been bright & bold.   Definitely not my usual style.    Maybe I’m changing. Hmmm….

      With this rug almost complete it’s time to get another one ready for the frame.   Before that happens though, I think I’ll work on a few Needle Punch designs.   Who knows, maybe I’ll decide I like one of the enough to make it into a rug.

       Well girls, our little ones are on Spring Break so it’s the perfect time for this ole Mom to work on some fun things for the house.    I hope your all enjoying gorgeous weather and getting tons done.   Until later.   Stay Safe, Sher

A Rainy Tuesday

Good Morning!

     It’s a rainy day here on the farm.    While I’m not crazy about  that, I am thankful it’s not snow….And just across the state, it is!    I know we are going into our Spring season and I don’t look forward to it at all.   In fact, I’m really dreading it.    I’ll take snow any day to the threat of tornado’s.  Not to mention I’m not ready for all the yard work that comes with spring and summer.   Okay, guess it’s safe to say I’m just a winter gal.

       It seems forever since I’ve posted.   That’s because I’ve had major computer problems and when I finally got them fixed I found that my blog had disappeared.  At least the dashboard for it had disappeared.   It took me forever, but I think I’ve finally figured out what the problem was.   Why couldn’t I have been born with a better brain so I could be computer savvy???? SIGH

    Even with the computer problems, I’ve managed to have some ‘fun times’.   The main one being going to the Lenexa Hook-In.   Like always, we had to drive in a little bad weather (Heavy fog and a little ice) to get there but it was so worth it.    Lots of wonderful vendors and rugs.   But the highlight of the day was not only ridding up with my friends Betty & Robin but meeting new friends once we got there….Sandra, Ginger, PatiJane and Chelle. 

     Not only did I come home with bags full from a buy spree {Wool, patterns, books, dyes, ect..)but also with wonderful gifts from some of the girls there.   Honestly, they spoiled me rotten and once again I’m amazed at how giving hookers are.    Such a wonderful bunch of  loving, giving women.

     For months Betty has been trying to talk me into trying Oxford Punching.    The last thing I need is another hobby but once I saw the piece Ginger was working on at Lenexa, I was sold.    So, it off to a vendor to buy her last needle.   I haven’t had the chance to try it out but hopefully that will be next week.   Ginger made it look so simple but I know me….I’m sure I’ll struggle to push so much as a loop.    Maybe we can talk the Oklahoma girls into coming back to Ks. for another lesson???   Sounds good to me!

      Of course I came home inspired from all the wonderful rugs on display.    I quickly finished up my “Circus Rug” (Aptly named for it’s bright colors!) and I’ve now started another.    At least Keith can’t say I’m  wasting money on wool…It’s all being used!

      So, on that note I’m going to sign this off and get back to hooking.   Everyone try to stay dry, warm and well.   Until later.   Hugs, Sher

     

~A Monster Snowstorm?~

    For over a week a monster snowstorm has been predicted for Kansas.   Of course we’ve heard talk of things like this before and nothing ever comes of it so we haven’t paid much attention.    Last night before the first snowflake so much as fell our local schools we’re called off.   Our schools close very seldom, never before it’s 100% necessary.   At that point we realized that maybe, just maybe we really were going to have a major storm.

     This morning we awoke to snow falling from the sky at an alarming rate, the wind blowing ninety miles an hour and temperatures so cold you can’t be out there for more than a few minutes.  (I know this for a fact as I have outside cats to feed!)   Yes, it’s true…Kansas in the middle of a monster snowstorm!!!!

     It’s times like this I’m thankful Keith & I are retired.   It’s hard living on a tight set budget but I would hate the thought of getting out on these horrid, snow packed roads too.  It’s easier to live on less money and know we don’t have to risk our lives to get somewhere.  [Betty, I’m worried about Tony!]

     So, this morning George Jones is softly singing to me about lost love, candles are burning and my little family is safely sleeping in their beds.   A good time to have some ‘me time’.

    For weeks I have been telling you about the “Winter Rug” I’ve had on my frame.   My goal was to have it hooked & on the floor by the end of January.   I’m happy to report I made it!   While there are things I would do differently if I had to do it over, I’m just thankful it’s done….Note to myself, “Do not do another rug that big.”    Anyway, here’s how it looks:

 

             Not one to have nothing to work on, the minute the last loop was pulled, I had several more projects ready to go.   I really wanted to start another rug but since I was waiting on linen backing to arrive in the mail, that wasn’t possible.    Instead I decided it was time to work on a few Needle Punch projects.    Out came the weavers cloth, DMC floss, patterns, NP needle and my little work basket. Within a few days I was happily punching away.    I have to be honest it was nice to work on something different for a change.   Of course by now I’m ready to move on to another rug.

      Well, George is getting tired of serenading me so I best let him get some rest and start thinking about some breakfast for my crew.   How does waffles & sausage patties sound?  I hope your all warm & safe in your homes this cold, winter morning?  Remember, in just a few weeks we’ll be talking “Spring”.

                      Winter Smiles, Sher

Happy Birthday Kansas!

   Today our great state of Kansas turns 150 years old.    I think the way I feel was best summed up by our thirteen year old daughter.  When talking about Kansas she said,  “Mom, she looks pretty good for  someone who is this old.   If we take good care of her she’ll continue this way.”   Amen Jeni!

     The month of January is about over.    It’s been a sad month for our family.    We have said good-bye to two wonderful, older women in our lives.   First to leave us was our DIL Codi’s great grandma.   Grandma Jackie was one of those special women that to meet her was to love her.    Not only did we love her for who she was but because she welcomed our son into their family with open arms and treated him like one of their own.     There’s no greater compliment to a parent than to see their children loved by others.   She’ll be missed but never forgotten.

     A week later we said good-bye to a dear neighbor lady of my youth.    As I attended the funeral yesterday I was reminded of what a talented woman Ruth was.   Always willing to teach what she knew to others, a wonderful neighbor and a loving wife and mother.   The bells of heaven are ringing and two special women have been reunited with their husbands who have gone on before them.

     Today will be a day to go on with living.    I will be finishing up my winter rug and hopefully by evening it will be lying in front of our fireplace.  Then it’s on to another project.   There are several ideas dancing in my head and by evening one will be started.

    So, I will leave you once again reminding you how precious life is.   Enjoy each & every minute.   Tell those you love how how much they mean to you and hold them close.   Hugs, Sher