A FUN MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

One thing I don't like about blogger.com is how you load pictures. You have to know the order you want them on the blog and load the last ones first or you spend a lot of time moving stuff around. Not fun!! Or maybe I just don't know what I'm doing -- that's a distinct possibility :))


Anyway, G'ma and I left Friday around 10 am and headed for Nashvegas. We got to Michael's around 4:00. It seemed to take forever -- I think because I was in a hurry to get there. We visited for a little while and then headed out for the evening. We met Jen and family and Robbie at an Italian restaurant called Corraba's (I think) and had a fun time visiting with Robbie and eating some good Italian fare.



After supper we stood around outside and the kids played in the grass while we visited some more.








Saturday, Michael, Avery, G'ma and I went to Crockett Park in Brentwood


























and then we went to the Loveless Cafe about a 30 minute drive. It has been written up in a lot of mags such as Southern Living and is considered one of the best places to go for good down home southern cooking. It was worth the drive and the wait. Michael and Avery let me make their picture while we were waiting.



Saturday night Jen and fam came over to Michael's and we ate some rotissiere chicken and veggies and played outside and then all the kids took a bath before it was timeto go home. We were tired!! :)











Sunday was a day for worship and relaxation and dinner at Pie In the Sky -- a pizza place. Then yesterday we had a cookout rainy weather and all at Jennifers. It was fun. Mario Cart, screaming kids and lots of visiting. Vail and Avery either love eachother or fight -- it's seldom in between and last night was fight night. We couldn't help but laugh at them. Katy is starting to take some steps. It was fun to be there to see that too.

GOOD NEWS -- VERY BAD NEWS

The good news is school is out for the year but sadly it is very much overshadowed by some really bad news that the son of a former youth minister was killed in a horrible and tragic accident early Wed morning and he would have been graduating from highschool tomorrow night. His name is John Robert Dobbs and his dad John was our youth minister when the kids were younger. Everybody loved John and his wife Maggie. John Robert was very young when they left here. They moved to Pascagoula where John was preaching until just recently when he accepted a job in the Monroe, LA area. He had been staying in Monroe while the rest of the fam was still in MS til the house sold and JR graduated. They went through hurricane Katrina which destroyed their home and the church building and have done so many great things to help in the rebuilding of their community. John Robert was very well liked and from what I've read was involved in church and community projects. I can't even imagine what they are going through right now. That picture was taken last weekend. JR with his grandparents who live here and worship with us. They had gone to visit with the fam down there since they wouldn't be going to graduation.

On a brighter note, G'ma and I are leaving in the morning to go spend Memorial Day with Michael and Avery and of course the Ensor clan. We are hoping to see Robbie while we are there too. Hopefully the weather will be pretty nice and we will be able to do some fun stuff while we are there.

We will come home Tuesday. Wednesday I will go to school to make up my missing tomorrow. Thursday I have to do a 2 hour workshop at one of the elementary schools and then my summer will officially begin -- why you might ask is that the official beginning -- because I DON'T PLAN ON THINKING ABOUT SCHOOL OR GOING TO SCHOOL AFTER THAT UNTIL AUGUST 4TH!! . I can't wait. But, I guess I'll have to. Probably Friday I'll keep my pajamas on all day -- maybe Sat. too :) After that I'll be plotting my trip west and then east on the map and calendar:)

Gotta pack so this is it for now.

We love you John and Margaret. We are praying for your family.

A GREAT MOTHER'S DAY :) (AND KNITTING)

I had such a nice Mother's Day weekend. I got to visit with Billy, Stacey and their three. What fun I had. Went to Suzannah's ballgame. She got a great hit and tagged sombody out -- Go "Q"!! Got taken out for lunch at a really cool and fabulous bed and breakfast. Got cards and/or calls from all my great kids and flowers from my mom and a really pretty basket made especially for knitting -- it has a hole for your yarn to come through so your knitting stays nice and neat. And last but not least -- an adjustable wrench!! Thanks Billy - you knew just what I needed for my tool box - thanks for the basket and corsage and super gerber daisy too :)

Here are a few pictures

On another note, I was looking at some knitting sites today (that's what getting a new basket will do for you) and I found a neat site that has videos showing you the basics of knitting. So, for those of you who might be interested in learning to knit, I've added it to my links over on the side. Try it -- I know you'll like it. Knitting is very relaxing, but whatever you do, don't try knitting socks -- it's very addictive and very very fun!!!

THE "FAMILY TREE" QUILT

Here are the pics of g'mas family tree quilt (although blurry or maybe my glasses just need cleaning :)

The first picture is what the quilt will look like - minus a border -- I'll add that. The second shows the fabric for the grass, tree and then three different leaf colors. They don't dshow up real well -- its a green and a yellow/gold and a red batik. The red doesn't look as pink as it does in the picture . It is just a light red. The third is the sky fabric that I'll be getting from the Internet.

The last is a machine applique/embroidery design I found for a dollar. It is the same leaf basically that comes with the quilt pattern and will make the applique part so much easier. Yea!!

I will have to use my software and see if I can group two or three leaves into a cluster for some of the leaves that are on the tree instead of all of them being single leaves. We shall see if I can do it.
Also, there won't be any pictures on any leaves -- just names and birthdays will be embroidered on them. I'm excited about getting started on it.

YES, I'M STILL SEWING -- I THINK :)

This is Jennifers rag quilt in the final stages. You can see the binding in the upper right if you click the picture and see the larger version. It is made from all the different colors and will look neat when it is all sewn down. It is attached but I haven't turned it to the other side and handsewn it. Then I will have to "rag" all those exposed seams by clipping them (probably 4-5 snips per inch). Then, I will wash it and dry it a couple of times to get it to ravel and look raggy. :)










This will be the dress on the left side of the pattern envelope when I finish the bodice and then attach the skirt. It is for Vail -- I bought the material and cut it out LAST summer. She'll be able to wear it this summer (assuming I actually finish it :)) and then can pass it on. My list will be a little shorter when I finish these -- actually just one item shorter because the rag quilt was an add on -- why do I keep doing that??


My next post I'll show pics of the material I got for g'ma's quilt and a picture of the pattern -- think I've posted one before but it will refresh the memory of any who are interested. Working on that quilt top and putting together the log cabin quilt top will be next on my list.

When I travel this summer I may just take my serger and the several pieces of xmas material I've collected the last couple of Christmases so I can make a bazillion Christmas napkins. That won't take a whole lot of brain power so maybe I can accomplish a fairly big job without having to think too hard. We'll see.

OK -- MY TAGGED LIST

What was happening in my life 10 years ago?


1. Well, I sure wasn't getting ready to graduate from highschool or college! (Guess that makes me old :))
2. Adjusting to life without Bob

3. Making lots of trips to Harding

4. Getting ready for Jen to graduate from CHS

5. Getting up at night to take my puppy outside



5 Things on my To Do List:

1. Read and Study the Bible more
2. Find out what this house is worth and maybe doing some mini-projects so it will sell quickly when the time comes
3. Finish all the projects on my sewing to do list
4. Learn to eat healthier
5. Write more letters



5 Snacks I enjoy:
1. Apples and grapefruit --believe it or not I really like them as snacks--I just don't think to fix them
2. chocolate
3. yogurt (especially peach or lime)
4. Fiber one bars -- carmel -- yummy
5. popcorn


5 Things I would do if I were a billionaire:
1. Give to Harding and the church
2. Pay off any left over student loans of the kids and setup college funds for the grands
3. Set up a family insurance trust or what ever it would need to be to take care of medical needs instead of relying on regular insurance
4. Set up a permanent yard care fund so I would always have money to pay someone to take care of my yard
5. Retire early :)


5 Bad Habits:
1. I still bite my nails sometimes when I'm really worried or stressed out
2. Learn to stop worrying about my kids especially about things I can't control
3. I probably choose to stay home and sew more than I should -- but I can't help it-- it's relaxing to me
4. Not exercising enough
5. I probably complain too much


5 Places I have lived: I think these are all the places I've lived so far
1. Heidelburg Germany
2. Fort Benning Georgia
3. Fairview PA
4. Searcy Ark
5. Cleveland MS


5 Jobs I have had:

1. Waitress at Barnacle Bill's in Erie and also Howard Johnson's
2. Teacher in the 3-18 mos room of the DSU childcare center so I could get out of the house -- WHAT WAS I THINKING -- I had two preschoolers at home and two in lower elementary
3. Elementary Teacher
4. Elementary and Jr High Computer Applications Teacher
5. Online professional development classes for teachers through the RCU at MS State University

TAGGED AND OTHER STUFF

I've been tagged and I promise I'll write something in the next few days when things are a little less hectic. I talked to Michael for a good while tonight. I wish I was closer so I could help him more -- maybe next year.

Tomorrow is the aniversary of Stace's brother's death. I know she and her family are having a rough few days. I've been thinking about them all week. I didn't get to know him real well but he was an awfully nice young man. I know they miss him a lot.

Grandmother fell last sunday at the Wharehouse and both her knees are all bruised up. She is having to have physical therapy on the knee that is considered her good knee and her "bad" knee is now her "better" knee. Then today a bucket of icecream fell out of the freezer at Kroger and hit her in the leg and it bled "like a stuck pig" according to her. it was all bandaged up when I saw it. She told the therapist that she had been thinking about losing weight but had changed her mind because people who are "fluffy" don't break bones when they fall. The therapist said she was absolutely right :)) Smart therapist!

15 days of school counting tomorrow. I can't wait! That means that I have 202 school days left in my career (including tomorrow). Double Can't wait!! Don't have time to post pics -- don't know what pics I'd post if I had time right now.

I tyyped ad printed and made 50 copies of the bulletin for this week and then saw a big mistake -- and this after reading it. So, I had to fix the mistake and do it all over. That's why I wish I had someone to proof it for me. Oh well.

Toby has pushed the cushions off the couch and is now laying on them on the floor. Think I'll join him and watch ER.