Sunshine and Roses

Okay we have sunshine here but no roses...lol In fact I have to cover the plants again tonight we are expected to be in the low 30's again, I think I will leave my iphone in the house this time.

Has everyone given up on their New Years Resolutions yet? I waited a couple weeks before making any this year so far that has worked for me & I have stuck to them...with a little help from my friends.

Here are more of the rugs from the show









Can you spot the Nola Heidbreder Rugs?
Smart lady, she flew in for the weekend!

Blessings 2 U Friends

LOST

Last Thursday I started a post and thought I published it but it must have been a dream because it is not here! It is LOST...speaking of which anyone watching the season premiere on Wednesday? I AM!

Sahara took this photo and is using it on her Birthday invitations

What is everyone doing to stay warm? Personally I am trying to keep busy, which as you know is not hard around our home.

We babysat Gavin Thursday & Saturday last week, he is crawling (short lengths) and has cut his first tooth. He still vomits his formula and is on the NG feeding tube each night. This last week Tim gave him a break because the tape was irritating his skin.

Thursday Susan & I tried to dye up some browns so she could finish her ottoman/stool

Thanks to this cold/virus I missed hooking a week ago but did make it this Saturday. I found out another lady from last year was back but Nancy didn't attend this week so I will have to wait until next Saturday to give her hugs. Class was full and even Sahara came along with me. Amy had made her this adorable purse from an old silk tie, she made me promise not to show it since it was her first, I think it looks wonderful but will wait for her next one to show you.
Four Seasons Class Project
Maggie's Ottoman ready to be mounted


Sunday was FOOTBALL at our house, the entire family was here, even Gavin for the games. Gabriel made Mojito's that were wonderful. I worked on my rug during the game and got a little more finished.



Today we took Casper back to the Veterinary Ophthalmologist in Tampa, he is doing wonderfully we have to continue a few meds for 2 more weeks then the cone can come off & he only has to have eye drops & gel to keep his eyes well lubricated for the rest of his life. There is some cloudiness but we are hopeful it will clear eventually. His Right eye has a slight cataract but nothing that should ever impair his vision! Thank you for all the Prayers!

Calvin is doing well on his meds currently and we hope the infection was averted & the anti-inflammatory meds will help long term.

This weekend is the Sebring Hook-In so I hope to have TONS of great photos of all the attendees', teachers & rugs. I just saw Polly's newest rug which will be featured in next months Country Home Magazine I am hoping she will have it or a kit with her Friday.

Next week the influx of Cardinal & Steeler fans will invade our lovely area for Superbowl 43 I hope the weather is perfect!

Well off to accomplish some things around here the annuals need to be covered again later today along with packing the camper, taking down the Christmas tree, daily domestic jobs, school & animal medicating.
Stay Warm were ever you are today!


Blessings 2 U Friends

Home at last....

Well that may be a little misleading...

Home where you reside now ...no
Home where you long to be ....no
Home where you grew up & spent your childhood ...YES

Friday we started out VERY early after grabbing a cup of coffee at the Burger King next door.
We were able to watch the sunrise & I snapped a few pics while we drove out of Kentucky & into Indiana.

I forgot that the my iphone changes time zones automatically as we drove back into EST and I called and woke Tim up. I wanted to make sure he didn't lock our two cats Calvin & Tinkerbell in the bedrooms. OOPS!
We won't go into the details of the conversation or sms messages that he had with Dad & Me while at the airport, suffice to say our Security here isn't as overzealous as you may have heard, THANKFULLY!! However I think he may have been TRYING to get detained. :-)

We made it to O'Hare thanks to the Prayers of Pastor Dave & multiple friends as we were watching the radar. The awful storm front was due to hit the same time we were due to arrive on Chicago's south side & while Tim's plane was coming into the area.
Praise GOD as I watch this front completely dissipate over the south side and push off through Lake County, where Jess was already.

We stopped at the O'Hare Oasis and waited for the call that his plane had landed. In the meantime I walked the dogs & tried to update The Queen over the roar of the traffic & wind as to our progress.

We arrived at Denise's' home at 3:30 pm after an emergency pull off on the 4ft of emergency space on the tollway, it is TORN up for construction, we didn't make the other drivers very happy but the car wouldn't move again.

Quickly,setting up the camper, feeding the dog, & showering 6 people in two bathrooms we managed to get dressed and arrive at the funeral home at 5pm. We signed in and saw Grandma. In the 40 days she was in Utah she lost quite a bit of weight, she barely looked like my Grandma.
Uncle Don, my sister and my cousins didn't arrive until 6pm. We visited with family that I have not seen in 10 or more years, my BFF Cheri and Larry's brothers & sisters all attended and I am eternally grateful as I know it would have been very difficult to be there without their support.

My family went to TGIF afterwards and Larry's family went to Avalon...gee where do we go? AVALON!!!!

We were able to laugh and enjoy the company of loved ones & grab a bite to eat without being rushed thanks to Denise & Rachel who were caring for our dogs.
We returned home to find a bouquet of red & pink roses on the table in the camper, fresh fruit in the basket, donuts, chips, juice & salsa all tucked away out of the pups reach. Denise could teach others how to be hospitable & make what truly were strangers feel at home, loved & welcomed!
Romans 12:13 (NIV) Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

The funeral services and luncheon afterwards were bittersweet, highlighted by my cousins son Matthew who spoke from GODS living word and shared some of the characteristics that made my Grandmother, his Great Grandmother, the wonderful woman we all knew & now will miss. I only pray that all those things she instilled in us and taught us will continue to be passed down to our children for eternity.

We all went to The Museum of Science & Industry which my two youngest had never seen nor had Denise & Rachel. When we had attended MOSI in Tampa I was astonished at how small it was & told the kids we would see Chicago's MOSI. The one in Tampa would fit in an exhibit area of the Chicago Museum. Then we invaded my BFF'S house for dinner & conversation. Cheri is another woman who could teach Hospitality, always welcoming to friends & strangers, making sure there is food to every ones liking or dietary needs. Giving gifts that are above & beyond what could be repaid here on earth.

We visited with her entire family since Ashley & Jen, who are now married & have children of their own, all came over to visit & spend their Sunday evening with us. They have grown into such beautiful women & mothers I can only pray my children are such loving parents.

Feeling like the Christmas Goose we finally gave her back her home & departed after many hugs & kisses, bags of food to take with us, Christmas gifts Larry was unable to bring back on his last two trips and special items from Ashley that I think I will keep for future use at my home.

This morning is going slow...still in my jammies and trying to get moving so we can visit the Milwaukee Zoo, Uncle Big Bob (who said he would look at the Suburban) and clean up Denise's' house from the mess we made all sleeping in *except Larry* because we are Floridian whimps and didn't want to sleep in the camper in 35 degree temperatures with colds.

Blessings 2 U Friends

PS please excuse typos & mis-spellings as I am just trying to get this posted, not proof reading. :-(

BONUS DAY!!

You all know FRIDAY is my FAVORITE Day of the week, but how about a BONUS FRIDAY?!!
Once every 4 years we get an extra day & this time it is a FRIDAY!

Today it warmed up a little more too!
Which is great because I can not seem to stay warm lately.
Seriously I went to sleep with a camisole tank top, long sleeve t-shirt, long sleeve corduroy shirt, socks, flannel pajama bottoms, and a fleece hat, Honestly a fleece hat, top that off with a blanket & cotton quilt with cotton batting, two dogs & my hubby.
Here is one of my little furnaces
along with Tinkerbell trying to scare Charlotte
out of Daddio's feeder.

Daddio is the Male Cardinal that has trained us to refill the feeder when he knocks on the window. Seriously he finds the room I am in (usually one of the rooms in the front of the house) and will land on the window & peck it.



Apparently 30 years of living through Chicago winters is completely out of my blood, it only took 10 years.

Even while watching LOST I was in front of the fire last night, I was seriously afraid this series was going to get too 'deep' for me to continue to follow. Maybe it was that I didn't eat a good dinner, or maybe all the blood left my brain trying to keep my vital organs warm....
Then I remembered Sawyer's nickname for me was Einstein so I figure if Mr. Hotty can see I am smart then I can follow where they are taking us this season.


Oh one last thing...I finished my pattern just in time to list it on ETSY right as Martha Stewart was finishing her segment today with ETSY founder Rob Kalin *who by the way looks all of 17 years old*
Make sure to check it out, it looks more like Folk Art than most of my patterns.

Back to my sign & the wool in the dye pot!
STAY WARM!

Blessings 2 U Friend

How not to catch the family cold....

Last week my youngest daughter & my husband caught a NASTY cold.
Seeing the big picture & knowing I am finally going to GET AWAY for two days this weekend (a mini vacation for me) I kept them at arms length all week, no mouth kissing only cheek, washed my hands a hundred more times during the day, upped my Vitamin C intake, ate well, drank plenty of water, got 7hrs a night (okay maybe interrupted by dogs barking at the eldest when he came home) sleep.

Saturday morning I leave bright & early for Primitive Rug Hooking Class leaving DH still in bed now watching tv & the kids somewhat asleep. I arrive back home after lunch and the bed is made. Well now isn't that thoughtful?!!!!

After a LONG emotional day and trying to finish some of the to do list before bed (while watching the radar for 2 hours as we were under Tornado Watches & Warnings) I finally crawl in bed at 11:30 and decide to watch SNL's Tracy Morgan tribute. The only skit I remember is "Brian Fellows" with "The Rock" which was pretty funny.
I proceed to fall asleep propped up on the stack of pillows with my glasses on.

At some point the hubby comes in to remove my glasses & ask if I am watching this? No not really I am asleep! I then moved the pillows down so I didn't throw my back out & dozed back off. Waking up about 3 hours later to a sore throat, stuffy nose & the boys still watching television in the living room (right outside my bedroom door). After telling them to GET TO BED & getting a drink of water I climb back in bed realizing why I feel sick......
I HAVE HIS PILLOW & NOT MINE!
My special pillow is lower than his, his is higher 'to prevent snoring' AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
3 hours of breathing in the COLD GERMS that have been on his pillowcase all week long & NOW I HAVE IT!!!!

My nose looks like rudolph, it is runny, I am sneezing constantly, my nose & eyes are itchy & my throat is still sore!!!
I have increased the Vit.C. again, have been rinsing my nose with salt water (trying to flush the germs out) & trying not to rip my nose off my face! At least I found the vaseline to put on it so the 'lotion' tissues don't continue to make it more raw. So now it is a GLOSSY RED NOSE.

They both feel better after 4 days so I am banking on that hoping I will too, even if I don't count yesterday as day 1 that gives me until Thursday, when I have to go to the Dentist for the back molar that broke 1/4 off on Friday.
Thankfully it isn't hurting as there is enough of that silver filling stuff in my mouth to build a small ship!
Where I will get to hear how I need that temp. crown replaced with a permanent one (it's been there about 6yrs and only comes off when I eat something sticky) that the other top molar needs new amalgam since the silver stuff is falling out & that one does hurt occasionally.

NO I am not afraid of the dentist, in fact I LOVE my old dentist, the one in Illinois. I spent most of my childhood in his office NEVER once did I have pain & he pulled out all 4 of my impacted wisdom teeth in his office. Even called me at home to find out how I was later that night (mind you this was back in 1981-82. The dentists here only make your teeth clean & white then they send you off to someone else to make you feel the pain, that way you don't HATE them.
However I am wise to the game & they are still the ones who send you off to the 'pain dentist'!

Wonder if my insurance will cover my old dentist if I fly back to Illinois to have dental work.
Dr. Cooper can you pencil me in for next week?

Yesterday while I was just miserable (sick & mourning over little Julian going home to be with the LORD, see my Prayer Warrior link)
I got a wonderful email from a fellow group moderator, she was hooking one of my designs and sent me photos throughout the day of her progress.
This brightened my day especially since I finally finished drawing the last few designs/patterns for my book yesterday.
I just have to have the hubby scan them in & email them to me so I can tweak them in Pages & add the 'fine' print before running them off to sell!! Hopefully this can be done tomorrow night. LOL

On that note here is her finished piece (yes she hooked it in one day, while watching the game even!)

Thank you Irma for sharing this with everyone, you did a wonderful job & I just love the colors you chose.


Folks hug your children, your spouse, your friends, your loved ones life it too short not to appreciate each other!
Hugs to you Irma for lifting my spirits & Hug to you readers for taking the time to stop in & share my life story.

Blessings 2 U Friends