strolling down memory lane.

Yesterday morning was spent photographing pictures in my photo albums, for my birth daughter Valerie who lives in Michigan.

It was so fun to dig out these dear images that have been tucked away for so long.  I wish I could actually remember these events.  They were such happy times.  Mom and dad are both gone now. 

But do you see that sweet lady making silly faces at me in the first picture?  That is my dearest aunt.  She resides in Northern California (where I am from) and I miss her terribly.  I hate that I live so far from her.

These next photos make me smile.  My great grandma Alden was very dear to my mom, who I am sure is taking the picture.  I don't remember her, but know that she taught my mom how to crochet and the two of them were very close.

How sweet and attentive, she is obviously letting me explain ... something.  Don't you just love when children do that?

I have more albums to work on over the next several days.  I love that Valerie is wanting to learn more about her birth family.  (She was adopted from me when I was a teen.)  I know how much I wish I could have known my own mom.

It is funny how mom and I had such little time together and yet I have been told how much I not only look like her but act like her as well.

a Christmas gift.

No one in my family pays much attention to my blog, so I can pretty much post just about anything, and no one knows the better.  Cool huh?!

I finished my shortcake quilt over a year ago.  She has been hanging in my closet, just waiting her turn to be quilted.

Whenever our daughter Katie comes to visit, she peeks behind the door to see if "her quilt" is still there.

Little does she know, it is not!  As a matter of fact, it is en route to the quilter, to be beautifully quilted just for her!

It will be so difficult for me to wait until Christmas morning to gift Katie her quilt.  I will have to exercise self control, otherwise she may end up receiving it much sooner.

Oh boy, and I have to share this amazing score with you.  Several months ago, I was able to find 5 yards of Pam Kitty Morning fabric on sale at 50% off!!  This is now the shortcake quilt backing.  Yay!  :o)

Fat Quarter Shop has a sale page and the prices drop as low as 50%!  Be sure and check it out!

It pays to save your money and wait for just the right price.  Sometimes it take a little bit longer.  But quilting can get expensive and I can't justify putting my family into debt.  So often times, things are slow coming.  Which is ok.  I tend to appreciate them more.  wink!

ps.  Sorry for the wrinkly quilt shots.  I took it out of the closet for a quick photo shoot before mailing off.

an after.

For the longest time I had planned to paint our old farm house table cream, but I wanted to do it right.  After a real good priming and letting that set up for several days, I was able to put a couple of coats of cream paint on.  I love it!  And I can't wait to finish my room with the same method.

I have shown this little table in the past.  It was sort of a guinea pig in the process, to see how the paint and primer would work out.  Plus it was small enough if need be I could "fix" any issues I ran into.

So gradually, the bigger pieces are coming around to be painted.  The weather is nice and toasty and my little sewing room is actually the best place to do the painting.  So one of these two will be up next.  I have an old sheet that lays on the floor under a sturdy cutting table, which is just perfect.

This has not been a very speedy process, getting my little sewing space just right. Thanks for your patience, as I show each little step, one at a time.

The fried squash was delicious!  The fried squash king is back on his throne!!  ha ha ha.  To keep the house from getting stinky, we do it outdoors.  In a way it is sort of like camping.

For those of you who have inquired, Woody is recovering nicely.  It is a slow and steady pace, but it is going in the right direction and that means everything!  We have learned so much from this journey.  For starters, God is indeed more than faithful.  Attentive to every prayer, meeting every need.  Never once did we feel out of His presence, and because He saw fit for this trial to occur, He supplied the faith and stamina needed to endure.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path."

Proverbs 3:5-6

One of Woody's favorite scriptures.

road trip.

Today was the perfect day for a road trip. So Woody and I left our country living and drove south to the Gulf Coast. Ocean Springs to be exact.

 

We ate fried shrimp po-boys at Porter Avenue Bistro.  It is my first po-boy and boy was it good! (remember my husband is a southern boy who married a north west coast girl)

We also found two quilt shops, thanks to my dear blogging friend Carol.  Thank you Carol!!  The first one is in Ocean Springs, and is called Janet's Quilting Bee Inc.

The second is in Gautier, Mississippi.  Both shops were employed by the sweetest folks and were fun places to peruse. It felt so nice to actually walk into a quilt shop, see other ladies who are there with the same passion, chatting about their current projects.  I was incredibly spoiled by attending the Sewing Summit last October and visiting (for the first time) a few of the very cutest quilt shops I could have imagined!  I think I want to move to Salt Lake City just for the quilting fellowship and fabric stores!  Hmm.  How can we work that one?!

Ok, and because I could not leave the stores with out a little treat for you, please come back on Monday for a give a way!

w.i.p.

( Ms. Elizabeth snuggled in my seeing stars quilt )

My works in progress consist of : scheduling an A.C.T. at our local college (for our sophomore home schooled son), submitting final grades for Biology (YAY!!), and administering a Geometry test (a really big one). Oh, and I made a batch of chocolate chip banana bread with some straggler bananas that needed eating. And since it is Friday ... we will have pizza and watch a family movie - we do this every Friday night.  I always look so forward to it!

Wishing you a wonderful weekend.

xoxo 

notes from a hospital room.

Just a quick note to say, that Woody ended up having to undergo yet another surgery.  His third since January 24th.  This was the scariest one of all, with a very strong possibility of paralysis.  Praise the Lord, that was not the case and after the surgeon spoke with me following the surgery, I took such a deep breath. 

Our deepest thanks to those of you who have been praying for him and our family as well.  Truly.  Each prayer has been deeply felt.  Carrying us through this difficult time.  {{ hugs to you }}

I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

xoxo

scripture reading.

Our family has been in Ephesians for our scripture reading, and as Woody put it the other day, "The book of Ephesians is a lot like a slice of rich chocolate cake, you take a bite with a glass of milk and savor it."  I could not have said that better!

What are you reading today?  Do you have a book in the Bible that you hold extra dear to your heart?  When asked what my favorite scripture is, I can never answer.  I have so many favorites and since every typed letter is inspired by God, I can't choose just one.  Knowing that He has blessed us with His written word only increases my desire to read it all!

one and two.

When Woody was first admitted to the hospital, I grabbed my cotton yarn and began crocheting a granny stripe blanket.  I did not want to leave his side, and so hooked along while he slept.  

He fondly calls this our "lemonade blanket" because we are making lemonade out of lemons.

 

Little did we know that in four weeks, Woody would find himself back in the hospital for another extensive surgery.  Scary days lie in our wake.

The first surgery was frightening, to say the least.  But our hearts overflowed with a peace that we can attest came directly from our Heavenly Father.  

The next surgery however, terrified me.  Still, no doubt of His love and care for Woody, it just somehow seemed so much darker this time around.

Truly, God's faithfulness has abounded and we are looking at some very hopeful outcomes.

This time around, a new granny stripe blanket is coming to be.  This one is our "lemonade blanket two point oh".  I am only using three colors.  As much as I wanted to use natural fibers, I had to make due with what was local, and this is actually very soft yarn, though it is acrylic.  It is smooth and warm to lay across my lap and hook away.

  I sure hope your week is off

to a wonderful start.

xoxo

one step forward. five steps back.

Please keep my husband's recovery in your prayers.  The process has required yet another very serious surgery.  The nightmare continues for him.  Your prayers are most dear to us and we have felt each and every single one you have lifted before our Heavenly Father.  

xoxo

saturday.

 good morning ladies.

i put on a pot of coffee.

baked cinnamon rolls.

and am stitching away

at the scallop edge on my

granny stripe blanket.

it is raining today.

even a tornado watch

on the weather radio

for good measure.

it could not be a nicer

way to begin the weekend.

we are all congregated in

the living room, either quietly

reading or in my case

hooking along my white cotton yarn.

between a rumble of thunder over 

head and the hum of the clothes 

drier in the laundry room

* i am counting my blessings *

hoping that you are having a wonderful

weekend doing what you enjoy

with the ones that you love.

xoxo

grateful.

 

click to enlarge

in just one moment.

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In just one moment, everything can change.  Truly.  In a blink of an eye.  The past several days have been spent in the Neurosurgery Recovery, beside my husband.  My rock.  My best friend.  My everything.  Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers as he begins a journey of healing and adjusting after a very serious and out of the blue emergency surgery.

I don't know when I will be back here.  His well being and health is my priority.  I will meander back when time permits.  Thank you for your kindness and prayers.

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