Janus Chronicles

Abortion

2012-01-20T23:41:00.000-06:00

Abortion: it has become a divisive word. Here's what I think about it--the clinical type, not the spontaneous one (that one is more frequently called miscarriage.)

When I was a young girl, abortions were illegal. If someone wanted to terminate a pregnancy she could go to Tijuana, "a guy" down the street or in a back alley, or try any one of many do-it-yourself methods. All of these lead to serious life-changing infections, possible sterilization, and frequently death.

Abortions have been going on for as long as pregnancies have. Being against the law will not stop them. Murder, robbery, rape, drug possession and many (MANY) other things are against the law and happen with alarming frequency.

If a person is determined to abort a pregnancy, there should be a safe way to do it. It's the only loving and charitable way to handle it.

I think that counseling should be mandatory, maybe encouraging to carry the pregnancy and consider adoption, at the very least to be able to view the embryo/fetus via ultrasound first. I do not believe any life changing decision should be made without all the education and consideration possible. But in the end if the decision is still to terminate a pregnancy, the least society can do is cut the judgmental crap and give her a safe place and method to do it.

A New Year about 60 Years Ago...

2011-12-31T18:23:00.000-06:00

When I was 8 and Bobby had just turned 5, our mother had just gotten re-married and we were living in the home in San Diego that was next door to our grandparents. We were up early and were talking about what a new year meant. I was trying to explain it because, well, I was 8 and practically (I thought) a grown-up.

Also, around that time, Queen Elizabeth's coronation was happening, and I was trying to explain that--he kept asking was she our queen and I kept saying no, she's the Queen of England--well, aren't we English--no, we're Americans, etc., etc., etc. and so it went.

Finally, he asked me, well if we aren't English, and she's not the Queen of California, why is it on the TV?

Good question I was never able to adequately answer.

Some Things I've Been Doing

2011-11-30T06:06:00.001-06:00

This is what I made for Kelly's wedding.

...and I made this one for Alex (Eric's daughter).

I made four of these--I kept one and gave one each to Amy, Wendy and Christy.

--they're wall hangings. Jennie's isn't finished yet and is related to her Master's degree, and I'll post when it's done. My canning jar quilt is hanging on my kitchen wall.

Blogging

2011-11-09T05:27:00.000-06:00

I re-read AmyWW's blog about reading a few blogs every day, etc. I see that many people do blog all the time. I think I'm the anti-blogger. I love writing them; I love reading them; why don't I just do it more often?

I finally started following the Pioneer Woman--I noticed that some of the people in my family follow it so I checked it out. Now I really enjoy her blogs. I want to thank Jenna for turning me on to Budget Bytes. It's an interesting blog and I'm going to follow it--I think I can use many of her ideas.

I don't surf around looking for interesting blogs. I just see what other people are following and sometimes I do too. However I do make some nifty quilts. Here's one I just put together (that means the "sandwich"--backing, batting and top--is put together and waiting for me to actually quilt it.)

I had to push all my family room furniture back to the walls to get this monster laid out. It's actually going on OUR bed, because I've wanted a "red work" quilt for a long time--even though my bedroom is mostly soft greens.

Looking at my picture, I see the TV tables that I'm using as side tables. I think this is the year that I'm going to get real tables for Christmas for our home. It seems that most years there are things I really need so that counts as Christmas for us. This year, I don't really need--or even want--anything particular and I saw some really pretty side tables on sale at a local (OKC) furniture store, so maybe I'll retire the TV tables.

I am excited to give Kelly and Matt their owl quilt. I'll post after the wedding.

Slow race

2011-09-07T17:16:00.000-05:00

When we were little, Bob and I started a slow counting contest (race). Whoever got to 10 slowest was the winner. He got to 5 or 6 rather quickly.

I'm still on 1...

:)

So, How Ya Been?

2011-07-29T07:23:00.002-05:00

OK, so Christy asked me yesterday when I was going to write a blog. I see it was early May when I wrote last. So, now the end of July I'm not sure if I have anything to say, but here goes.

Christy and I traveled to Houston and spent last week at Amy's home, visiting with grandkids and one particular very darling GREAT granddaughter. I got to see all of Amy's little ones, including Taylor, who is extremely handsome, grown up, but still has the little precious Taylor face. That was wonderful.

We also canned a lot of food. We sort of took turns putting up our own choices and helping one another chop, cut, slice, mix, boil, wash, etc.--all the chores that go into canning.

We brought Jeremy and Dylan with us; and Mark's daughter, Calysta. What a great deal! Cousins got to hang out, play video games and run around. Having Calysta there really made Avery happy. She loves Calysta.

Avery wasn't thrilled with me or Christy, but tolerated us. A few times I was allowed to hold her, give and receive hugs and kisses, feed her, and dress her. Altogether, that part was wonderful. She's so much like her mom, Karie, but she has some behaviors that are just like her Grammie, Amy. Amy said she didn't know where this or that came from and I would say, that I remember a very little Amy doing the same things. It's so wonderful to see how some things just seem to seep through several generations to a little one--a very wonderful little one. It's interesting being an ancestor! It was so much fun I forgot to take any pictures or movies! (nuts)

Calysta played with Jake--they were running here and there and did much giggling.

Then, on Sunday, we traveled to Dallas to spend the next week with Cheli and Grampy. Mark was there and took Calysta home (he and David had conducted some business so he was in Dallas.) On Monday the 25th, I went to Baylor Hospital with Cheli for her surgery. We were there until Wednesday and then I brought her home. She's convalescing nicely--a bump here, a smooth place there--pretty normal recovery. She'll be up and at 'em before long, I know. Dylan is spending this week with Jennie's family hanging with Alisa.

Jennie is coming over today and she, Christy and I are going to lunch--if Cheli is OK for me to leave. That'll be a nice break. I did a little cooking yesterday and Grampy was pretty thankful for that (split pea soup and chocolate cake--sugar free of course.)

I miss Bobby and my home. We're headed for Norman on Sunday morning. In the afternoon, Mark, Calysta, Christy, Dylan, Jeremy and I will try to go to see the Harry Potter movie again. We tried on opening day but just before we went into the theater, all the power went out. This area (OK and TX) has had multiple weeks of over 100 degrees and I think some power grids are suffering. I know the people are. Since then, Dylan has seen it with Alisa, and Mark and Calysta saw it after they got home. But since we still have our tickets, all of us will go to the theater and try again--wish us luck this time.

I think that's about it for me. I love being retired and having the freedom to visit my offspring--I think it's my true career.

My Mother

2011-05-08T11:39:00.001-05:00

When my mother was 25 I was 6. I distinctly remember that she had colored her hair red. When the sisters at church asked her why she did that, her answer was that she would never be "brown" again. That bit of sarcasm was not lost on me.

As we all know, she actually went back to her natural color and for the rest of her life, railed against any woman who colors her hair. I never got it. I mean, if you don't want to do it, don't; leave everyone else alone. She especially disliked "older" women who continued to color their hair long after their faces would have looked better with a lighter color. Wrinkles just seem a little mitigated by lighter colored hair--maybe nature has the right idea after all. My own pet peeve is when women who have long-since been gray but continue to color their hair say, "My real hair color is ___." I mean, c'mon, the real color is what it comes out at the roots, isn't it.

Just one of the pieces of craziness I brought into my generation from my mother's.

When she was about to get married to Daddy, she was a little "giddy". Looking back, it's really rather wonderful to think about it.

My mother fought overweight her whole life. I have memories of her very heavy and very trim. She had a terrible self-image and even when she weighed only a little over 100 pounds, still talked about her big fat butt. Too bad. Her mother was trim her whole life, and mother unfortunately took after her father's sister, Aunt Lucille. Large butt...

I miss my mother. We visited often in the last years, but I still miss her.

Update

2011-05-02T07:22:00.001-05:00

Both my eyes are healed, I think. I had my second post-op exam last week and I'm seeing 20/20 in both eyes--for distant vision! I will still need glasses for reading, but even my close-up vision is better. I also have very nice sun glasses. All in all, my eyes are better than they were when I was 13. Win for me.

My feet still hurt from the neuromas, but they're actually a lot better, I think. At least I don't lie down in bed and they keep aching/throbbing. Also, when I'm wearing my proper shoes, I can walk with almost no gimping around.

As for the right hand--I dunno. I guess I'll have to see a hand doctor--what the hell is a hand doctor?

I've been substituting at the two local high schools almost every day. Last day of school is May 27. By that time, I will have earned enough to get my quilting machine.

Due to starting immune-suppressant drugs soon, I will severely limit my teaching next fall. I think only the school around the corner from us, and then only maybe 4-5 days per month. You know, schools are just big petri dishes. Also, since I have been working so much, I have had no desire to quilt or even sew. I'll be glad to have my old routine back. But I have been single-minded about earning enough to get my quilting machine. I have several large quilts that will cost many dollars to have someone else quilt, and I do not intend to do hand quilting. PUH-LEEZE!!

Bobby's working part-time at the Wal-Mart in Moore. It's good for him, he says.

I think I'm done.

My "Ten Good Things" List

2011-04-26T07:26:00.000-05:00

I thought I'd try to make my own list, like Amy did.

I took so many painkillers for my right arm/hand, which did little good, that now my feet aren't sore today.
My grandson will be home from Europe this summer.
My peonies are BEAUTIFUL.
I'm almost ready to buy my quilting machine!!
I am 67 (it's a good thing; it's a good thing...certainly better than the alternative!)
My husband is working part time. Keeps him off the street. :)
We had a good rain over the weekend--FINALLY.
I love my "job" (substitute teaching)--I can just decline an offer and stay home if I want--and I love being in the classroom (at the two local high schools.)
There's a little mound, but the grass is completely filled in where the oak was--no more big scar.
I taught in Bubby's science class yesterday and he told them that I'm his grandma--a small thing, but very good.

Morton, Left Eye and Daisy

2011-04-06T08:15:00.001-05:00

I have many things on my mind today.

First of all, I have had such painful feet lately that at times I have had trouble walking. My rheumatologist said there are no arthritic changes, so I should see a podiatrist. Naturally, a person with flat feet and previously broken metatarsal bones and crushed right arch bones has a podiatrist. I hadn't seen him lately (since he removed the claw from my right little toe--I told you I already have a podiatrist) so I made an appointment. I sat down in the examination room and saw this picture on the wall--it was a little creepy because it illustrated EXACTLY where and how my feet hurt:

Well, it's called a Morton's Neuroma. I don't know who Morton was, but I don't like his neuromas, much. The "cure" is I have to wear good quality, well-fitting shoes (bummer); I have to wear inserts in my shoes to support the flatness; I must take anti-inflammatories. Since my rheumatologist just put me on Celebrex, that was already covered. Well see if this helps.

Next, today I will have cataract-removal surgery on my left eye. Not such an earth-shaking procedure, but it's my eyes, people. Innately scary. Left Eye- pre-surgery.

Lastly, and this one is really fun to me, Karie sent me a picture a few days ago saying that she thought this picture looks like me.

Of course, I loved the picture, and thought the bangs haircut is darling. Later I glanced at my PC and the picture flashed up on my screensaver photo album that I keep running and the first thing I thought was -- I think this looks like Daisy! I have always thought that Daisy looked like some of my baby pictures, and this is just remarkable, I think, considering that Daisy's grandfather and Avery's great grandmother are the common ancestors (Yes, Bob, we're ancestors!)

It's very dry here, windy and the state of Oklahoma is on fire every day somewhere. We had 0.03" of rain in March and usually get around 3". No rain in the near future--we really need rain out here.

So, that's what I have on my mind today. Hope yours is a good one.

Update on Right Eye

2011-03-17T05:49:00.001-05:00

Did you hear about the guy who jumped off a 30-story rooftop?

As he passed the the 15th floor, someone yelled out at him, "How are you doing?"

The jumper yelled back, "So far, so good."

Right Eye

2011-03-16T07:41:00.005-05:00

Here's the eye that's going to have cataract surgery today. It looks like an ordinary eye, but I think after today, it'll be a super eye. The IOL (Intraocular lens) that they will implant will improve my vision, in addition to replacing the current lens that has a cataract--a honking cataract, according to the doctor (it's a technical term.)

I'll have the left eye done April 6.

After that, I should be able to get the "X" removed from my Driver's License where it says "must wear corrective lenses." Also, I can get some good dark glasses, and I can buy my reading glasses from Wal-Mart.

I'm excited.

Blog Challenge: Most Treasured Item

2011-03-12T06:15:00.004-06:00

I just read Cami's blog about what she would grab in the event the house was on fire. Of course, you don't count children, because everyone would just stop there.

We have a LaCie brick -- external hard drive--not too big, I think 300 gigabytes--well, I guess it's pretty big, and it's kept away from the PC in another part of the house in the event of getting hit by lightning (this has happened, so it's not a distant possibility.) I'd want this because we have many pictures on it that are no where else. Also our tax history for the past 8-10 years or so. That might be important. I'd want my sewing machine, and the quilts that have been basted together but are not quilted yet.

I know Bobby would want to get his ham radio stuff out, as much as he could get. His "Radio Shack" is near several windows, and I assume he'd just break them and pitch a lot of his equipment out through the window holes.

I guess if I could think of it, I might grab my college diploma off the wall above my computer.

All this introspection makes me realize that I don't have much in the way of "things" to save. I don't know if that's a good thing or not. We have some big stuff that would just have to get melted down with the house. I couldn't get my piano, my PC, my headboard that I waited nearly 13 years to get because I couldn't find one I liked, our big TVs. I might try to get my quilt projects, each in an individual plastic carrier. Yep, for sure those.

Several years ago we went around our house videotaping everything we have--for insurance purposes. It's out of date now, and I think we need to repeat the exercise. In fact, it would probably be a good idea to do it about every year or two. It's proof that you actually had what you're claiming was lost.

So, what I have learned from this is that there are some things that should be saved, maybe in a safety deposit box (irreplaceable papers, aforementioned up-to-date video), but otherwise, getting myself and my husband out (well, he'd have to get himself out after messing with his radio equipment) I'd just have to watch it burn.

Happy Saturday!

Day 3 Favorite TV Show

2011-03-09T07:32:00.002-06:00

I wouldn't even know where to start on this one. There are shows I watch when I'm just "vegging" out, shows I watch on a semi-regular basis, shows I will watch when I find them on, and shows I actually look for.

I assume "favorite" TV show would have to be the ones I actually look for. There are some regular series shows I like but they're only good for a few weeks and then they start on reruns. I never watch reruns. As for shows I watch when I find them on, I guess I'd have to put most of what I watch in that category--science shows, TLC shows (I'm intrigued by the 19 kids show), some cooking and HGTV shows, and sometimes--rarely--old movies.

As for the ones I look for, sitting here in front of the computer with the TV off, I'm hard-put to come up with one. Well, there is one I really like that Bryant Gumbel does--"Real Sports" that I actually like. I know, who cares about sports? Not me, for sure. I have done some introspection about this because I had no idea in the beginning as to why I would watch this, or even give it a glance. I think it comes on HBO because those are the only movie channels we get. I don't know when it comes on. I look for it when I think about it, and will watch it if it's on. Here's the thing. The show is emceed by BG, and there are 4-5 regular reporters who tell the stories. The stories are not about the sports, the teams or their games. They are about the people who participate, the athletes. They choose (unerringly as far as I can tell) those people whose stories are worth retelling.

For instance, there was a story about a skier who was catastrophically injured and how his life has played out from that point. The story was well produced and interestingly written.

I usually have never heard of the athletes whose stories they portray, generally know nothing about their sport, and am not interested in the games they participate in, but the stories about the people are very interesting.

I think it's the "people" connection. I am interested in stories about people. I also like when some shows do the "stick your finger in the phonebook and do a story about whoever you point to."

I knew my answer to this one would be dumb.

Blog Challenge, Day 2

2011-03-04T02:09:00.003-06:00

Day 2

Post a picture of you and someone you have been closest to the longest.

The person in the world I have known the longest is my brother Bob, since I met him in December 1946. Next would be Daddy (1951-2), then Cheli (1960). After that would be my children and then in 1984 I met my husband, Bobby, and of course, his children.

Of course, I love my brother, sister and father, but I'm going with Cami on this one:

This was taken in the spring of 2009 while we were still riding our Gold Wing motorcycle (in the fall of '09 we sold the Gold Wing.)

We met in 1984 shortly after coming to Norman (we moved over Labor Day.) He had been divorced for 2 years and my divorce happened that month. I was pretty nuts at that time, and he was almost equally crazy. Divorce is a terrible thing and even if it is the best thing to do, given the alternatives, it is still a life-changing event that can affect you negatively for years if you are not prepared for it. I might have been the least-prepared person in the universe.

Bobby and I discovered very soon that we are polar opposites, but I liked him a lot even at the beginning. There was just something about him...

Well, we saw each other--not exclusively, but regularly--for the next 11 years. I can honestly say that it took me (and him, too) that long to untangle my thoughts, feelings and even identity.

I wasn't emotionally available for most of those years, and I had to re-learn to relate to my children and even to myself.

I can't say those were good years, but I grew emotionally as well as intellectually--I completed college during that time!

Bobby is supportive of me and my personal goals, he loves me, and if there is a disagreement, is willing to work together with me to figure out the best way forward.

Next month (April 19) we will celebrate our 16th anniversary. Honestly, neither of us thought it would last because neither of us really knew how to be successfully married. I guess we taught each other!

Blog Challenge, Day 1

2011-03-03T06:24:00.014-06:00

Blog Challenge Day 1: A picture of yourself and ten facts

This picture is one of my favorites because it was taken on the day I retired. I had two daughters and one son visiting and grandchildren all around. They threw me a retirement party and several friends came--although, the best part was having my family there. As an aside, we moved our TV into another room over the weekend, and when we moved the cabinet, my granddaughter Calysta opened one of the cabinet doors and found a lei at the back and remembered that it was from my retirement party. She enjoyed reminiscing about all the things she helped with to get ready for my party.

1. I was born on the North Island Naval Base during World War II (1943). It is located adjacent to Coronado at the end of the peninsula across the bay from San Diego. My mother rode the "nickel snatcher" across the bay very early in the morning. She said the captain of the little boat was very nervous carrying a woman in labor. He called ahead and there was an ambulance waiting at the dock waiting when they arrived. Mother was embarrassed at the fuss and made them let her ride in the front seat.

2. I had the chicken pox in about 1948 at the same time as my brother, Bobby, and our cousin Lorna. My mother was working and we all stayed at Lorna's house while we were sick. Her mom, my aunt Shirley took care of us. I remember all of us lying in bed and Shirley bringing us drinks of water and Kool-Aid--and telling us not to scratch. I was 5 and Bobby was about 1 1/2.

3. I walked and played all over our neighborhood in San Diego. We lived on the side of a hill called Grant's Hill and we used to play on the top of the hill (before there were any houses there) climbing all over the craggy edges and jumping off where we thought we could. I skated down the hill, grabbed the street sign, swung around it and turned the corner. I was skating really fast and wonder how I lived through it!

4. I frequently took the bus to downtown San Diego to meet a friend from church when I was 11 years old! I don't know what my mother was thinking! --different world, for sure.

5. I have always felt that I don't "fit in." I believe I have Asperger's Syndrome. I'm not disabled by it, but I see so many parts of the Syndrome in myself that I don't think it could be coincidental. I don't see it in all of my children, maybe some. I think there are degrees of being affected, so maybe I'm on the far end of "more normal."

6. I was always told by my family that I am very intelligent, and I always believed it. When I was in Junior High and got my first semester report card (7th grade) with more A's than B's, and nothing lower, I was called into the girls' Vice Principal's office (Dr. Daugherty), and she told me I had a really good report card and she thought I could probably get straight A's. I was surprised and wondered how I could get better grades. I did my homework and took tests. I didn't really understand how I had gotten the report card I had. I always thought (still do) that being intelligent is kind of like having green eyes. You just have them, and can't make then "greener". I think this is probably related to the Asperger's thing.

7. I love making quilts. I love choosing the fabrics and patterns, putting all the pieces together and coming up with a usable and beautiful product. I don't mind the hours of labor required; in fact, I enjoy the process. Who would ever have thought I could enjoy something so tedious and repetitive? I used to sew and make quilts for my children, but never put that into the category of "hobby." It was just part of what a mother would do.

8. I obsess frequently about how many mistakes I made as a mother, and how awful I was much of the time. I don't know if this is normal, but I believe it's a miracle my children are wonderful adults. I always wished they would hug and kiss me (they wrestled away) but figured I had made just too many mis-steps for them to want to show affection.

9. I enjoy cooking. My mother hated it, and I always thought it would be disloyal (or something else weird like that) if I loved it. Since she died, I have acquired many kitchen "toys" and now I really enjoy finding recipes and putting good food together. Who knew?

10. In addition to my own family, I love my extended family--siblings, siblings-in-law, nieces and nephews, etc. I thought it was wonderful that I felt great love for the family members I recently "found." and am excited to meet and talk with them in person later this year in the fall.

I'll wait to see what Cami posts next on this "Blog Challenge." Hopefully I can follow her good example.

Chicken Pox

2011-02-28T05:18:00.008-06:00

Reading this morning about my niece, J, and her family fighting H1N1 made me think back on the month when my family had chicken pox.

So, in 1972 at Thankisgiving, my aunt and uncle, Helen and Bruce, had invited my family to dinner. That was really a wonderful invitation for us, because given the size of us (at that time we had 7 in our family--two parents and five children--and didn't get invited out for dinner. It was kind of like incurring debt to serve us a meal! We had been getting ready to go and I noticed Eric was moping around a little--not acting badly, but just sitting on the couch doing nothing. He had gotten dressed and was just sitting there.

Well, I'm sure every parent knows that this is cause for suspicion. I asked him if he was okay and his answer was, "mmmphf" or something like that (he would have been 5 at the time.) For a reason I can't explain I asked him to lift up his t-shirt. It was a request I don't believe I had ever made before, and wouldn't have ever thought of, but that's what I did. So, he lifted it up, and there were the telltale dots all around his middle--little pus-filled red spots.

The thing is, I don't believe I had ever actualy seen chicken pox, yet I knew instantly what those cruel little marks were. Well, I called my aunt and told her we wouldn't be able to come to Thanksgiving dinner after all. I don't remember what we ate that day, but it wasn't the Thanksgiving dinner anyone ever dreamed of.
Actually, I think Helen brought us some food. It was a true CARE package. The other children were disappointed, Eric was lethargic, Dad disappeared into the bedroom reading for the rest of the afternoon, and for a reason I cannot say, I changed the beds and did laundry.

It wasn't what I had planned to do, but fortunately, we were living in BYU married student housing--Wymount Terrace--in Provo, and had laundry facilities on site.

Well, Eric was sick for a few days and stayed home from school for about a week or so. I thought it was a fairly light case. Two weeks after Thanksgiving, I got up in the morning to find Amy (7 1/2), Jennie (4) and Scott (2) sitting on the couch looking forlorn--they were all awake when I walked into the living room, and I knew immediately what was happening. Each one was wrapped up in a quilt, was sporting a truly miserable countenance, a fever, and the dreaded spots.

There ensued a marathon week of juice, water, sleeplessness, crying, itching, endless bathing in soothing substances, brushing the girls' hair, applying Caladryl lotion, reading stories, mountains (even more than usual) of laundry, trying to hold Scott and restraining him from scratching, and listlessness and dejection all around.
We had only just returned to something resembling normalcy and life beginning to look up when I awoke on Christmas Day to Wendy crying pitifully. Now, Wendy seldom woke up that way--she was generally a cheerful little soul. Before I got to her (she was 9 months old at the time) and lifted her out of her crib, I knew what was going on. She was feverish, covered in red, itchy and angry lesions, and did not understand why she was feeling so bad.

The Chicken Pox hit her hard. I was told countless times that the more children in a family who have the disease, the worse it gets. That always sounded like an old wives' tale to me, but there you have it.
She cried for about a week, scratched--or rather rubbed--her itchy spots (I had the foresight to clip her fingernails immediately.) Her fever was high and she was not to be comforted for at least a week or more.
This time it was I who sat on the couch holding (read wrangling) her.

By New Year's Day, she was covered in scabbed over lesions, the fever had gone, and she was mostly listless. I hated the listlessness more than the fretfulness. I knew how to help them through the fretfulness, but there is no cure for pox lethargy. But she was healing. I knew at the time that we had all survived something extraordinary and also that I would never forget. I was right. I hope they have mostly forgotten the ordeal.

Countrified!

2011-02-02T20:48:00.006-06:00

Ok, so I guess I'm an Okie now--or at least almost.

I worked for a long time to find a recipe for cornbread that Bobby (the true Okie) loves--and he does love cornbread! I mean it couldn't be sweet--then it's cornbread cake--and it had to have a good corn taste. So, I worked for a long time and tried many recipes--some were ok, others were not. I came across a recipe for simple (unadulterated) cornbread by Paula Deen. Well, why not? It might be just the thing.

About that time, I also got some corn (popcorn) and put it through my grain mill and made my own cornmeal. (One thing about this "new" cornmeal is that it is deep golden, unlike most pale yellow cornmeals I have bought before.) Bobby had mentioned that he loves the corner pieces because of the crusty edges on them.

Recently, Bobby found a really nice baking pan for brownies (it's a Wilton)--it has 12 squares--kind of like cupcake pan for square cupcakes. All the pieces have four corners! It's really heavy and I love this pan. Well, I put Paula's recipe together with some ideas of my own (I added some chopped chilis, creamed corn and shredded cheddar cheese) and put it in the oven. So after he had tried the cornbread he announced that I had done it, and it was the best cornbread he had ever eaten. Really.

After we had finished eating our beans and cornbread, he announced that the only way it could have been better would have been to have fried potatoes with it. If he hadn't said that I would never have thought of it, because, you just don't have potatoes and beans in the same meal--super high carbohydrates--it just isn't done--at least not by me. So, tonight, I made his cornbread (this time I left out the creamed corn because I thought the corners would be a little crustier and it worked!), cooked a pot of beans and fried up some potatoes and onions.

Here's the thing: as I was cutting up the onion, I had a flashback to when we were little and Mother and Daddy hadn't been married very long. Daddy fixed us beans and fried potatoes! And we loved it! Remember, Grammy wasn't much of a cook--hated cooking--and as it turned out, Daddy was pretty good. So, I guess beans and fried potatoes with cornbread isn't necessarily an Okie thing but maybe a country thing, because Grampy was raised in a rural environment.

Look at me, I'm countrified!

New Quilt

2010-12-30T22:47:00.003-06:00

This is for the new GREAT granddaughter we're expecting in the spring. She will be the daughter of Destiny, Bobby's granddaughter.

I Finally Have Started A...

2010-12-27T18:16:00.005-06:00

...STASH!!!

I think probably only Amy will appreciate this, and you can believe me, it is a very big deal.

I have thought lately how interesting the vocabulary is for my new hobby. We have "stashes" and I am now substitute teaching to support my expensive "habit". hmmmm

OK as to my inchoate stash, it includes three light white or off-white prints, one light green, one medium lavender and one dark lavender. So, four lights, one medium and one dark.

I love them. My local quilt shop had a inventory reduction sale this week and it includes fabrics 30% off the regular price unless you buy the rest of the bolt, then it's 40% off. I bought four "rest of the bolts", and two yardage pieces.

So, now I am officially "in" the hobby. hum hum hum

Brothers and Sisters

2010-12-24T14:26:00.002-06:00

Since my last post was rather negative, I thought I'd leave this positive thought before Christmas (today is Christmas Eve). I am in the process of re-meeting brothers and a sister I haven't known or seen for -- ok now, how long is it? Maybe since 1958 -- so that makes, uh... (not good at this) about what? 52 years? Something like that. Now that I have done math, I'm ready for a nap. Here's the good news. These are wonderful people! I know I'm going to love them.

Fathers

2010-12-22T04:58:00.004-06:00

My "biological" father, Bob Brown, died last week. That term always seems a little strange to me because, what else would a father be, but biological? Fast on the heels of that thought always comes the answer: the kind who takes care of you, supports you, stays there for you and never betrays you, that's what else a father would be. My "first" father did none of those things. My "real" father--the one who married my mother with two little children--did. I'm thankful for my dad, he's the one who sits at the head of a rather large collection of children, grandchildren and one tiny but darling great grandchild.--his GREAT GREAT granddaughter. I have spotty memories of Bob Brown before the divorce from my mother. One of my strongest memories, however, is of my mother the night before their divorce was final. She was very upset and crying and we were at my aunt Shirley's home (Bob Brown's sister). I was about 5 at the time. Bob was going to get married the next day--the minute the divorce was final. Bob's sister, Shirley, had told him if there was ever a choice to be made, she would choose my brother and me over him, she stuck to her word over the years. We scarcely saw him after that. Oh, we'd see him occasionally, but visits were sporadic. When I was 15 and Bobby (my brother) was 12, we were visiting our Martin grandparents in Mesa, AZ, and he called and wanted to see us. He took us to lunch. He was expecting a really big deal "reunion" event, but it just didn't happen that way. We ate, he took us back to our parents, and that was that. I spent a part of a summer with him and his second wife and met their children. I remember I studied them and couldn't figure out what made them better than us... ...and eventually I got my answer, nothing. He left his second wife after finding a third. I remember my grandmother Amy Brown (Bob's mother) told me that Bob's second wife was, of course, broken hearted that her husband would leave her for another woman and said something like she couldn't believe he would do that to her. Grandma just told her, of course you knew he would. As she related that story to me, I was thinking that I'd like to be able to connect with my siblings from that marriage, and Grandma said that she thought that would be a good thing. Bob's oldest son by his second wife, was resistant to my overtures of friendship, and I never tried again. I recently reconnected with Margaret, my sister. She's a little older (less than a year) than my sister Michele. I hope we stay in touch. I don't know whether or not the boys even remember me. Maybe if Margaret and I continue to communicate, maybe even visit, I can eventually meet her brothers again. Bob was always glad to see me if I happened to be in his neighborhood and visited--an occurrence that didn't happen often--maybe three or four times over the years. It seemed that he knew he had abdicated his title didn't expect anything from me. His wife, however, always seemed a little peeved that we didn't call, write, visit, etc. more frequently--after all he was our "dad". He was not my "dad". He was the biological father. Bob's second wife, Dorothy, was -- well, I got on with her pretty well. As I grew older, I realized that we pay our whole lives for some of our mistakes as young people. Not all mistakes have such permanent and negative consequences, but some do. She must have been a really good lady because I liked her despite everything (maybe I was the really good lady because I liked her despite everything). I don't know. My grandmother Amy Brown always tried to stay close to us, and my mother tried over the years to encourage us to be close with her. I think it was the right thing, and even then I realized it must be difficult for my mother and I was glad she did it. I believe a child can never have too many grandparents! Just before my first marriage, Bob took me to lunch one afternoon in Mesa (I was staying with Grandma Brown prior to my wedding). He attempted to explain why he left our family for his second wife. After listening for a few minutes, all I could see was that none of it was his fault and he was the victim of a young marriage to a woman he didn't get along with, so he followed his heart--right out of his family. I interrupted him and told him that whatever happened to him and my mother and his wife was in the past and should stay there, and I didn't care to hear any more excuses. What is the adequate excuse for leaving your family? for years of non-communication with your children? for complete estrangement from them? So, when Marilyn called last week and told me my "dad" had died, my only response was, "oh." She continued to talk and let me know he would really want me to be there, and she really thought I should come--I just said I couldn't get away. I would have loved to see the four children from his second marriage, though (actually, I'm not positive they were all there, come to think of it.) His legacy is that he made two families and left them both. He then married a woman with five children and chose to adopt them. That just seems a little scummy to me.

Grampy's Argyle Quilt

2010-12-14T03:46:00.004-06:00

I really like how this came out. He liked it, too.

The pillowcase that goes with it is hanging over my shoulder. The main fabric of the pillowcase is what I used for quilt backing. It has words about traveling and Route 66. The black occasional blocks are of scenes along Route 66, including 40s-50s cars. The diagonal line is gold rope.

Argyle

2010-12-03T14:57:00.003-06:00

I just finished a quilt top for Grampy. The fabrics are brown/beige/ecru and blue, and the diagonal lines (that's the thing that makes it argyle) are gold rope. The reason I chose argyle is that when Grammy started kntting (yep, I was there) she knitted socks. At first, she tried knitting the whole thing as a flat piece and sewing a seam to join the sides. She didn't like that at all; I think she only made one pair like that and didn't give them to anyone. Then she tried using three needles and was able to knit the sock as a whole (like a tube) as she went. She was very proud when she "got" the heel part--it was pretty cool. She made many pairs of argyle socks for Grampy. So, that's why I decided to make his quilt as an argyle-type. I really think it turned out nicely, and is just the right size to use while he's sleeping on his recliner. I bought enough backing fabric so I can make a pillow case also. I used occasional blocks cut from a Route 66 fabric with old 40s and 50s cars and Route 66 signs. I'm hoping to get it quilted next week so I can give it to him while I'm on my way to Austin to the tiny girl's first birthday party next Saturday. We're going down on Friday; I'd better get busy!

Better Landmark Quilt for Me

2010-11-10T20:58:00.005-06:00

OK, I know I published a picture of a quilt I made recently--one based on Baltimore blocks. However, I wasn't happy with the way it looked and wasn't really looking forward to showing it to my group at the local quilt shop. I took it to the Houston International Quilt Festival with me to show Amy and she didn't like the look of it either. She told me what was the matter with it--the blocks between the Baltimore blocks detracted from the handwork I had done on the Baltimore blocks. Yep, that's what was wrong with it--but it was already completely sewn--everything was done except for the quilting. She said I could rip it apart and redo it. Say what? Yep, that's what she said. She said it again--and reminded me that I didn't really like how it looked either. I said I probably would give it to the Goodwill or some such, and she said it would be a real shame because of all the months I worked on the appliques. She said I SHOULD rip it apart and redo it. Mercy! Well, I sat down very early on Sunday morning at her house and started unpinning, folding the backing and the batting, then I started on the outer border--ripping one stitch at a time... Torture, for sure. I can't believe it, but I actually did some other things that day. I did some things in the kitchen with Karie, played with Buttercup, loaded and unloaded the dishwasher--but still by about 10:00 pm I unstitched the last stitch. My poor aching hands, back, arms, eyes, everything! Really...

Amy had a good idea of what would look great, and I had to admit it sounded wonderful. So, on Monday, Amy and I went to her local quilt shop and shopped. I found some great fabrics and spent the rest of the day designing, laying it out on graph paper, cutting the new fabrics, and doubting the process mightily.

Impossible! On Tuesday I sewed the new blocks together, then laid the whole thing out on the floor--with Buttercup's help, of course--she had many suggestions for improvements (smile), and then I started sewing. By the end of the day, it was completely re-made and I LOVED it. Everything I didn't like before was remedied--Amy was absolutely right about the whole thing. Now this is my Landmark quilt top--my Baltimore. You can compare it to the picture in the previous "Landmark Quilt" post. I love this!!!

Kitty Cat Quilt for Cheli

2010-11-03T23:07:00.002-05:00

I finished my sister, Cheli's., quilt. I chose a cat pattern because Cheli is a cat person, and has always had numerous. I also made a fairly small quilt because she doesn't get cold much--but sometimes her legs do. So basically it's a lap quilt. I love it.

The pattern is called "Arnie" and it's from Bunny Hill Designs.

The Handwork Gene

2010-10-14T06:16:00.005-05:00

I have been trying to think where my handwork gene came from. Grammy knitted and her mother, Nana (Reta Rasmussen Beaman) made all her own clothes during the Great Depression--including her underwear. She also made fitted sheets long before they were available commercially. I remember seeing her mother, Ma (Martha Jensen Rasmussen) doing handwork, but I don't remember what she was making.

My other grandmother, Amy Slade Brown, made quilts--she cut the pieces with scissors and sewed them together by hand, as everyone did then--also her sister, Waitie (we called her Nantie). Grandma Amy also crocheted--she taught me how--and she also embroidered beautiful cut work. I wish I had a set of one of her pillow cases.

So, I guess the question is not where my handwork gene came from, but rather, what took me so long. Actually, I have been making things by hand for a long time--I sewed for my kids, made quilts when we lived in Utah (br-r-r-r-r), and crocheted an afghan one year (I had seen something I liked and thought I might be able to figure out how to make it--and I did.)

In retrospect, I see that I have always done this, but didn't have the freedom, time or patience to do it day after day. One thing I am really looking forward to is going to the International Quilt Show in Houston next month with my daughter and one of Bobby's cousins. My daughter Amy clearly got the handwork gene. I guess I always thought I just didn't get this trait, but only did handwork out of necessity. Since it seems to have been all over our family tree prior to me, I have to assume many of my progeny will inherit it, too. Probably many of Bob's too.

If you think you don't have it, you might be wrong. :)

A Real Milestone Quilt-top

2010-10-13T07:55:00.005-05:00

I just finished a quilt top that was quite difficult to make. The patterns came from a group of quilts made in Baltimore a couple of hundred years ago--they're called "Baltimore Quilts." The particular ones I made were from a pattern book called "Baltimore Basics" and consist of 12 different designs. They're traditionally made of dark greens and reds--I used more vivid reds and greens as well as some golds and blues--it is my quilt, after all. The technique used is hand applique--and the particular applique I did mostly was "needle-turn." I learned how to make two different types of flowers as well as a few other methods of actually getting the patterns on the fabric. Initially I had planned to use 13 blocks so I used one pattern twice--putting cherries on one and flowers on the other, so they don't really look the same. I ended up using 12 blocks so I put my least favorite on a pillow. Now that I have the quilt top done and the "sandwich" completed, I'll quilt it. I'm not sure what I'll do with it yet. Here it is:

As you can see, the appliqued blocks are interspersed with a plain fabric block.

Patience

2010-08-18T05:25:00.008-05:00

In April, I was in a quilt shop in Tulsa and saw a pattern that really caught my eye, and I wanted to make it. Well, the truth is that I wished I could make it, but was pretty sure I couldn't, because it was quite detailed and looked complicated. Along with seeing it, I also immediately knew who I would give it to, and I wanted to try, so I dived in. I spent the rest of the day picking out fabrics--you can see there are many different fabrics in it--and wondering about my audacity thinking I could pull this off. Here's the picture of it--completed--and I am happy to say that it turned out almost as good as I had hoped.

There are many appliques on this. Some of them were done by machine and some by hand. I can see on this quilt the early ones and those I did as I improved techniques. There are also MANY small pieces--quilt-making seems to be art of taking large pieces of fabric, cutting them up into really small pieces and then sewing them back together again. While I am making something for someone specifically, I think about that person constantly while I am working on it. It brings that person close to me in ways I had not expected. I have begun a new quilt that is made entirely of appliques. Rather, each block has a large applique on it. In the beginning, I had the same fears about this new one. Would I finish it? Could I finish it? Would I drive myself crazy trying to do all these appliques? Could I even do them in the first place? Well, I have six blocks completed, and I can see improvement in my technique with each block.

One of the things I am learning about myself is that I seem to be able to work endlessly on something that goes really slowly, and enjoy the work itself. I believe this is called patience, and I am as surprised as everyone else that I am developing it.

I have noticed the quiet inside my mind while I'm busy working on a piece. I'm not thinking about "hurry and finish this". When I make a mistake (often), I simply pick out the stitches and re-work the piece without frustration or anger. If I have re-stitched many times on a particular edge and it is starting to fray, I pick out the entire piece, recut it and start over--just trying to make it look as beautiful as I can--incredible, I know.

I am making new friends as I attend various quilt-making classes; I am learning many new things; I have joined the local quilters' guild; I have things to do and places to go on my calendar (I actually have a calendar). I can also look at a week ahead with nothing on the calendar and look forward to being at home.

Altogether, I would say this is a very fulfilling time in my life.

Four Generations

2010-07-17T21:39:00.002-05:00

OK--Here we are!

Avery couldn't quite figure out why we were outside in the hot summer sun sitting down like we knew what we were doing!!

Visitors!

2010-07-16T06:45:00.003-05:00

This has been a wonderful week! My daughter, granddaughter, two grandsons and GREAT granddaughter have been up from Texas (and she is truly GREAT). I just sit and look at whichever is in front of me at the time and wallow in wonderfulness.

Also, my granddaughter who lives close by has been staying here so she can play with her cousins.

I have just loved this week.

--oh, and that's some baby, I'll tell you.

Two

2010-07-02T08:36:00.002-05:00

This is the second quilt I have made for Avery. I can't wait to see them in a few days!!

One

2010-07-01T11:14:00.006-05:00

One--that's all you need if that one is the best, cutest, most wonderful and cherubic tiny angel EVER!!

One is how many great grandchildren I have. Yep, she's enough and terrific enough to be the only one. How I love her!

Work

2010-06-30T06:46:00.002-05:00

Well, I worked for four days. I mean I WORKED for four days. I am still an occasional part-time person at a clinic near here, and they needed a person, and asked me to fill in. I am so over working!! I believe I have found my niche in life--finally--and it's being retired, sewing, baking breads, cooking, spending time with grandchildren, WHATEVER I WANT. However, on the other hand (and, of course, there's always another hand) my new interests involve the purchase of consumables. Now that means that we have a problem, Houston. Bobby's hobbies were really expensive to set up (ham radio), but largely, he gets on famously on what he already has purchased. Me, well, that's where the consumable part comes in. I buy, I use, I need more, I buy, I use, etc. You see the problem. So, the smallish allowances we "allow" ourselves, is great for Bobby, he can save up a few months and have a great sum, but I keep running out of "stuff" and need more. hmmm... So, the working thing will be wonderful in a week or so when the money hits my checking account! But not so much while I was doing it. I have a plan to substitute teach this coming school year to feed my many and varied addictions. bummer...

Tempus Fugit

2010-06-15T07:45:00.002-05:00

Indeed! My little Scott would have been 40 today. Man I'm old...

T-shirt Quilt

2010-06-08T10:37:00.003-05:00

Amy asked me to post this t-shirt quilt I made. I attended a class offered by our local quilt shop teaching how to make a t-shirt quilt. I was intrigued by the idea so went to the class.

Bobby wasn't too keen on the idea of cutting up his t-shirts so I just used mine and pieced a quilt to fit the twin- and full-sized mattresses upstairs in our "hotel".

When I got home and showed him what I had done, he liked it so well, he asked me to make it for our bed (which it did not fit--we sleep on a queen-sized bed).

At that point he was all for cutting up some of his t-shirts and doing it up right. So that's what I did, with the results above.

Alisa will recognize the sashing pieces from her quilt. Amy might recognize the bottom row of sashing from the lining of our quilt bags. The border and backing were purchased specifically for this quilt.

One interesting thing about this quilt is that instead of a batting, the instructions called for fusible fleece (who knew there was such a thing?), so that's what I used. It was very easy to use and required one less layer to manage, and I plan to use that method in the future.

I am looking forward to Amy and her boys being here in July--in fact I can hardly wait! We plan to take a class on the use of our new sergers, and hopefully some other terrific things we might think of.

That's all I know for now...

GREAT Weekend!!

2010-05-31T10:55:00.004-05:00

I attended Alisa's (cum laude) high school graduation, saw my Kare-bear, my boys from St. Louis, Dylan and Jeremy, as well as three daughters and a son and his little daughter, my Calysta! It was a wonderful weekend. The other person I saw was this little tiny very precious and darling angel!!!

And here's information for all those doting grandmothers out there: In case you were wondering, the great grandbaby is as precious, wonderful, darling and lovable as the grandbabies! --and why not, they're the babies of your equally wonderful, etc. grandchildren.

Newest Toy--new Janome serger

2010-05-05T06:49:00.004-05:00

Honestly, I can't think of anything I don't have--that I wanted. Best news: Amy is coming this summer and bringing her serger. We're going to take a class and see what we can do together with them. I'm pretty excited to learn how to operate this very complicated machine. Who else has one? What can you tell me about them? Help!!

Avery

2010-05-01T16:37:00.002-05:00

I can't think of anything more fun than spending time with a new member of my family. My (only) great grandchild Avery is a winner!!

Calysta's Quilt

2010-04-20T22:30:00.003-05:00

Well, I finished it! As you can see, it's has a checkerboard pattern on the back, and the alternating diamonds on the front. As I believe I said before, Calysta assisted me in picking out the fabrics and color scheme.

A Word about Monsters...

2010-04-14T21:25:00.005-05:00

Calysta has spent yesterday and most of today at our home with Mark; Christy is here, too. Today Calysta decided she needed to have a clean work surface as her desk gets pretty "crowded".

She worked on it for about an hour--maybe more. It was quite a long time, especially for such a little girl.

Later Mark and she went out for a while. We noticed the note after they left. It was the highest point in our week, for sure.

Note the exclamation points: they're hearts and the dots below are tiny hearts!!

A little while ago, I need some Scotch tape and there it lay, on her desk. Well, I braved the danger and borrowed it--I think I got away with it because I haven't seen any monsters yet.

When I replaced it, you can be sure I put it back right where she had it...

Something new

2010-04-01T08:43:00.004-05:00

I'm making a checkerboard-type quilt for Calysta. It will be composed of alternating squares of these two blocks. The backing will be checkered black and white--the same fabric as the borders of each block. I took her to the store and let her pick out her colors. Her two new favorite colors are black and white--then red and blue. I just completed a T-shirt quilt top and as soon as it is quilted, I'll show that, too. It has the fronts (and some backs) of T-shirts that we have obtained over the time we've known each other (Bobby and I). later...

Interests, Hobbies, Fads, Obsessions...

2010-03-20T10:22:00.002-05:00

So, I don't know what I am developing, but I am gaining great interest in a few things: quilt-making, cooking, breadmaking to name a few. These are things I enjoyed in my previous life BW (before work). In my new life PW (post-work, of course--keep up, please), I am returning to things I have always loved. I have taken the opportunity to ponder cooking and my relationship to it. For a reason I think I understand, I have always been reluctant to admit that I enjoyed--maybe even loved--preparing food. The reason, I think, is that my mother hated to cook--and she was really verbal about that, as I'm sure you all remember. Somehow it seemed as though I was not permitted to love something that my own mother hated. I realize that's wrong-thinking and maybe a little stupid, but there it is. Since living a few months PW I realize that since I have the time, I really love watching cooking shows, poring through cookbooks and www.foodnetwork.com recipes as well as others. I have chosen to do this. Bobby says between me and the food network he'll soon lose his feet--there could be worse things I guess--I could have studied famous bank robberies and formed a gang; I could have decided to do "street work"; I could have taken up interior decorating (he would have REALLY hated that, because it's a very expensive hobby). But, no, I was drawn to cooking, breadmaking and quilts. My grandmother Amy Brown made Bobby (my little brother, not my husband, of course--please keep up!) a quilt pieced of 1" squares!! I remember this quilt, and he wouldn't allow me to put it on my bed. I loved that quilt, too. Her sister (what was her name?) made a quilt top for me--hand-pieced it, too--that I quilted many years ago and it has long since worn out. I remember going to Relief Society work meetings and watching the sisters sitting at the quilt frames working. When I was really small, we played under the quilts--it was like playing in a fort--but after I got a little bigger--maybe around 10--they began to teach me how to quilt, too. I really loved that. So, I guess I have been doing this for many years. As my children were growing up, I made a few quilts, but they were utilitarian and made because we were living in the Rocky Mountains, and it was COLD. Although, I have to say, I enjoyed the process. Some of those quilts are still living, I think. So, that's what I'm doing now. Amy encouraged me to join my local quilting groups, and I did that. I have enrolled in a few groups, including the Norman Area Quilters' Guild. I am loving this. Have a great day, all. We have blowing snow outside today the first day of Spring!! I'm hibernating, making bread, preparing a supper dish for a neighbor who had surgery yesterday, and cutting out pieces for my Mystery Quilt group in two weeks. So, I'm having a good, quiet and productive day.

The PJs

2010-03-15T11:57:00.003-05:00

Allie's PJs consist of the tops, bottoms and a headband--I think they figured that every princess needs a tiara--even while she's sleeping...

OK That's Done!

2010-03-11T14:33:00.003-06:00

Good to have it completed! Now I can start on the PJs for the Princess of Arizona...

Skype

2010-03-05T09:36:00.002-06:00

We got a webcam that Bobby uses with his Echolink (Internet-based Ham Radio application) and has a lot of fun with. I have used it on my PC, too, and talked to Allie and Eric. If anyone else has a webcam available to them, you can go to skype.com and download it. I'd love to talk to AND SEE any of my family. Soon I'm going to get my own webcam to go on my monitor--it's fat at the top and Bobby's doesn't clip to it--I have to hold it or try to clip it to something at the precisely correct angle--it's very awkward. Is anybody else interested? Bob, I think we might be able to do a conference call that way.

One-third complete

2010-02-27T11:12:00.002-06:00

This is the new Fun & Done quilt I am making. It will fit on a twin or double bed. The long side of this part is the width--so I have eight more rows to go.

PJs for the Princess of Arizona

2010-02-25T17:40:00.003-06:00

Well, here's the fabric, Allie. I couldn't find red hearts because they had sold out of their Valentine's material. So, I got pink fabric with Princess crowns. I think you will look wonderful--and sleep like a princess.

Another Fun & Done! Quilt--this one's special.

2010-02-24T20:06:00.008-06:00

Here's a picture of the pieces--there are 960 of them (10 blocks X 12 rows)--each block has eight pieces. (Is 8 X 12 = 96?) There will be 120 blocks--I'm pretty sure 10 X 12 = 120!

Better

2010-02-20T08:57:00.004-06:00

Well, some of the most commonly used words in the articles on gout were "acute", "temporary" and "short-lasting". That has been the case. By yesterday (Friday) my foot had quit hurting and I spent the day (and last night) ridding myself of all the stored-up water. By today, I feel pretty normal. So, if this just doesn't recur frequently, I'll be fine with this. Much to do today. I'm going to work on the new quilt--still cutting squares, strips and triangles. I'm going to make bread and grind some more wheat. Everybody have a good weekend--enjoy!

Uric Acid - Urate Crystals - Gout

2010-02-18T05:11:00.002-06:00

I remember Grammy telling me she had been told she had gout and wondered how that could happen since she didn't eat red meat and didn't drink. Well, I have done some research on the subject and gout or uric acid can be caused by a number of things, including the fact that your mother had it, and the use of thiazide diuretics. Well, those are my things, I guess. I woke up this morning at 4:30 with excruciating pain in the base of my right big toe. damn. I went to the Mayo Clinic and typed in gout--as I was suspicious about this. Yep. There they were in black and white--my symptoms to a "T". The good news is that they last a short time. It's most common in men, but women after menopause get it, especially if their mothers had it. I wonder which mother had it first. I would not be surprised if my great grandmother had it (Martha). damn. The link if anyone is interested is: http://mayoclinic.com/health/gout/DS00090 That's my good news for the day. I'm sulking, irritated, sleepy and must get ready for my quilting class today. Hopefully I can just forget about this and enjoy it--my class, not the pain in my foot.

Avery

2010-02-11T13:08:00.002-06:00

I spent 1 1/2 weeks with my great granddaughter. I watched (held) her for a week at her apartment while her mommy taught school in Austin, then we went to the Dub home in Houston where she stayed with us (she's still there, in fact) and I got to continue the holding. I sure love that tiny girl. She's such a little princess--and exactly what I would have expected one of my babies to look like. I don't know how many women are fortunate enough to become great grandmothers, but I can tell you this is a superb state of being. I love my tiny Avery.

Fun and (we're actually) Done!

2010-02-09T18:29:00.003-06:00

Hard to believe, but this should be the last of the Fun & Done blogs--probably. We finished it this afternoon. It was pretty labor-intensive, but that's because we did it in two days. A person working at a reasonable pace could probably finish it in a couple of weeks. But since Bobby and I are heading home tomorrow, we had a deadline.

I understand that it has been snowing in Norman, and only got to 34 degrees today. Yikes!

Five Generations!

2010-02-08T22:10:00.002-06:00

This is a first for our family! Five generations together. What a deal!

December '09

2010-01-19T07:12:00.004-06:00

December started out in a funk. We had just had Jeff's funeral and buried him. My life is somehow smaller than it was because of it. I need to put something else in the place where he was, and I don't know how. Of course, in December Avery Danielle was born! That actually trumped everything else, good and bad that could have possibly happened. Karie did well, and that's something to be thankful for. So, Amy has her girls and both in good shape. There could be nothing in the world better than that for us. The day after Thanksgiving, Calysta and I brought my little 3' Christmas tree down from the upstairs closet where it lives (decorated and lighted). We put it in the front window. She chose a few other Christmas things she wanted to bring down and we did that too. That was a fun day for her and me too. Christmas Eve we were expecting Jennie and her family to be here for the holiday. We were visited by a historic cold and snowstorm. So, the W's stayed in a little town 35 miles south of us, safe and warm as they should have been. They made it up Christmas morning--when we had our aebelskivers together. Later on Calysta came over and we had present opening--and aebelskivers-- again. It was a very good time. So, as it turns out, many things transpired during 2009, some good, some great, some bad, some terrible--altogether probably an average year--except for Buttercup coming. We'll be going this month to visit Karie and her little Buttercup! --a new generation--I'm still trying to wrap my head around that.

November '09

2010-01-18T22:12:00.002-06:00

I have to say, it's really difficult to write a post every single day. I was going to try to get through last year by doing a rough summary of a month every day. Sheesh. November was dreadful. It started out great. We went to Arizona to see Eric graduate from the University of Phoenix. After that, we went to the Grand Canyon to fulfill an item on our "Bucket List". However, while we were there, we got word that my young brother, Jeff, had died suddenly in Texas. What terrible news! When I look at our pictures from the Grand Canyon, I just remember how lonely and lost I felt that Jeff had died. It's strange that I should have felt lonely, as I was surrounded by people, but a real niche in my life--the one my brother had filled--was empty. I still miss him, and I'm sure I always will. I remember his asthma-filled nights when he was little and we lived in San Diego. I was so afraid he would die--he was very sick with it. After he stopped having attacks, I just always assumed he would outlive me--he was 10 years younger, after all. I didn't even see him that often, but I knew he was there, and he might call me, or I might call him and we would renew that connection easily. It's a big loss, and not only for me, but for the whole family, too. Thanksgiving was OK. I made dinner; Mark and Calysta came over, as did Bobby's son Ricky and also Destiny. Her family had gone to the other grandparents' home, but she stayed home and came to our house. Mark helped prepare our dinner, and I enjoyed that. Altogether it was a good day... ...but a pretty dreadful month.

October '09

2010-01-17T12:52:00.004-06:00

Well, the thing about October is that Bobby was getting better and better. He finally was able to walk around without his cane--it's hanging on a hook in the bedroom where it has been since. I worked a day training to do patient charging at the clinic where I signed up to do occasional part-time work. After that, we couldn't get together and I didn't work again until December--sweet. Toward the end of the month, Bobby's short-term disability ran out and he decided not to have it extended, but to return to work. So, on the 27th, Monday, he went to work. He went to his HR office and did the paperwork to get back to work. Then he went out to the shop and talked to his boss. The boss said he didn't have much for him to do--they had had a lay-off while he was out and lots of folks were gone. He went around a while longer and finally said, "Never mind, I'm going home." The boss said he thought that was smart; Bobby went back to the HR office and told them to cancel the paperwork--he was retiring. He was home before lunch -- RETIRED! It was a great day!

September '09

2010-01-16T16:43:00.002-06:00

September was all about Bobby recuperating from surgery. He couldn't walk very well, so we got him a cane--that helped a lot. He was in quite a bit of pain down his leg--he was wondering where the advantage was in having the surgery in the first place--there were days he could barely get to the kitchen from the bedroom to eat breakfast. As time passed, he began to feel better. He told his doctor he was questioning the wisdom of having the surgery and was told that it would take longer than 3-4 weeks. He was also told that he was progressing well, even though he still had a lot of pain. That was some comfort to him. Not too much happened to me directly. I was just really enjoying not having to get up and go to work every day. I was sewing and cooking a lot. mmm

August '09

2010-01-15T08:43:00.002-06:00

August was a wonderful month. I retired; I had visits from Amy and Christy who live far away--including their boys; Calysta and I spent a week in Houston with Amy; we took the train back to Norman from Ft Worth--an adventure! It was also a troubling month. Bobby had surgery on the bulging disc in his lower back; he convalesced at home for several weeks afterward; he had to use a cane to get around for a while--we weren't sure he would ever be able to walk very far without his cane...

July '09

2010-01-14T07:15:00.006-06:00

July was a fairly eventful month, mostly for unpleasantness. For Bobby, it was a lower lumbar disc bulging, as we found out--it was encroaching on the spinal column and the resulting pinch in the nerve was sending immense pain down his left leg. He could barely walk. By the end of July, he was unable to complete a day's work, and went to work one day, turned around and came home. He arrived about time for me to leave for my work--the hospital--so I took him to the ER there. By the end of the day, we knew he wouldn't be back at work any time soon. His MRI showed the bulge in the L5 disc, and our family doc referred him to a neurosurgeon. Yikes! Surgery was scheduled for mid-August. I was eager to get retired, and had started really looking forward to two daughters coming (Amy and Christy). They wanted to give me a retirement party and actually having them come was the best part of my month--just thinking about it.

June '09

2010-01-13T18:33:00.003-06:00

In June I'm sure I was thinking about my grandfather Ralph Beaman, Flag Day, and the cemetery where he's buried in San Diego overlooking the swan pond. "Gramps" was buried on Flag Day, his favorite holiday. It was in 1963. Scott was born in June 1970, so he would have been 39 last year. Last June I was on the countdown to retirement.

May '09

2010-01-12T19:10:00.003-06:00

In May last year, my weight got a little low and it just happened that I was at my doctor's office where I was told that I really should keep my weight above 125. Well, I decided not to follow that exactly, but instead to keep it between 120 and 125--and I have done that. The main thing I remember about May was that I went to Arizona to see Jared and Ragan's graduations. They both looked great in caps/gowns and, in Jared's case the cowl. Mark and Calysta came with me in a rental car. I think I really like that mode of travel. It was a great trip and I enjoyed seeing the Arizona contingent of the family. I was getting "short-timer's" disease at work--it was really hard to concentrate on anything. One thing: in March my boss was fired--they eliminated her position--and from then on, there was little to no stress at work. Not too bad for the last few months! In May, I gave my resignation so they could post my position for replacement. That felt wonderful. I guess all in all, May was pretty good.

April '09

2010-01-11T06:28:00.005-06:00

Last year in April our friend died. I was at work when I got the email telling our group of friends that he was gone. It seems that every memory I have somehow has a component of me being at work. April was also the month my younger brother, Jeff was born. I also had a baby (Wendy) in April. So, I guess for me it was a month of comings and goings. I guess it was a pretty eventful month--good and bad--and WARM. I can't wait for warm this year!

March '09

2010-01-10T03:40:00.003-06:00

Last year I was thinking about Grammy being gone for a year. It made me remember the loss I felt when she died, not only of my mother, but also of her mother. Losing loved ones is a difficult life event, and one would think that after much experience with it we would get better at it. Not so... In March I hadn't yet learned that the generations would shift by the end of the year...and of course, I had only 5 more months until I would retire! I thought that would be the big news of the year--I didn't yet know I would have a darling Buttercup. In March I was planning to go to Arizona for Jared and Ragan's graduations.

February '09

2010-01-09T15:11:00.003-06:00

Last February was all about Nana's diamond. Daddy brought it up to Norman and I had it mounted in a beautiful setting reminiscent of Nana's ring that I first saw as a little girl on her finger. I was six months away from retirement and wondering if the time would ever arrive.

January '09

2010-01-08T14:58:00.004-06:00

Well, what I remember most about last January is that I could finally say, "I'm going to retire this year!" It was music to my ears every time I said it--which was fairly often, as I recall. The winter was mild and I felt as though we had dodged the big cold bullet. Although we had some storms and icy roads, they were generally short-lived. As the month ended and the last of the winter storms had passed, I realized that I would never have to drive to work again in ice and snow. It was a wonderful thing. Bobby turned 67 toward the end of the month, but still didn't really want to retire. He noted that his usual winter maladies--sinus infections, sore and scratchy throat, congested breathing--had not materialized. He felt that it was due to the mild winter. He had started having trouble with sciatic pain running down his left leg. It's a long time ago, and by now not important, but that's what I recall about January 2009.

Wrap-up

2010-01-07T22:39:00.002-06:00

So, I read in Jenna's blog that everyone is doing a summary or wrap-up of the year just past. I hadn't thought of that. I'll make an attempt, but really, I barely remember what happened last week... Now, what was I saying? I'll take this up tomorrow for sure.

Christmas Eve Dinner

2009-12-24T21:11:00.003-06:00

Well, dinner went off beautifully, except for one thing--we're inundated with snow and sleet (horizontal snow and sleet) high winds, sub-freezing temperatures, and Jennie, Tom, and Alisa are in a motel in Pauls Valley (35 miles south of us). They got as far as they could and ran into white-out so stopped where they were--fortunately they were at a town, and got a motel. They're all good, tucked in and warm for the night. They'll try to finish tomorrow, as the storm should be gone by then. If the highways have re-opened they will make it. In the meantime, Bobby's son, daughter and her family and Mark were here for supper. It was very successful this year. I made the best pork roast in the crock pot--I got the recipe from Amy in Houston. I also roasted a turkey breast with lots of herbs, citrus and aromatics--it had a really good flavor and fine texture. I made parmesan and bacon mashed potatoes (yum!) and roasted veggies (cauliflower, carrots and baby Brussels sprouts). Instead of olive oil, I used the bacon grease with salt and pepper over the veggies--what's not to love about that? Every morsel was eaten of the veggies and the potatoes. I had a really small amount of turkey leftover--maybe enough for a couple of sandwiches, and a few inches of one of the pork tenderloins, with its gravy. Oh yes, and I also made a trifle--angel food cake soaked in simple syrup flavored with vanilla and citrus, strawberries and raspberries, French vanilla pudding and REAL whipped cream. I made a syrup from some strawberries and raspberries and that was served over each individual serving--there is a SMALL amount of that left over--everyone had seconds of that. So, not enough for a repeat tomorrow--when Jennie and her group get here, Calysta is also coming and we'll eat cheesburgers for lunch and aebelskivers for supper. Altogether we had a wonderful day, and expect more tomorrow. Merry Christmas all.

smiling...

2009-12-23T05:42:00.003-06:00

Bobby says the most frequent picture of me lately is sitting at my PC smiling. I have pictures (they change daily--sometimes hourly depending on what pictures were posted last) of Avery on my desktop and can't stop smiling at her. What a darling baby! For me, it's like looking down a tube or looking glass--from me to her--it's a long way there, but she's firmly in my heart. I was thinking about my great grandmother and my great granddaughter--such a span--so many generations. I don't have too much to say--too busy smiling--but Merry Christmas to all! Some of my family will be here this year so I'm happy about that, and I'll have a Merry Christmas, also.

New Generation

2009-12-16T18:19:00.004-06:00

This is the new generation. Her name is Avery Danielle, and she arrived at 3:55pm CST, weighs 7lb 12oz, and is 19 3/4" long. I heard that Karie was a champ--we're not surprised by that, of course. I see her grandma when I look at her beautiful face. Wow! P.S. -- The word from Austin is that Wilson did a fantastic job supporting Karie during the process. Way to go, Wilson!!

White Wheat

2009-12-11T18:32:00.002-06:00

So, I have made a discovery--white wheat! I had a visit from the Relief Society presidency and during our conversation, I had asked about purchasing wheat from the Bishop's Storehouse. She said they bought as a ward frequently, and she mentioned white wheat. As I had never heard of this, I asked about it. The president, Cindy, didn't know a lot, but the counselor she brought with her did, and she liked it. Well, since I wanted to buy some wheat, and it sounded good, I bought 50 pounds of it--besides the price was great--I mean REALLY great--$11.80 for 50 lbs. Well, let me tell you, it's wonderful! The wheat when ground appears about half way between whole wheat flour and white bleached flour in color. The dough it makes is very soft--and I mixed it about half and half to bleached flour. The bread is great--very tender and soft. Bobby's worried because it's very tasty and delightful--he has visions of many pounds added...so, in all, I would recommend this product to anyone who grinds wheat and makes his/her own bread. One more thing. I would like to purchase dried corn next year when I'm in Utah--apparently, here in the heartland where cornbread is the national food, they don't have it! Hopefully someone will help me out and discover where I can buy some.

Day After, or "Nana, why do they call it Black Friday?"

2009-11-27T05:16:00.002-06:00

So, on Thanksgiving afternoon, we were watching commercials about "Black Friday" and Calysta thought it should be red and green Friday because it's the beginning of Christmas. Trade, profit and loss, and money-making strategies are difficult to explain to a 6-year old, but she understands shopping. We're going out later today. She is excited to make me something that will go permanently on my Christmas tree, which is about 3 feet tall and covered with stuff my children made me when they were little. She wants to be represented, too. We'll hit the Hobby Lobby first. If we find the right project, we will go directly home to work on it. She's also eager to "put up the tiny tree". I guess we have been making memories and setting traditions without conscious effort. You just never know what memories will stick in your children's heads--or yours either for that matter. Alex called me yesterday to tell me a secret ("I love you, Nana"). Calysta was here and they immediately got on the phone and chattered for about 5 minutes. It was one of the highlights of my day--those two little girls talking and laughing together! I wish all my children and their children a very Merry Christmas season--have fun guys. I also wish this for my other children--those of my brothers--and also their babies--whom I love fiercely and miss terribly.

Thanksgiving prep

2009-11-24T18:08:00.003-06:00

Well, I have made the mashed potatoes with bacon and mozzarella and parmesan cheeses (YUM), the dressing with roasted chestnuts (as it turns out they're great--I had never had them before) freshly baked French bread cubes, dried cranberries, sweet Italian sausage and assorted other stuff, both ready for the oven on Thursday after the bird comes out. Mark will be here later to prepare the brine and we'll drown the turkey until Thursday AM when I put it in the oven. Tomorrow I'll prepare the green beans. On Thursday, I'll roast the sweet potatoes and Brussels sprouts (quartered long-wise) in the oven with olive oil, salt and pepper. Oh one more thing, I had bought a container of dried cranberries and put about 2/3 of them in the dressing. Then I reconstituted the remaining 1/3 in cranberry juice with orange rind, orange slices and juice. Made a terrific cranberry sauce--maybe the best ever!! Whew! Tonight I also made beef stew so when Mark comes back after delivering Calysta to her mom, we'll have a nice supper. Then I will sleep very well. G'night all!

Mini-pumpkin Cakes

2009-11-22T12:11:00.003-06:00

These were so much fun! The recipes were in the October issue of Southern Living magazine. There are two recipes for the cakes--pumpkin and pumpkin molasses. I used the pumpkin one. The glaze is caramel glaze and the stems/leaves/tendrils are molded caramels. These will be individual desserts or party favors for those at my Thanksgiving Dinner.

November 2009

2009-11-19T09:49:00.003-06:00

The month is getting away from me and I haven't written a blog. Eric graduated this month; Jennie will graduate next month. My brother died. I saw the Grand Canyon. Altogether it was a momentous month, not altogether wonderful. I was mentioning a pan I saw in Southern Living magazine, that when I went to the website (www.wilton.com) where they said I could get it, they said it was unavailable. My beautiful and generous daughter-in-law, Amy, told me she had seen the pan at the local Michaels out in Queen Creek. So we ran by and there was one left--and she let me get it! Now I'm on a quest to find her one. It may not be this year, but I'll do it. I'm perturbed that the magazine would advertise something that's unavailable, and I'm sure they and Wilton heard many complaints about it. Maybe that will spur them to make it available again. I'm making the cakes today. I love being retired. I can make whatever plan I choose and barring something unexpected, I can feel assured that I can do it. It's freedom of the First Water. I have been thinking about my great-grandmother lately (for obvious reasons). Her name was Martha Jensen Rasmussen. She's the one who lived next to my grandparent's house who lived next to us. We called her Ma. Her home was a polling place, and she, along with other women ran the polls on every election day. I would go over and watch. I had to sit quietly on the couch and just watch, but it was interesting. When I go to vote these days, I always pay attention to the ladies at the polls and thank them for their work when I leave. One thing: Ma always had coffee and tea served in a beautiful service set, pastries and other goodies for the ladies who were working at her home. Well, my nose is telling me that my cakes are ready to come out of the oven, so I'll go for now.

Momentous news!

2009-10-31T04:53:00.002-05:00

Bobby retired yesterday! He had planned to take his return to work authorization to his work and see what needed to be done before returning next Monday (he has been off since late July with back difficulties and surgery, you remember). After he was there for a little while, he just went back to the HR office and told them he was done--do the paperwork, please. He's still a little shaky...

Halloween thoughts

2009-10-30T09:01:00.002-05:00

Well, I was wondering why we (my children and I) never made much of Halloween in our family. I tried to remember what I did as a child and I think I had the Big Aha. No one, as long as I can remember, did much for Halloween. When we were really little, Bobby and I had to figure out something to wear--not our regular clothes--usually a gypsy and pirate--we could use mostly regular clothes and do a few extra things to make those costumes OK. I know people did Trick-or-Treating and we did too, but that's about it. No one in any of the three houses we grew up in did any decorating, and there were no scary stories or really anything except foraging for costumes and eating resulting candy. I went to a Halloween costume party once (I must have been around 10 or 11) and there were decorations, games, including bobbing for apples, mothers dressed up as witches and a lot of hilarity, but it was the only time I ever saw that as a child. So, with apologies to my children for our Halloween lack and my particular Halloween lapse I hope you find your First-Holiday-of-the-Season lots of fun and very scary!!

Sick/hurt kids

2009-10-29T09:08:00.005-05:00

I guess it doesn't matter how old your children are, when they're hurt or sick, you're worried and do what you can for them. I went to Dallas to take Wendy for a short procedure, but one that she needed to be driven home from. Anyone in the area could have done it, but since I have just retired, it seemed like a fun thing that we could do together...and we did. We went to dinner together on Tuesday night and then walked around the shopping district near where she lives. We stopped and got pedicures. In the AM, we went to the hospital for her procedure. About an hour after they took her in, they came in to get me, but instead of taking me to the Outpatient recovery area, they took me to a consultation room. My heart stopped for a minute until the doctor, who came in with me, said something like Wendy is OK. Then I wondered why I was in there. He explained a complication that had happened and that Wendy would need emergency surgery. Her surgeon (the one that has operated on her about 3 times in the last 11 years) was in the building and came into the room in just a few minutes. We talked for a minute and I went upstairs to the Surgery waiting room and was there until about 4:30, when I met Wendy in her room upstairs. Basically, we have been in her hospital room for a week (she got out yesterday evening--Wednesday the 28th--went in on Wednesday the 21st the week before). She's going to be spending a few days with Jennie. I drove home after I got her settled. I'm happy to report that the surgery repaired not only the accident that occurred during the outpatient procedure, but repaired a larger problem that had been bedevilling Wendy for quite some time now, and in fact, that had caused the accident in the first place--so she'll be better now than she's been for a long time. I'm tired and she's getting well. Perfect ending!

Correction, please!

2009-10-11T08:07:00.002-05:00

So, now you will need to delete all those mental notes you have placed all over your brain about coming to Dallas next Labor Day for the Family Reunion. The final (??) plans are set and the new venue is Provo, UT for Labor Day. We will have our family gathering as well as a very large celebration for Grampy's 85th birthday. I hope all the family can come. I hope I can come...

Family DVD

2009-10-05T22:18:00.004-05:00

So, I finished the Family Reunion 2008 DVD. It's about an hour long and contains most of the pictures from the reunion that were on the http://www.photoshop.com/ website that I made for everybody to upload their pictures to. Also included are some really old (well some are older than others) pictures from when we (the Martin siblings--Linda/Bob/Jeff/Cheli) were little, some when our parents were little, and one even from when our grandmother (Nana) was a baby! I just put some nondescript music to it so you could put it on, mute the sound and have it in the background. Actually I rather like the music so at least give it a listen. I will need to know how many of these to make (so far I only have one--mine). As I noted in a comment to one of Bob's blogs, I think they were going to charge $5 for them and use the money to help defray some of the next reunion costs...Dallas, 2010 Labor Day weekend (Grampy's 85th birthday), right? I sure hope to see everyone we saw at the last Reunion and hopefully even more Utah/Nevada Martins--somebody please put a bug in Bobby's ear--I'd sure love to see that guy! --also, Jenna, ahem--we need you and yours, too--and Joni--I know the vicissitudes of BBQ are wide and deep, but we haven't even met your Jared! Everyone put it on your calendars, place it in your hearts, and make many mental notes and scatter them all over your brains--that way no matter what you are thinking about, the idea of going to Texas for Labor Day will pop into your stream of consciousness. Later--gotta go (working on red mush)...

See My New Tools

2009-09-30T19:55:00.004-05:00

On the left, my new Kitchen Aid food processor. I have shredded, sliced, mixed up, and just generally made many things. I have started buying block cheese and whole head cabbage, etc. I am hoping I can save a little money buying that way. We'll see... In the middle is my Blendtec Home Kitchen Mill. This is wonderful. Christy brought me some large cans of wheat when she was here at my retirement events, and I have been really looking forward to milling it and making bread. This is really nifty. The flour is very fine and so far, we're enjoying our bread. Tonight I made some with wheat flour, molasses, quick-cooking rolled barley, quick-cooking rolled oats and sunflower seeds. (yum) I am letting it rise overnight in the refrigerator--Wendy reminded me that the longer bread rises the better (finer) the dough is. Thanks Wend. On the right is my newest acquisition, my Kitchen Aid 5-quart stand mixer. Of course it works like a dream. Best job of kneading "I" have ever done. :) I did a lot of "homework" on the internet and running around town finding the best buys--dragging Mark and Bobby here and there checking availability and prices. If anyone wants any information about where to get any of these items, by the way, I'll be glad to share. I got them all in different places and at the best prices I could find--and there were wide variances in pricing. Between my new sewing machine and my new kitchen tools, I have no time for the occasional part-time job I said I'd do. I'll give it a try, but, well, you know... I went to class two days (last Thursday and yesterday--Tuesday) to get trained on two new software applications I'll be using in the job (the OCCASIONAL part-time job). There wasn't anything that was really difficult, but I realized that what I disliked most was, first, having to get up early and get "fixed up" and leave the house; second, being away from my home all day long; third, driving all the long way home; and last, how tired I feel in the evening and the sense that I didn't have any time to do anything at all in my home--just fix something quick to eat, relax a little and drop in bed. No, I definitely have my doubts about this being a long-term thing. Maybe a few months. I don't know, I just LOVE being home every day--or running around--maybe going out of town with Bobby--whatever, just something I choose. Anyone who would just love to come and visit would surely be welcome--you know who you are...

...with apologies to Gilbert and Sullivan:

2009-09-20T15:40:00.006-05:00

So, here's the Buttercup quilt. You can't see the poem unless you're up close. If I were to do it again, I would use a much darker gold for the text blocks. Oh well... I took the poem from the Gilbert & Sullivan operetta "H.M.S. Pinafore". Since I changed a few words, I guess it's ours now.

I'm called Little Buttercup

Just Little Buttercup

Though I could never tell why.

Yet still I'm called Buttercup

Sweet Little Buttercup

Dear Little Buttercup, I.

Anyway, it's coming to Austin in December to meet the real Buttercup. I can't wait to meet her.

Autumn and Winter

2009-09-07T11:01:00.004-05:00

This is Labor Day. Summer is coming to an end. In this part of the world, that's something to think about. I have read AmyCW's feelings about autumn and on a superficial level always disagreed, because dreaded winter was on the way. It found it difficult to enjoy something that's the precursor to something I definitely do NOT enjoy. Having spent 10 years living in the Rocky Mountains, and arriving there directly from San Diego, I think I could be forgiven for not noticing the beauty of autumn--I mean winter was coming and YIKES!!, I hated winter. I guess it has taken me another 25-30 years to get over it, because I carried the dislike for autumn here and never got over it--until now. Now back to Amy's discussions about autumn--that girl truly loves it. I believe it's contagious because having read her words, and given them their deserved thought and consideration, I decided consciously to dissect and change my opinions about this quarter of my life. Dissection was simple--oncoming winter made it difficult to enjoy the moment. AH HA! That's the key. Enjoying the moment--sort of like enjoying life even there will be an end to it--enjoying old age because the end of life is nearer--you get the picture. Being in the moment is something just about everybody gives lip service to, but as you can see, I have failed in this--until now. Cooler weather is here (sorry Amy--it's cooler here in Oklahoma!) and I am thinking about jeans and sweaters, sneakers instead of flip-flops, and jackets in the evening. Thinking about them, not quite there yet, but I can feel that it's coming. I'm going to re-read Amy's monologue about the joys of autumn and will be immersed in it soon. Winter will come, but so will spring--and I don't want to miss a minute of either.

Embroidering "Buttercup"

2009-08-28T14:33:00.002-05:00

Since I'm doing the embroidery by hand on my Buttercup project, I thought I better get right on it. So far, so good. If I take enough aspirin, I can do it! I designed this myself, and apparently this is a novelty. In every store I went to in order to get all the supplies I would need, I was asked what # thread, what pattern I was using, etc. When I said I just put it together myself, it was met with surprise--I think even maybe admiration. (hehehe) No big deal. But I do love this project and can't wait to get it finished. That should coincide with Buttercup being born, I hope. See you soon, little one!

My New Janome (juh-NO-me)

2009-08-24T18:20:00.004-05:00

This is what we bought today. It's made in Taiwan--as are most machines today, I discovered. Janome and Brother are the only sewing machines left that are actually manufactured by the company they're named for. All the research I did lead me back to this brand. I talked to a lady who teaches sewing at Bernina and she told me that she thinks Janome is the best machine. I read reviews by folks posted on the internet, I talked to several dealers--everyone was unanimous--get a Janome. So I did. This model (DC2010) is a straight sewing machine--I was advised by the dealer that if you're only going to have one machine, it should be a straight sewing maching instead of a serger. They asked if I'm interested in embroidery, but I think I wouldn't use it except maybe for making things for Buttercup and little C, and it wouldn't be worth the extra money. First thing I did was mend a shirt I had laying on my sewing table for about 3 months. Now to finish my family room door curtains.

Changing Things Around

2009-08-24T08:51:00.004-05:00

So, I got a little tired of the professional picture with the pink page. Blue-gray is a little more tolerable, I think. Not sure that I really like it yet. Something interesting has happened in our back yard since we added our new room, patio and patio cover. The big ugly black birds that had moved into our roof and old patio cover moved on because our new roof doesn't have a place for them to nest. Now we have groups of robins, blue jays, cardinals, of course sparrows--and many others I'm sure I don't know. They live in the trees and apparently the big black birds don't, because the trees are still out there. It's a pleasant view from my computer. Have a great day!

My Veggie Wraps

2009-08-23T18:07:00.002-05:00

Well, I just finished eating my new favorite supper. Remember the Veggie Wraps with Peanut Butter Dipping Sauce from AmyDubDub's blog? Well, that's what I had tonight. Fabulous. I don't use the sauce as a dipping sauce, I just pour it in the veggies directly. When I try to dip, the veggies fall out. Wonderful!

Bobby's surgery and recovery

2009-08-21T20:21:00.002-05:00

Well, I think we're past the worst of it. Actually, today was the most painful his incision has been -- I think it's healing and stinging/itching. I caught some sort of stomach mess and was really ill the day I brought him home--I came in and lay down on the couch and fell asleep. Yesterday was a repeat--just plain yucky. Today a little tired, but stomach OK. This evening, I think I may actually survive. Meanwhile, I have been taking care of Bobby, who, lucky for me, slept a lot yesterday. We got out a few times today. He's taking a muscle relaxer and 1/2 a pain pill so he's a little "goobery" -- and I can definitely tell regular goobery from drug-induced goobery! The pain in his leg emanating from his spine is gone. That was the purpose of the surgery, so we're grateful for that. I think that's all.

Home Again, Home Again, Ziggety Zog!

2009-08-17T08:24:00.003-05:00

Well, we made it. We had so much fun with Christy and her boys while they were here. Then we went to Houston with Amy and had a great week down there. We got to stay with Cheli and Grampy on Saturday night and visit with Jennie and Alisa on Sunday before they took us to the train. Our ride home was an adventure. Calysta told everybody that she had been to the beach. I didn't need to worry that my home would go to pot while I was gone--it looks exactly like it did when I left--party stuff here and there--same food only now older in the refrigerator (I asked Bobby what he ate while I was gone and he said, "oh I don't know, this and that") --laundry patiently waiting--so I am not bored and wondering what to do with myself yet in my retirement! My ears are full of wax, my head aches with sinus mess. I really wish I wouldn't get hung over and full of the morning after when I know I didn't have the night before! Tomorrow we start the procedures to get Bobby's back repaired so that'll be the main focus for a while now. Ready, set GO...

In Texas

2009-08-13T05:34:00.003-05:00

I think I'll replace my profile photo. It's one I had taken at work and looks altogether too "professional". That really won't do. I am loving this week at Amy's house. Her boys are being darling. Calysta is having a good time playing new games and being the "little sister" (sometimes they're pests, you know), and of course, it was wonderful to see Karie (and finally her little biscuit) even for just an afternoon. It's a great thing to see that your children grew up to be capable, smart and kind--I don't think it gets any better than that! We're doing sewing machine research so I can make a good decision when I get home. So far, the best recommendation is a reconditioned older Singer--definitely not a new one. I dunno. If anyone has another opinion, I would love to hear it. I have great grandbaby quilts to design and create--I'll make one and the others will be like it--same as I did the grandbaby quilts. Tonight we're going to Bunko (Bunco?) and I will finally discover what that's all about--I have been hearing about this for a long time from many different people, but never participated. Then we're driving to Galveston and the beach tomorrow--can't wait for that--it's good for my San Diego girl's heart. It's early and I'm reading a book, so I'll go work on that--no, not work, just read.

checking in...

2009-08-10T05:48:00.003-05:00

I'm visiting with Amy and her family in Houston this week. This morning we're going to Curves--I hope I find some there. My foot is at it again. I don't know what gives with it, but it's maddening--sitting for many hours usually will do it, though. Bobby and I sold our new motorcycle and cargo trailer. It's a bittersweet thing. We didn't really want to sell, but riding was getting progressively more difficult, so--well, there you are. We got the price we asked. Going to ride over tomorrow to Austin and see the beautiful and pregnant Kare-bear. I am still trying to wrap my brain around becoming a GREAT grandparent! yikes. I remember my great grandparents. They were very old even the first time I remember them. mercy. Amy is up, the kids are still asleep and the washer is running. The week has started. I think it's going to be a fun one...

GOAL!!

2009-08-07T07:00:00.003-05:00

Well, today's the day. Going in to work for my last day. "Day" isn't actually accurate--precisely, that is. I'll be there at 0800 as usual, but leaving around 1100 or thereabouts. Yippee! I have had Amy and Christy here this week with Dylan, James and Jake also. Yesterday Calysta came--of course Mark has been in and out all week, too. I had the pleasure of watching Jake and Calysta playing yesterday afternoon, and it was a testament to how he is treated when learning a new skill or just in general, maybe. Calysta asked him to hook up her Wii Disney Princesses game so he did. They were in the living room and he was showing her some of the finer points of how to play with the remote and Wii generally. His voice was gentle and his words were kind and insructive. What a wonderful little guy! I think they'll have a lot of fun next week when we're all at Amy's home. I can't wait. Bobby will have back surgery on Wednesday, August 19. I'll let everybody know how that goes afterward. Bye--next time you hear from me I won't even remember what I did for a living. hehehe

m-m-m

2009-07-23T18:01:00.001-05:00

Well, I just discovered that I like Lingonberry Preserves--and Swedish flat bread isn't bad either. Together they make a perfect snack. Thanks Amy!

The Long and Winding Road...

2009-07-22T06:27:00.002-05:00

I am off work today. It's lovely. I got up and got Poppy off, sat down at my computer and read blogs. Christy and her family will be here later this morning. This will be a fun day. I have 2 1/2 weeks left before I retire--16 days--and only 12 more to actually go in to work. I have cut my hours to 6--9 to 3:30--not too bad. It's just that I'm not really doing any actual work at this point--just teaching others how and what to do and when--makes me tired to think about it. This is reminding me of lying down in deep plush and purring--I guess my alter-ego is a cat.

Places to See and Miles to Go

2009-07-13T05:14:00.002-05:00

Amy WW has started a series about places she would like to see. It made me think about our plans to do exactly that in the next few years. In fact we already started. We went to Vermont and stopped at Niagara for a day (and night). Wonderful. We went to Alaska on a cruise. Beautiful. We also went to Novia Scotia on a cruise and thought that was a truly extraordinary place and would love to go back. The thing is, when we went to Vermont, Hurricane Katrina hit and we changed our route back and missed Washington, D.C. So there's a place we want want to visit. When we went to Alaska, we were in the middle of one of the worst storms to hit the Gulf of Alaska in a long time, and missed most of the stops until we got to the inland waterway--and two people died. When we went to Novia Scotia, the last picture Bobby took on the way out of the Hudson River and we were looking back, was the World Trade Towers, and the date stamp on that picture is 9/8/01. So we had to scramble on our way back to get any flights at all, as New York harbor was turned into the Morgue after 9/11. We were told not to travel anymore by several of our friends. :) Well, we will, and included in the places we would like to see are Hawaii and the Northwest USA. Being born and raised in San Diego, I never thought much about Hawaii, but after living nearly 30 years in Oklahoma, I think I would love to visit there. Some friends of ours moved there last year and have invited us to stay with them when we go. So, we will likely visit Hawaii. Since Bobby has cousins in northern California and Oregon, we will most likely visit there, too. There are other places, and I thank Amy for bringing up this subject and making me think about it again. Stay tuned...

Winding Down...

2009-07-02T05:44:00.007-05:00

I'm at the weird place in a job where I am just about out the door, other people have been assigned to do my various (legion) tasks, and they're still learning how to do them. I have written two quite large books about this and that--what to do when this happens, when to do what, the cascade of daily chores and how this must be done first so you have all the information you need to complete something else. Whew! ech I am not actually doing anything. I organize, put into piles, make lists, sit and read articles on the internet. There's a whirl of work going on around me, but I'm in the eye of the storm and the other side of the storm is not on its way. :) One thing I have realized is that I do a LOT of stuff. The funny thing about this is that I don't really care whether or not anyone does anything with what I have produced for them. If they throw it all out and just skate by with mininum--OK. I'm no longer invested in it. I know the manager of my department is concerned. I think his concern is enough for the whole department, and I am happy to let him worry about it. That's all. I'm in a really great place...

Today

2009-06-28T09:45:00.002-05:00

I was sick yesterday. Since I don't actually get sick very often, it always seems like an assault to me. My stomach was taken over by demons--the kind that make you feel like vomiting would save your life. ech Well, the demons have been exorcised but I'm in that sort of half-light place where it feels that they went off and left a lot of pop cans, gum wrappers and grafitti all over the place. But I can think about getting some work done around my house--I did nothing yesterday, and go grocery shopping--again, nothing yesterday, and maybe even cooking a little ahead for next week--yep, nothing there either yesterday. 40 days to go until I retire. Now I'm excited for my girls and their boys to come. This is going to be such a fun couple of months!

Loose thoughts

2009-06-14T13:02:00.004-05:00

Today is Flag Day. When we were little, Gramps (Ralph Beaman, Grammy's father) had a tall flagpole in his front yard and raised the flag on each "flag" occasion. Our neighbors the Carters (they lived next door to my great grandparents, Pa and Ma) also had a flagpole. On the flag morning, Gramps and Mr. Carter always hurried out to raise the flag--Gramps would always mention that either he beat Mr. Carter or Mr. Carter beat him in raising the flag. If you were quiet in the morning you could hear reveille blow on the Naval bases down near the harbor--that was Gramps' cue to get out there with his flag (actually on the nights when I was still awake, I could also hear taps blow at 10:00pm). The truly interesting part of this story is that Gramps died on June 12, and was buried on June 14th (Flag Day) under a waving flag (as a World War I veteran, he also had a flag-draped coffin). In fact, all the flags were flying in San Diego that day for his ride from the Funeral Home to the cemetery. I know he would have loved it. He used to take us (Bobby and me) on Sunday afternoons to the cemetery to feed the swans. He loved those swans. His grave is located right across from the swan lake and just down from the flagpole. It all just seemed so appropriate! Tomorrow is Scott's birthday. He would be 39! Christy says that is hard to imagine, because even though he is her older brother, he always seems like a little guy. I have 54 days until I retire. I can barely wait. I can't remember the last time I anticipated an event with so much eagerness. Plus, I'm going to get to see Amy and Jakey (don't know if James can come--haven't heard that part yet) and Christy.

Our Graduates

2009-05-16T10:07:00.003-05:00

I'm in Tempe, AZ this week to attend the graduations of Ragan and Jared! What a big deal. Jared looked so great with his Masters hood over his gown. Mark and Calysta came out with me. She and Alex have been sooo cute to watch. Today the guys (all of them and some friends) are going to go do guy stuff and I'm taking Abby, Alex and Calysta to the nail shop and then to lunch--sounds like way more fun to me. We'll get manicures and pedicures--it'll be great. Brooke, Ragan's sister, is getting married in October out in San Jose, and all the women in their family are going to Tucson today --that's where Ragan's and Brooke's step-sister lives--to try on wedding dresses. Fun! (another great day full of fun activities). I think everybody is going home tomorrow. We're leaving for Norman tomorrow at 0:dark 30. Long drive. yech Good week...

How are we doing?

2009-05-02T09:36:00.003-05:00

So, I went down and weighed in this morning. As you can see, I have made my goal of 118 lbs. I even have a little wiggle room. So, how is everybody else doing? I know we aren't having our Family Reunion this year, but I assume the contest is still on. I think my challenge is keeping the same weight--or thereabouts--until next summer!