Tuesday, August 12, 2008 - Photo op missed

Hi to everyone.  I haven't written for a while, but I faithfully read everyone else's blogs.  When I have a working computer, that is.  It died early last week.  Thankfully my husband is very knowledgeable and interested, and with the help of support he got it going again. 

I haven't been doing a ton of sewing, but I did finish a drunkard's path wedding ring wall-hanging for my niece's wedding.  Between having Kailynn because DIL Tobi went to the ER (she's ok, but they're going to test for gall bladder) , and she needs watching all the time, and needing to get ready for this wedding, I forgot to take a picture.  It is red and cream, and I thought it turned out quite well.  Now, compared it Lane's latest creation, it's pretty tame, but I liked it.

   I've been spending a lot of time in the gardens, this week it's quite cool, so our pool temp has plummeted, but it's so delightful being outside that the tradeoff is ok.  It's an unusually cool summer - great for gardening. 

   So Friday night we went to this wedding on the Lake Michigan beach.  It was pretty informal and small - just family.  My niece lives in Conn, but she has family on both coasts, so I guess that's why she decided on Michigan for the wedding.  She grew up in Indiana.  The reception was in a nearby hotel.  The food was wonderful!  While we were on the beach, we looked across the channel to a house that my college roommate lives in.  It used to be part of the Coast Guard station, but it was sold and someone added a huge piece and made it an inn.  They are using it as a private home, as did her aunt that owned it before her.  It's an old building, but from across the channel it looks very impressive, with two long porches, one above the other.

   When the computer first was fixed, I commented to Kim that I could now write on everyone's blogs, but that ended quickly.  I still assume it's in our computer, but if others are having the same problem, it makes me wonder.  So Vera, Molly, Kim, and several others, I can't comment on your blogs unless I use the old laptop downstairs in my woman cave.  Last night it couldn't connect to the internet. 

   Is anyone else watching the olympics?  I am mesmerized by the sports.  Right now I'm watching weightlifting.  Kim was a runner, so those events really interest me, Renae was a swimmer, so of course that fascinates me.  I love rowing, beach volleyball, basketball, even some of the more obscure sports.   Unfortunately, because of the wedding, we didn't get to see the opening ceremonies, which I heard were totally spectacular.  Rhoda

Tuesday, July 22, 2008 - Birthday babies

I have really been doing a little bit of sewing, and contrary to how I usually work, I have 3 things in the works.  I like to get one finished before I start another, both as incentive to finish - I want to get on to the next project - and so not to have so many UFO's hanging around.  One is for a wedding in a couple of weeks so I need to finish that soon.  Two weeks ago was birthday week for the grandkids.  I've probably mentioned before that they are all a year apart - two different families.

    The first picture is Kailynn the spirited! She turned 2.  She loved her new goggles.   She calls them gongles.   Second is Bryan - just turned one.  He's a really laid-back guy

but I think he's going to be a tease like his daddy.  Grandma just can't get enough of him.  Last is Tina.  She just turned 3, is Bryan's older sister, and very prim and propper.  Kailynn already runs off yelling "come on, Tina!"  Kim, Tina and Bryan, some friends and I went to Shipshewanna last week.  We walked through the flea market all morning and it was very hot.  Those kids never complained.  They were just so good it was unbelievable.  We stopped here and let the kids swim before they drove another hour home.  Bryan didn't want to get in the car again.

     Ok, enough bragging.  To those whose blogs I can't comment on from this computer (Ron is on a golf trip and took the one I usually use down by my machine)  Jacque, your quilt AND your granddaughter are beautiful.  Vera, I'm glad you're back.  I missed your pictures.  Molly, I've been praying for you and I'm so glad you're able to see better.  I just knew how totally devistating loss of vision had to be for you and I'm glad God was gracious and allowed you to regain your sight.  Welcome back.   I'm sure there are some I missed, but I really enjoy reading everyone's blogs.  A friend was telling me yesterday I would really enjoy the quilt guild in the little town north of us.  There's an older woman I know who goes to it and has invited me to come.  She said the best part is seeing what others do and getting inspiration.  I told her I get that through this blog site.  I don't write all that often, but I read everyday.  I always love it when people post free pattern links and show their pictures. 

     I just have to add that my gardens have never been more beautiful than this year.  We've had a monsoon season and the grass is lush and green - everything is lush.  My daylilies are beyond beautiful and the color just enriches my soul.  Rhoda  

Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - About Molly

     I wrote to Molly (CrazySquare) yesterday because we haven't heard from her in a while.  I wondered if she wasn't doing

well.  She's the one with MS who has little strength in her right hand and arm and is in a wheelchair.  Her husband answered

today and said that she has gone blind.  I don't remember her ever mentioning her vision, so I'm wondering if it's a sudden

thing.  He said she probably wouldn't be entering on the blog again.  They are looking for a Dr. to treat her.  I think her email address

is in her profile, but if it isn't, give me a yell and I will post it.  I'm sure this has been totally devastating to her and she could

use the encouragement  Rhoda

Friday, July 11, 2008 - My Garden.

I managed to take some pictures of my garden this morning WITH the card in the camera.  It wasn't very sunny so they don't show up the best, but you can get an idea of what they look like.  The first two are different views of the same garden.  It's really full and showy right now.  The second garden is along the driveway.  We built our house on an old farmstead.  The barn and house burned down and the silo remained.  Our neighbors were glad we bought the property because there was a lot of unsavery activity going on in that silo.  We found lots of porn magazines and needles when we bought it.  The silo came down.  The earth movers dumped large rocks along the driveway - over the old water tank for the house.  There were some daffidils and something else under some trees that Ron was going to mow down, so I moved them between the rocks.  That's how the gardens got started.  That was 27 years ago and I've been building ever since.  I truly enjoy working outside.  I'd much rather do that than most anything, except maybe sewing.  The last pic is a garden in the back of the house that Ron encouraged me to start because part of the old barn foundation was sticking out there and it was hard to mow around.  What we don't do for love. : ).  So if you call me and I don't answer, this might be were I am.  

     I have to comment on my comment to Lane - lest you think I love one child over the rest, let me assure you that I love each one for his/her own personality and strengths.  Ryan was the absolute easiest child to raise.  He never got into trouble.  We would tell him and Kim that if you do this - this will happen and you won't be happy.  That was good for them, and Renae.  Kevin was another story.  He was a terribly colicky baby.  The lady next door - who lived beyound the trees in the background of the first picture, told me she felt so sorry for me because that baby cried all the time!  How did she even hear it?  Anyway,  he was a strong-will, perfectionistic child, always having to find things out for himself because he was sure we were wrong.  I'm very proud of him because he had such a long way to come.  Each of my children are precious - and now as adults they are just so much fun to have in my life.  Besides, they produce children!   Rhoda 

Sunday, July 6, 2008 - Yeah! The power's back on!

   We had some pretty severe storms move through here Wed. evening.  They dumped about six inches of rain in just over an

hour.  The vege garden was a pond - something we haven't seen before in the 27 years we've lived here.  We thought we made it through without losing power, but it went out about 4am when it was no longer storming.  Weird.  We live in the country and don't have city water or sewer, but we do have a pool.  We are very thankful that the weather has been just gorgeous - high 70's, so we aren't roasting, and it's warm enough that the pool is warm.  We use it for batheing.  If that grosses you our, sorry.  We also used pool water for flushing toilets and scrubbing the floors.  I didn't use it to water plants.  No, uh-uh.  Learned that lesson!  Chlorine is not a friend to plants.

    We were gone every night, which was a good think because Ron goes pretty stir-crazy with no power.  He paces the floor.  We did borrow a small generator to run the freezer downstairs and the fridge upstairs.  That was a good thing.  Last time we were out for 4 days I lost everything in the freezer downstairs.

     Needless to say, no sewing has gotten done.  The power came on while we were at church this morning.  I scrubbed sinks and toilets, ran the dishwasher and washed the overflow, washed the towels used to sop up the  basement water.  We didn't have much but I know a lot of people who had to have someone come in and pump it out.  Still - we don't have it as bad as the woman whose basement was flooded.  I'm so sorry I forgot your name.

     Lane, I'm surprised daylilies do well in Texas with the heat.  I know you can hardly kill them here, but I didn't think they were that hardy.  Mine are just starting to bloom, and I love it.

     Now for a nap. . .  Rhoda

Wednesday, July 2, 2008 - I'm here, Lane!

     We generally are home bodies, but last weekend we went up north with a group of golfing couples.  Ron golfs with the men on thurs. night.  One of the men has been bugging me for 2 years to take up golf so we could go on this weekend with them all - I think there were 6 couples.  This year my friend's husband was working out of town, so Ron was her partner for 2 of the 3 days.  We had a really nice time, although there were a couple of people who drank too much for my enjoyment and there was a lot of inuendo.  I can take a fair amount, but after a while it becomes kind of junior-highish.  Despite that, I had a really good time.  They were all feeling so bad for me that I wouldn't be golfing.  Pfft!  As if I'd want to!   I got to go into this little town that had some really cute shops - including a quilt shop.  I looked to my heart's content.  I bought these fabrics and pattern at the quilt shop, but not much else that day.  I went back to the resort and watched a movie and cross-stitched for a while.  The next day I went to the other side of the highway where the newer shops were.  I visited the farmers market first, where I bought 3 day-lilies for $10, which is a steal!  I have a TON of daylilies, the first of which have just started blossoming.  I love them!  They're very showy.  I have all kinds of colors and really enjoy them.  I also went to a nursery, which was very reasonable, and bought a couple of perennials.  I had lunch outside in town both days. 

    I also visited Wal-mart and bought some birthday gifts for my grandkids.  Their birthdays are all within a week - July 5,7 and 11.  They will be 3,2 and 1 this year.  I tried on some capris in a smaller size and they fit!  (trumpets would be appropriate)

     I had gone to my research appointment on Thurs. of last week and found out I had lost 6 pounds!  It was a surprise, because my scale hasn't budged.  It must be kaputt.  I'm taking a research drug for fibromyalgia.  It works well on the pain, although I'm having more pain since I started gardening again.  However, it's one form of exercise I can do without the chronic fatige taking over (as long as I do it in moderation) so I will not give it up.  I think I;d have to choose gardening over quilting for enjoyment, but it's tough to garden when it's under a foot of snow and frozen solid.  FM is the reason I don't golf, too.  Although frankly, I have no desire.  I used to do it, back when I had 4 kids at home, and decided I could get frustrated, upset and tired without going and paying for the opportunity!  Now it would cause me too much pain.  That's always a good motivator.

    This week I babysat for Kailynn (2 next week) on Mon. and went up to Grand Rapids yesterday to make strawberry jam with my daughters.  Today is my first day home for a while - doing what I want to.  I worked outside probably too long this morning, and hope to sew this afternoon and tonight. Rhoda 

     The fabrics aren't for anything special - she had them on sale.  What can I say.  I also bought a chalk marker that has a little roller with points on it.  A lady who does all hand-quilting said she really likes it, so I thought I'd give it a try.  Rhoda 

Friday, June 20, 2008 - Sister's quilt

     This is the quilt my sister made like the ones my mom used to make.  I think it really turned out nicely!  She meant the Snoopy fabric to be the front side, but the quilting doesn't show up nearly as well.  She also pieced a pillowcase to slide this into.  Rhoda

Thursday, June 19, 2008 - My latest bag.

     I think I'm about bagged out.  I'm looking forward to doing some quilting projects now.  I like how this tote turned out, though.  It's for daughter Kim, but I kind of hate to give it away.  She chose the fabric when we went to Shipshewanna last year together.  I do have fabric in the same colors downstairs.  Hmmm.  This has pockets all around the outside but none inside.  It zips closed.

     Yesterday I went to Shipshewanna, a small Amish community - turned tourist trap, in northeast Indiana.  It used to be really quaint and small, but it has mushroomed into something too commercial.  It still has a huge flea market, great restaurants and cute shops.  It also has some really great fabric shops.  I bought this Jinny Beyer fabric there - something I've been looking for.  I'm going to make a pattern off her site called Atlantic Jewel - it's in her free block section.  Rhoda

Thursday, June 19, 2008 - Mom's quilt

     My mother made one of these whole-cloth quilts for each of her 14 grandchildren.  They were made of poly/cotton and wore like iron.  She liked the higher-loft batting.  This one is Kevin's.  He's 27.  These blankets were dragged around the house.  I have a picture of him standing outside with his pipe in his mouth and this quilt in his hand while it's hanging on the line drying.  I think all the grandkids took their quilt to college with them.  I really don't remember if Kevin took his to law school, but he opted to leave it home when he went into the Navy.

     My sister decided she wanted to continue the tradition and make one for each of her 3 granddaughters, all under a year.  She used to sew some, but had just started making bibs and things and having a lot of fun with those.  This was her latest project.  On Tues. I helped her mark her quilt, which is in cotton fabric because the baby's room is all Snoopy, and you can't get Snoopy fabric in cotton/poly.    We then layered it and spray basted it on my floor.  She has asked some questions and I hope I have given her adequate answers.

     This morning she called to say she has it all done.  She's bringing it over this afternoon when I cut her hair, so I will try to post a picture of her finished one.   For you newcomers, I have a picture on one of my earlier blogs of the Snoopy quilt I made for this baby. 

Monday, June 9, 2008 - Very Exciting Weekend

at our house!  I had daughter Kim's 2 kids from Friday afternoon.  We had visited with our niece early in the afternoon.  She just had her first

baby after 10 years of marriage.  Unfortunately, this beautiful little girl was born with and eye defect - it's called aniridia and she has no iris.  She will

always be very light sensitive and will have some degree of vision defect, from mild to blindness.  They see a pediatric opthomologist in July to assess

what vision she has now.

     After that I drove the kids to our house where we had a hectic weekend.  I'm just not used to having two little ones, almost 3 and 11 months around.

They are really good kids and it went well.  Kim and hubby were planning to coming at night and spending the night.  Renae said she'd drive down after

work and help us out, I called Ryan in town and asked if Kailynn wanted to come play with Tina in the afternoon.  What I didn't know, but they all did,

was that Kevin had just spent a week at a JAG conference outside D.C. and he was flying in for a 24 hour visit.  He wanted to see the kids, of course.

Tina is the only one who remembers him from Christmas.  We went to see him in Hawaii in Feb. and had a wonderful time.  It was just a delightful

surprise for us.  So everyone was home Sat. afternoon/evening.  Kailynn has been begging to go swimming, and the pool was on the low side temp. wise

of what I'm willing to get into.  She just loved it!  Tina is more timid, but Kailynn is fearless.  She was shivering so hard she could hardly stand, but she was

saying "More, more!"

     We had just a great time together as a family.  Kevin went to church with us in the morning, Renae had left at 5 am to get to work by 7, Ryan and Tobi

attend another church.  Our church prays regularly for our military men, we have several.  One is in a sub right now.  Anyway, after coffee with extended

family he had to leave at 12:30 to drive back to Chicago to catch his flight back to LA and then Honolulu.  He called to say his flight was delayed because

of the storms that went through, so hopefully he got there before he had to be at work this morning.

     On the sewing side, I just finished a bag I'm not all that thrilled with.  I used a piece of rayon that I got for $1.50 at a thrift store.  We had seen these

bags in Hawaii, and didn't buy one, for which I was kicking myself.  Anyway, it took a week to sew on all the seed beads, which was also the quilting.  Even with

the fabric interfaced and then the batt and backing, it isn't very stiff.  It's also pretty small.  It's one of those projects that I have finished and think, yeah, it's ok, but

not fantastic.  I'm ok with that, though.

     I've really been doing more gardening then quilting, I will try to post a picture soon.  After a long, cool spring, we've had the hot, hot humid weekend.  I'm

so thankful for A/C!    Rhoda

Monday, May 19, 2008 - I missed you guys!

It seems

It seems like a long weekend without the blog around.  I hope everyone did well.  The first picture is the purse I finished last Thurs.  On Fri. I went shopping with my sisters and had a great time.  None of us bought much, it was more about being together.  I did have to endure a political lecture from one sister on the way home whose views are very different than the rest of us - and she is never wrong.  Her kids and grandkids are also perfect.

       I really didn't do any sewing this weekend.  Some house cleaning and sitting aroung.  All day shopping is pretty tiring for me.  It takes a few days to recover.  I also worked outside a little.  The second picture is the front of the house - just a piece of it.  Ron is a rabid golfer and he bought the bird-bath for me.  I would never have paid that much but I think it's pretty cute.  Cammie walked in front just before I snapped the picture.  She loves posing.  She will beg to have her picture taken.  Talk about a narcicist!  She also loves that I positioned the bird-bath near the rock.  She stands with her front feet on the rock and the bird-bath is now her own personal water bowl!  Rhoda

Thursday, May 15, 2008 - Quilt puzzless

Who was the culprit who posted the "shockwave" and quilt-patchwork puzzles?  I'm afraid I've become addicted.  The Shockwave Patchworkz is especially challenging!  Some were pretty easy, but the last one I did - I think I"m on 59 - I quit.  I just couldn't get it figured out.  I'm sure I'll try again, but tomorrow I'm going shopping with my 3 sisters.  We do this 3 or 4 times a year.  It's not so much about shopping as it is about being together.  One lives in Lafayetee, Ind. one in Grand Rapids, MI and Donna and I live in Kalamazoo.  Michigan City, Ind. is about central.  We eat and talk, shop a little, repeat a few times.  Rhoda

Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - Noah's Ark Cross-stitch

I made this for Ron's nephew's first baby.  I started doing a cross-stitch for the first baby of each nephew and niece many, many years ago.  What was I thinking?!  There are over 40 nieces and nephews in the family.  Thankfully, I'm down to the last few.  I think there are only 3 to go.

     I had a great birthday on Sat.  The kids were all home (except Kevin, of course) so we had a great time just being together.  The men went golfing so we women and kids just hung out.  I made potato salad and Kim brought a cake because Tina (3 in July) said I needed one.  Of course, I was exhausted by the time they all left.

     Sunday was pretty low-key, church and coffee afterward with Ron's brother and wife.  Kevin called at night.  This is the 2nd time we've heard from him since we went to Hawaii in Feb.  He said he argued his first Court martial and that was pretty exciting.  He also flew to California for a good friend's wedding.

     This week I've been gardening and sewing.  I had my annual  physical yesterday.  The Dr. wants me off hormone therepy, but I get terrible hot flashes.  I got him to agree to waiting until fall when the weather cools.  Brief reprieve.  Rhoda

Thursday, May 8, 2008 - Iris Wall-hanging

This is the latest project I have completed.  I got the image from a greeting card again, and had fun with it.  This fabric is all from 2 pieces of variagated fabric from Wal-Mart.  It's actually more pink than the orange it looks like.  Now I'm ready to do a couple of bags and then a queen size quilt for this, aaah, maybe next summer.    The second picture is what I bought for $90 at Ikea yesterday.  There is an Ikea near Detroit that 3 friends and I drove to yesterday. It's about 2 hours from here, so it's not something we do all the time.   We ate a lot, had a great time, and found some pretty great deals.  The 2 sets of dishes are for 6 each, $20 a set.  The cups were not included, I also bought the larger bowls and smaller bowls extra.  They're kind of a light taupe.  There's a gray tone in them. I also got that set of pans for $10.  I don't know how long they will last, but they're aluminum and have a thick bottom.  I bought a couple of these plates 1 1/2 years ago in white just to try them, and they've held up well.  I also got the fridge magnet/clips and pot holders.  I keep saying I need to make myself some potholders, but the time never comes.  I got 2 for $2.  I told Ron this was my birthday/Mother's Day gift.  My birthday is on Sat. and we always celebrate the 2 together.  The kids are coming over on Sat. this year, usually it's Sun.  Rhoda

Thursday, May 1, 2008 - Shopping bag tip

To everyone who is making shopping bags:  I bought a couple at Wal-mart and another sturdier, bigger one at Hardings.  The Hardings bag has a really nice feature that you could incorporate into the bags you make.  It has a loop on the top of one side to hook over the plastic bag holder.  That holds the bag upright so it's easier to pack. 

     I've been sick all week.  Bummer.  I have two projects almost finished and some new ones ready to start and I just don't have the energy.  I led our last Bible study yesterday morning.  We're done until fall.  My group chipped in and got me a gift certificate to the local nursery.  That's as much fun as the one to the quilt store last year.  I'm looking for an azalia and another rose to replace the one that I have to dig out. 

     My 2 tomato plants froze the other night, but the tulips, which were seriously drooping, came back to their former glory.  It's supposed to warm up a little more today.

     We've been watching "Carrier" on PBS in the evenings.  Since our son is in the Navy JAG corps it's unlikely he will serve on a ship, but I still found it to be pretty interesting.  It's a cross-section of society - mostly young society.  Last night they were trying to land jets on the carrier in high seas with the ship pitching.  I imagine those are some pretty tense moments.   Rhoda

Monday, April 21, 2008 - Productive Day

I usually sew at night, which I did, but I managed to get most of my vegetable garden planted this morning.  Ron rototilled it on Sat. while we were gone.  After the garden I washed the last of my windows and did some laundry.  Tomorrow I need to get some plants to put in the garden.  It's early, and there's always a chance of them freezing, but one year my garden froze in June - it was the weekend of one of our kids' high school graduation.  Unusual but possible.  Rhoda

Monday, April 14, 2008 - Snoopy

This was a really fun wall-hanging to make.  It was fun because - well, who doesn't like Snoopy!  It was also fun because it was made for my niece Janelle.  She and her husband have been married for 10 years and this is their first baby.  She's really a double niece.  My sister and I married brothers.  We each have 4 kids. We live less than 2 miles apart and our husbands worked in the same business for over 20 years.  We've always been very close and their kids were as "at home" here as ours were there. Janelle is 18 months older than our twins, and she and Kim have always been close.  They ran track together in high school.  They look quite a lot alike.  They had lunch together today.  I included a picture of the 8 kids the last time they were all together.  I think it was 5 years ago, so some of them have matured some since then.  Their grandparents would have been proud.  They all graduated from college.  There are 2 Recreational Therapists, a music major (who is asst. manager at a phone store - we tried to tell him!)  A teacher, a rocket scientist (yes, they really exhist.  He's getting his second Masters Degree in Engeneering Physics.  Boggles the mind, doesn't it?  He's working towards his PhD.  There's an environmental consultant (Botanist) a Veterinarian and a lawyer.  Janelle is second from left and Kim two over from her. Daughter   Renae is next to Kim.  Notice Kevin (middle back) in his pre-military haircut.  Son Ryan is back row left. We've had lots of fun adventures together.  I distinctly remember cramming all 12 of us  in a minivan to drive through Washington D.C.  The Seat Belt Police would not have been happy - and they were a lot smaller then.  What were we thinking?  Rhoda  Oh, I forgot - Janelle's nursery is all done in Snoopy stuff.  Apparently they've been collecting for quite a while.

Friday, April 11, 2008 - Thank You

I was really overwhelmed by all the kind things you had to say about my tulip wall-hanging.  I'm really pretty new at quilting so a lot of what I do is an adventure.  Thank you for your encouragement.  Rhoda

Thursday, April 10, 2008 - Tulip Wall-Hanging

I went into the quilt store to find a springy pattern.  This was on display right in the front and caught my eye.  Now if I were more creative I could think this up out of my own fertile imagination, but this one I didn't.  There are always things you would do differently - I would make the stems a darker color so they stand out more, but I'm happy with how it turned out.  I even tried new free-motion quilting.  Vera, I give you my permission to snicker.  The overall effect turned out better than I'd hoped.  Rhoda

Saturday, April 5, 2008 - Oops

I didn't get to finish that entry.  It's Home Sweet Home, which you probably guessed.  It's a charming, country type of sampler.  I'm working on a spring wall-hanging with a pitcher and tulips.  I should be done early next week.  I doubt I'll get to it today.  We're going out to dinner with 2 sisters and hubbies tonight.  I plan on working outside after I get a little more housework done.  this is the first day in almost a week that I've had energy.  I think allergies are the culprit.  They make the fibromyalgia and fatigue much worse.  Now the trick is not to overdo it.  Life is good!  Rhoda