In Memory

Happy Memorial Day to All! Here's to...

My Grandfathers, who served in World War I

My Dad and Dad In Law, veterans of World War II

My brother Michael, who fought for our country's freedom during the Vietnam War

And Here's To:

ALL OUR BRAVE MILITARY WHO HAVE MADE OUR COUNTRY FREE, SAFE AND HAPPY!

Minor injury

About a year ago, I slammed my thumb into a can lid, and required 11 stitches. I seem to rate one minor injury a year, because last Monday, I walked into a table leg in bare feet and did a number on my pinkie toe. I really was walking--not rushing. I was half-asleep. I had gotten up to tell my son something before he headed to school. I turned around, started back to my room, miscalculated the table at the top of the stairs...
My toe was all purple and swollen. How can such a little thing hurt so much? How can it still hurt after a flipping week?
I took a pair of canvas sneakers and cut the side off one of them so I could get shoes on my feet. These shoes are not comfortable at all and I miss my real sneakers, which have a lot more support in them.
Oh, well, at least I have the advantage of working for a doctor. She splinted my toe for me, no charge. An emergency room visit would have cost me a bundle, even with insurance! She said it would take about a week to heal. Tomorrow is Monday. That's a week.

It's not looking good, and I think I've got a few more days of limping.

Tired today

I'm too tired to do much of anything today. Well, at least I cut out the skirt I'm making and sewed 2 seams. It's an almost-circle skirt. I also did 3 eight-by-eight scrapbook pages for a friend's newly adopted baby.

Isn't she just adorable? Her name is Abigail Rose. She is the product of a lot of prayers and hopes. Her mommy says she is the 'best thing to happen to us in 8 years.' They also have two wonderful sons, aged 8 and 13. If you plow through this blog, you'll find a post on a bonnet I made for her. I made it in a 'medium' figuring it would be perfect for her by July or August. Shows to go ya, never jump to conclusions. "Medium" might fit this princess in October, she's such a sweet pea. I have one newborn dress on order, and I'm in search of more. Why is it that patterns seem to start at 'small,' which is about half again as big as Abby-Rose?

I tell you, it's been a while since I did any sewing for little girls. Now I have 3 friends with daughters or granddaughters. Might be time to brush up on my heirloom sewing techniques, LOL!

Organizing sewing projects

One of my 'to do' things today was to organize and list all my sewing projects. I have a friend who absolutely won't start something until she finishes something else. Not me. I have lots of 'works in progress.' Well, not lots. But if you add the sewing projects in with the scrapping projects and the recipes-to-try, well...you get it.
So I'm listing my sewing projects on Ta-Da Lists and I get an idea. As I list the item, I also type the color thread I'm using. Then, maybe, I can work projects in groups. For example, I still have to finish the Easter apron. It's just a matter of adding the pink ribbon sash to it--which is already pinned in place. Well, I also have to make the bloomers for a toddler dress, as well as the buttonholes and lace trim--also pink! So, with my machine armed with pink thread, I can concentrate on these, and any other, pink projects--without having to change thread! Oh, and I'm also making a pink pin cushion.

Abundance

Like just about everyone else in America, I'm trying to pay down a debt. I'm not a frivilous person. Suffice to say a combination of being naive and medical problems got me in this situation. I'm much smarter now and it's going away...slowly, but steadily. There are times I get discouraged and I think I'm never going to be able to just enjoy life without worrying about paying the next bill.

I know I have abundance in the non-material things (although I wish I could say I felt great or even very good each day--tough to do with chronic pain), but that's not what this post is about. This post is about material abundance. Compared to a lot of people and places, most of us (even those in heavy duty debt) are wealthy. I was reminded of this while cleaning my pantry. Actually, it was meant to be a linen closet, LOL. What you see in the picture is just one shelf's worth. And I had to put some of it on the table and on the other counter. 98% of this stuff was bought really cheap, using coupons combined with sales. Well, if anything came of dealing with debt...it's sure made me learn how to get the most for my money, LOL!

My ferret Madison

I wish I had a picture of her on this computer, but I'm sure there's one of her buried somewhere in this blog. She passed away last night, and the good ferrety age of about six. I say 'about' because she was a 'rescue' and I don't really know how old she was. Her previous owner could not take care of her or her brother. I've had her about five years.
The sweetest thing is that her brother, Baxter, came down to the floor of the cage to lay next to her--instead of climbing up into his hammock with his buddy, my other ferret Austin. I have been putting Maddie in the hammock myself because she's been unable to climb. Baxter is actually Madison's littermate. (Austin is younger and not related.) He put his head over Maddie's neck and slept close to her. It was as if he knew her time to go was near. Nobody's going to tell me animals don't have feelings.
In the last 2 months or so, I've lost a bird (Cassie), a rat (Noodle) and now Madison the ferret. I'm down to 2 cats, a dog, and 2 ferrets. I suppose Baxter, being of the same age as Maddie, will go soon, too. So far, he looks okay for an old boy. I hope he stays that way.