Been busy...

I found a cute little gift bag pattern on a blog the other night.  So easy and fast...Had to grab my strip box and try it out...how fun!

They are so quick and easy. Might dig around in my holiday scrap pile and whip some of these up for the coming  season...which is fast upon us!!!

A friend's daughter has been experiencing a 'high risk' pregnancy. Everyone's been holding their breath. The mom has lost two other little ones previously, so this one was 'iffy' for them.  Now in third trimester, the family is allowing themselves to get excited for the arrival of little Levi!   Grabbed the stash and whipped up a baby blanket for him...The binding and a few other little things need to be done, but overall, done.   THANK YOU Bonnie for the .pes files for my Brother sewing machine!  Love the little bears, planes, footballs, crayons and of course  'SAM' and his varied antics.

Having great crisp Colorado weather of late.  Waiting. Just waiting.   Will be traveling over the next month and crossing our fingers for good weather.

Got to get those Christmas cookies baked this coming week.

Hope you have a blessed Christmas season.

Baby! It's cold outside!

On Thanksgiving, we had the windows and doors open. It was over 70 degrees.  Fast forward to December 4...and it is subzero, quick surprise white out snow for an hour or so and no electric for like an hour and a half.  December 5 is more of the same....lots of sun in the afternoon, but frigid temps.   Wind chill of -24 anticipated for tonight.   Ok, I'll take the 70's from Thanksgiving, thank you very much!   Brrrrrrr.

On a brighter note, attended two ladies' teas this week.  One I had attended last year and was invited back again. It was amazing.  65 tables of 8 ladies on each table and every single table was decorated in a different theme.  Was so fun.    The second tea was at our Church on the Ranch, at the Flying W Ranch assembly hall.  About 68 or so ladies enjoying fellowship, great food, yummy tea and door prizes.  Just a fun evening complete with a cookie exchange....yum yum!

Skip's fighting bronchitis.  On antibiotics. Hoping like crazy he's well enough for our drive back to PA, MD, and DE mid-December.  Been looking forward to it for months now.....getting gifts all together and things ready to take East and see the kids and grandkids....

Well, off to make sure everything is closed up, battened down, and ready for this brutal cold.

Blessings for the season.

It's December!

Whew....it's officially Christmas season, December 1!!!   Had a great two weeks with Dad and now he's back home in MO and we are gearing up for our holiday trip to see family and friends...will see him on our way across.

Had some snow today but nothing to think much about.    It IS December in Colorado, after all!

Working on table runners, hot pads, and "pockets to go" organizers..which are too fun!

Later....

Thankfully...

My dad is here for a two week visit and then we gear up for our trip East for the holidays in December.  Great to have him here!

A couple of my latest projects.  Working on 'stuff' for loved ones I just want to 'gift' to them.  Also have two Steelers themed quilt tops done....now to 'sandwich' and quilt them.... I LOVED working with the bright batik fabrics...just so cheerful and looks like the artistic, eclectic, and wonderfully gifted cousin I am gifting it to. 

We've had some snow and then sunshine to melt it so overall not bad at all.   Attended the Air Force/Army game Saturday.  Cuba Gooding, Jr. was there as a guest attendee.  We were so far away he looked like an ant but at least we were all in the same 50,000+ person stadium...funny.

Missing kids back home.  Considering a relocate. Just considering.  LOTS to think about. Makes me want to go lie down to even think of moving again, let alone 1/2 way cross the country.   I just go in my sewing room and work on the machines.

Blessings

Catching up...

Been a long time since I put anything out here. Been doing a rush order for a Steelers themed quilt and two more as Christmas gifts for cousins back East.   Also working up fabric panels for the holiday season and gifts.  Trying to list things on Etsy.  Nothing so far.  Might now work out..but what the heck! Worth a try!   Did quick embroidery projects for family and friends back East, as well.   It's that holiday thing getting into your bones!!!

Dad is coming for a visit in November. We look forward to his twice yearly visits.

Been attending Church on the Ranch, so this is Sunday and we went and had a good morning.  There is a Children's Cancer Center benefit happening at the Flying W Ranch 11/26, so Skip and I volunteered to serve food there ...it's a fund raiser..so certainly want to see these kids get all the advantages they can.

Collecting for the Children's Village at Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Trying to get gifts and donations in by Thanksgiving so Anne and crew can get them up to the kids before real bad weather sets in.

Gorgeous fall days here in the Rockies. Cool at night and 70's during the day.  Sunshine, blue skies. Can you ask for more?

Looking forward to our trip East to visit family in December. NOT looking forward to weather reports saying ice or snow.  Praying for smooth and clear sailing!

Skip was under the weather for a couple of weeks but is doing well now.   I am plugging along.  Sewing, emailing, Face Book-ing, taking pictures...EATING great food, drinking great wine....it's all good!

Blessings
Dee

Pueblo!!

Just spent two days camping outside Pueblo, CO.   Lovely weather. Walked around and discovered Pueblo most of the day Saturday.  Had a fire in the fire ring last night...sat out and looked at the stars.  Just wondering at God's creation.     Camping season is winding down. Bummer.

Opened an account on Etsy. We'll see if any of my 'stuff' sells and if I can keep up if it does.
 
Skip's mom is 87 this week. Gonna get a cake as we usually do and have her help 'serve' to the friends and residents at St. Francis.

Blessings

Santa Fe and other things.

Our friends have left and gone on toward their next destination....was good to have them here for a while and we ran our legs off being tourists.  Spent two days in Santa Fe again this week and we just are in love with that area and mostly with family there.   Missing family back East and the little ones, who are growing up so fast!  Amanda is already a young woman ...time...time just marches on...

Spent today catching up on laundry, cleaning, washed the car, got groceries, all that "fun" stuff.

Need to get back to sewing....have some projects in progress and am thinking of 'something' that hasn't come together yet..still in my mind rattling around up there!

Blessings to each.

Rain, rain, go away!

Our friends from Delaware are here for a visit, and we are running around like tourists.  Tea and tour at Glen Eyrie Castle, Cripple Creek and Victor area for ghost towns and gambling at the casinos in Cripple Creek....wolf preserve visit, Manitou Springs, just all the areas we haunt....tried Eleven Mile Canyon but the heavens opened up and dumped more rain in one day than ever recorded here in the Springs....ick!!!!  Truck threw a stone and cracked my Murano's windshield, so it's in the shop for a new windshield. We were running around in the mountains yesterday so didn't pick it up in time. Get it today...

Had a great Lajes Azores, High School reunion in Santa Fe last week.  Was so wonderful to see the chums and listen to their lives and adventures and just "be" with them all.

No sewing going on this week or two with company but have two projects on the planning board for when time allows again.

Went to RV America and checked out small 5th wheel campers vs our expandable. Hmmm....things to think about!  Might have to get a part time job!

blessings to all.

Ah! the "good old days" !!

Just got back from Santa Fe, NM ....attended our 45th high school reunion of the Lajes, Azores military brats and celebrated 45 years of knowing Mr. Skip....our best mutual friend introduced us that long ago.  Gee Whiz!! Where did all those years go??!!  It was great to see everyone.

Post-Irene

Bottom line is that family is safe.  Very inconvenienced with no power and lots of tree limb type damages, mud, etc.   Blessed that all are safe and ok.

Projects in progress....

 Snowman table topper for the winter season..

Fall hot mats and 'summer' themed mini wall hanging...pattern from Pearl Louise.  Got the entire season selections...winter and spring...to do...kinda cute...same cottage and tree in different seasons. Need to get the hanger put up somewhere. I found one that you can hang permanently, then change the little quilts as the seasons change...without taking the hanger itself off the wall.

Fall table runner....in progress. Need to finish binding....pinned to the "project" wall....!

Irene! Oh, Good Night, Irene!!

Huge hurricane aiming at the East Coast. Worried about my kids....grown ups as well as the grandkids...and friends and family.   Praying all goes well. Sean and Adriene had vacation on the Outer Banks and had to evacuate. What a bummer!!!

Had Cheyenne here for 5 days and was good to have her and do stuff with her...went fishing. Went wading in the river up in Eleven Mile Canyon...always...did Pike's Peak and for the first time saw Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep up there....she is our good luck charm....!  Saw them out by Garden of the Gods, too, near Glen Eyrie. Awesome.

Workin' on sewing and small quilting projects.  Hot mats, wall hangings, table runners. May try to sell on line.

Been hotter than normal here, but we do get rain every afternoon....so that is a blessing. Poor Texans are just baking and suffering unimaginable heat and drought.  God love 'em.

Air Force Football season starting soon.  Tailgaters are meeting to do menu planning for the tailgate gatherings before the games.  Should be fun.

Skip and I are trying acupuncture for our "old folks" aches and pains...shoulders, neck, knees, etc. So far, so good. Thought I'd freak out. No one on the planet is as needle-phobic as I am...but it's painless....we'll see how long we hang in there and have results.

Blessings for the day...

Monday...again??!!

Spent a lovely four days in WY camping.  Lovely breezes, clear skies.  Great time putzing around Cheyenne. Hope to go to the Bridger-Teton area sometime!!!

Visited a quilt shop in Cheyenne (imagine that?!) and found a hanger for my most recent project...mini wall quilt...and their shop had so many wonderful things! Like looking at a Fons and Porter magazine, only being able to touch and feel all the "stuff" that is in the magazine.  They do a great job of displaying and offering things!!!

Lots of sadness in our friends' lives...their son, Chris, passed away and two days later, the father's brother committed suicide..so the family has TWO funerals this week. Dear Lord. Hold them close in Your almighty arms.  They need Your strength!

Blessings for the day

Free fallin'

The economy is just in a free fall and everyone is pointing fingers rather than trying to solve the problem. Good grief.  Makes me sick.  Get a housewife, with five kids, who has to balance a budget of like $35,000 a year to solve it. You can't spend more than you make and expect a successful outcome.   Have to wait and see.   Our future is in God's hands...I am praying for some enlightened leaders to emerge who follow His principles and see what we can do to bring America back to its former greatness. The past few years have been a train wreck based on ideology not reality.

Friends are losing their son. Basically a death watch now. Very sad. I can not even imagine such a journey.

Nice weather all just coming together nicely the past few days.

Getting ready for a trip to Wyoming ...going campin'.....can't wait.

Working on a mini quilt/wall hanging. Having fun doing a small, fast project...still lovin' my fabric adventures.

Blessings for the day and always.

August in Colorado...

It has been so lovely here....hot and sunny during the day with no humidity, then around supper every day, a heavy thunder and lightening storm to wet things down (thank you, Lord!!) and relieve the heat and any drought we were suffering.  It's been lovely, just lovely.

Today Skip turns 64.   Another year.....

We are headed to Wyoming for a few days next week. Just camping and putzing around. No special occasion...love Wyoming in the summer.

The ravens were going out of their minds the other day and after about 30 minutes of that, I asked Skip to see what they were squawking about.  He walked up to the open space and he said there sat a gorgeous great horned owl. The ravens were fussing because they don't like owls and wanted him OUTTA there.....Skip came back to tell me about the owl and till I grabbed my camera and got back up there with him, the ol' boy had flown the coop.  Bummer....wanted to see him big time....but it wasn't to be.  We checked trees in the area but he'd really gone away.  We also have a hawk couple that are out there crying and screeching every day.   That forlorn cry they make..like the old Western movies...pretty cool.

Friends and former neighbors from PA are making a marathon trip across the US and Canada. Were in Denver yesterday and will be here for a visit today and maybe overnight.

Getting anxious to see our third oldest granddaughter this month!! She's coming for a week to visit and bringing a gal pal with her.  Can't wait to see her!

Been sewing.  Made tea cozies for an order Yvonne had for me. Bless her heart. LOVING the Go! Baby AccuQuilt cutter..makes those charm squares in a flash!  Need to see what other cutting dies I need for my passion for fabric and sewing!

Haven't heard a lot from the East Coast...but their lives are busy I guess with summer activities with the kiddos....busy busy lives!

Blessings for the day

GO! Baby Accuquilt cutter!!

Yet another new toy! I am so excited to find new projects to start using this tool for quilting, applique, and 'you name it'....too cool!

Speaking of cool, it has rained every afternoon and cooled things off considerably the last few days.  Super weather...once more.

Can you say "HOT"??

The weather across the nation is so darn hot. Yes, it's July...but..........this is nuts.....we are trying to keep cool, but have house projects underway again....downstairs is ripped up to put piping in...had to cut the ceiling in the downstairs hallway...so a mess down there.   New stove arriving today.  Looking for portable air conditioner but they are sold out....that is odd for the Springs, even.   We'll have to suck it up for this season and look for one next year maybe...or end of season sale.

Finished a quilt I was asked to do...will get that in the mail today.  Doing some embroidery on tea towels and pillowcases. FUN stuff (THANK YOU once again, Miss Bonnie, for all the free .PES files!!!)...

Our friends back East are losing their son to melanoma.  Such a sad journey.  Our hearts just break for them.

Cody has some sort of allergy or some "thing" going on.  Sneezing and 'reverse sneezing' (which I never heard of till we went to the vet yesterday)...so he's on anti-histamines and antibiotics.  Not sure where he got it, maybe the trip to MO, maybe being in and out of A/C in the car and people's houses, who knows....bottom line is he's a miserable little guy.

Having our home fellowship here tomorrow so sometime have to clean up as much of the mess as possible and get ready for that.   Skip is making his killer pulled pork...doing the roasts in the smoker...yummmmmm!

Blessings for the day.

Back Home Again!

Thought we'd never "land" at home yesterday, but after 11 1/2 hrs of driving across Kansas and MO, not to mention CO, we did get home safely (thank you, Lord....and Skip, too!)....
Was wonderful to spend time with family in Missouri and celebrate Dad's 80th birthday. Got to see the nieces and nephew...great nieces and nephews, Aunt Marianne drove in from Ill....so all was just fabulous.  HOT and humid, so we are recovering.  Have no humidity here to speak of....so it was a hot one.  Across Kansas with heat index, was 111.  Geez Louise!!!!
Heard from our elder son..they had a super time at the shore in MD.   Glad they could enjoy...
Got a treasure trove of fabric from my Aunt Marianne and stopped at two quilt shops as we crossed the midwest...got goodies to work on for Christmas stuff.
11 year old granddaughter is coming for a visit next month. Woo hoo!  She'll be 12 by then and feeling like a 'big girl' to fly to see Nanny and Pappy in CO!!!  We can't wait to see her...
Keep cool.
Blessings

July!

Well, where has time gone? Been playing with "the machine" and working on a personal sized quilt.  Did some pillowcases for the grandkids...too cute!!!

Had some visitors from Washington State visit for a few days...a chum Skip grew up with, and went to school with in Lancaster....was so sweet to see them remembering all those years ago...was great to get to know his wife, Pat, and chat about gardening and grandkids, and life....visited all over the Springs and Pike's Peak. Lots of fun.

Headed to celebrate my Dad's 80th birthday and hope to see nieces and nephews, my brother and his wife, and others while we are there.   Long trip but well worth it.

Warm summer days. Lovin' it....flowers are blooming their little heads off and it's lovely out back and even out front with the xeric plants.

Blessings for the day

Thursday

Been playing with my embroidery machine and exploring the generous patterns shared by a friend.  I have a project to do for a friend....just finished a gift for a former boss...wall hanging....
Skip prefers I not sew so much. Hmmm...not sure what to do with myself in retirement...can't watch TV all day. Will go nuts.   Have to figure this out I guess.

It's another year!

I'm blessed with another year of life and health.     Received many good wishes from friends and family, for which I am MOST grateful and humbled by their kindness, love, and special places in my life. Nothing from my own children--yet....the day is young I suppose.

Skip surprised me with cards this morning and we are doing seafood for dinner...mmm looking forward to that.   My pal, Dixie, is taking me to lunch at Marigold's...should be yummy and good Christian fellowship.

Lovely day dawned. Up at 4:30 for some stupid reason. Couldn't go back to sleep. Wonder if the full moon has anything to do with it?

Been digging and working in the yard.  Finally getting to look like real flowerbeds out there!

Those terrible wild fires down in AZ and now NM are just wreaking havoc.  How tragic and so disastrous for those folks.

Dragged the Kindle out this a.m. after morning devotions.  Love reading the eReader...love it.

Blessings for the day...   :)

Re-entry

Oy....four days' camping in Buena Vista, CO and NOW back home to laundry, cleaning up, putting away.  I wanna go BACK to Buena Vista and camp some more.  Got to see a lot of things we haven't had time or opportunity to see and the campground and fellow campers were so nice.     Just tired....

Warm weather. Sunny skies.  Fires in AZ and now NM are threatening air quality all over the place.  What a terrible situation for all involved.

Played with the darning function of the new machine. Pretty cool!  All those tears and holes are now fixed!

Hugs and love

Where there's smoke...

..there's fire. Way south in Arizona, now New Mexico, and southern Colorado.  Sheesh.  BAD air quality crossing several states from smoke. Albuquerque is a 'smoke out' for visibility.  Awful. Just awful....

Got hot quick here.  90's and record setting.  NO humidity though...so that is nice...no a/c in the house but if we use the ceiling fans and keep the house closed during the day it stays pretty decent.  Nights are heavenly!!!

Still playing with the new sewing/embroidery machine.  Finished up two projects that were on the project boards...now down to playing...

Heading to Buena Vista for a few days, in a few days.  Will be good to veg out. Found out they have hot springs near there....hmmmm..might don some shorts and T shirt and brave it.   NO swimsuits for this girl....those days are long gone!      :)

Got the mop chopped...or at least trimmed up.  MUCH needed. Since I retired, I kinda let some things go...time to get into some semblance of shape.

Back still acting up. Hips, too. gottaluvit....

Blessings to all

The machine has arrived!

Ok. I am nutso this afternoon.  Got rested up from company...been tracking my new sewing/embroidery machine via UPS tracking and waited most of the day for it to get here....and IT'S HERE.....I have been watching the tutorial DVD part of the evening here....between making supper.   now have to find a new home for  my other basic machine....can't wait to get started doing fun things on the new machine..learning curve big time.  A friend in Florida is helping me learn this brave new world.  So generous and helpful..

We have major winds today. Gusts are really a mess...bringing the smoke up north here from the Trinidad area fires near the southern border of the state.  Unreal that the winds can carry smoke that far...but it's a mess down there and this is just a small inconvenience compared to what they are experiencing.   It has been one weird season for tornadoes, fires, floods.    God is talking. Are we listening?  

Our elder son turned 43 yesterday. We have a 44th anniversary tomorrow.  Geez.  And our one granddaughter will be 21 on the 10th.  Where does time march on to?  Off into the sunset I guess.

Dad and Gladys got to their respective homes safely.  All is well there. Dad is getting his new apartment in order...we plan to visit for his 80th birthday next month.

Hip Xrays today. One darn thing after another.  Have a lot of hip pain....have for months...so need to figure out what is going on.  Probably Arthur (that is pseudonym for arthritis in our house!)f  All those years on horseback and an occasional fall here and there certainly didn't help.   Doc smiled. Said it's not uncommon when horse people reach their 60's that these things start to pop up..   Still no word on the MRI....guess I do have a brain after all!  The Cozaar the doc gave me seems to have helped the migraines..none so far in May!  Let's hope June is the same....

Went from cool to hot in a day.  91 yesterday and almost the same today. Whew...these winds must be bringing in the change in weather fronts.

T-t-h-h-a-a-t's all folks!

Memorial Day weekend...over

Well, Memorial Day weekend has ended, as well as my Dad and his friend Gladys' visit to Colorado.  We met Gladys for the first time when Dad brought her here with him.  Old childhood sweetheart.  She lives in Cozad, NE where he was born..and he in Missouri....long distance romance at almost 80!  Bless his heart.

Lovely day. Washed cars...got errands caught up finally.    Blinds in the family room are literally falling down so went for mini blinds..may do window dressing later, but now, just need to cover the windows.  We are both tired so not a pleasant task for the evening.

Skip and Dad saw a nice sized bobcat the other night.  Gladys and I couldn't get to the window soon enough to see him too. Bummer.  But Mr. Cody went nuts and lost his mind over that big kitty cat being anywhere near his turf.  The dog is nuts.

Getting a starter level combo sewing and embroidery machine.  My friend in Florida who has major knowledge on all this quilting and embroidery and sewing machines and how it all works is helping me find my way through the woods...and I don't even have the machine yet!  Coming this week I hope.....she's been a wealth of knowledge and help...and I hope our journey of learning is just beginning!!! I am very excited.

Headed out camping later this month.  Having an anniversary this week...#44. Where do those decades go?
Birthday #61 also later this month...lotsa stuff going on!  Thank you, Lord, for letting me live this long!!!!

No news on the MRI. The doctor's office was moving so will call this week sometime.  The back is still tender...not doing all that I am used to doing.  Glad to be breathing, but stinks to get older!

Blessings

Monday, Monday....

Had an MRI this a.m. to help determine what the heck is up with the migraines.
Have an overcast and cool day overall predicted...warming up later this week.
Dad arriving today!  Woo Hoo!
Knocked my back out last week and it just doesn't seem to be wanting to 'snap back in'.....yet another fun thing about aging...the falling apart, part.   :)
Blessings

First camping trip

....in the collapsible.  Had a few snafus as you would imagine but it was a nice little adventure.  Luckily the first trip was only about 17 miles south of the Springs so nothing fatal.   Looking at Buena Vista and then Wyoming for the next couple of trips.  

Having some great rain...lovely....much needed.

Dad is coming tomorrow for a visit and we are anxious to see him. Also may be able to have our one granddaughter and her girlfriend come and join us this summer sometime.   Sure hope it works out!!!

Blessings

Mother's Day

Great day today...miss my mom a lot....that never goes away.  We do have Skip's mom over today from St. Francis.  Skip made a killer tenderloin roast. Melted in our mouths.  Was a nice dinner and perfect day.

Blessings to all.

Coming up on Mother's Day

It's been a great week so far.....we were able to meet up with Rick in Denver for dinner mid-week. That was quite the treat...

I also got cards from several of the grandkids for Mother's Day...some with pictures of them...one has a recorded message on it and is adorable.  Received a tie-dyed T-Shirt with little handprints on it....how precious!

Took a hike up Blodgett Peak...half way....just getting back into it...still fighting headaches...going for an MRI next week...let's hope we can get to the bottom of it...getting old fast.

Osama Bin Laden is no longer.  Hooah to the Night Stalkers and the Seal Team 6.

Working on a small mini quilt project.  Just lovin' all these fun things to do.

Bringing Mom out to our place for Mother's Day..making a roast...mmm good!

Dad and friend are coming 5/16 for two weeks and that will be fun to have them for a visit.

Spring and the weather warming up has things starting to get moving...!  Looking forward to a busy summer!

Blessings.

Happy spring!

Here we are in May now.  It has snowed every day a little bit....what I call "spitting" snow...just enough to say there is snow but it never lays on the ground...which is fine with me!!!!  Graupel is a term used here for wet sloppy snow that isn't hail but isn't rain.  We get a lot of that the past few days and it is a good thing, really. We are low on precipitation, so it's all good!

Osama Bin Laden is dead. A portion of us breathe a sigh of relief, but as they all are pointing out, the terrorist organizations are not. Terrorism still flourishes.  Praises for the military and those who supported this effort. Prayers for the world  who may still be victims of further terror attacks.

Been sewing like crazy.  Making wall hangings and table toppers. Just fun things..but looking at a better sewing/embroidery machine. Won't be happening any time soon....but gotta have a goal!

Getting ready to be able to go out camping in the collapsible camper. Ready to see Colorado state parks...and some of northern New Mexico, around Angel Fire and Red River area....

Dad is soon moving to an apartment in town....He seems to be looking forward to it...hope he has more room and can relax and enjoy townsfolk and not have to travel so far ....he'll be 80 in July.   Time marches on.

Life is one day at a time and moves on.  God is in control.

Blessings

Easter

He is risen! He is risen, indeed!   What a holy day for us all.

Went to Church on the Ranch and then picked up Skip's mom for the day.   Traditional ham dinner and much overeating.

Migraine started in. Took medication to get it stopped in its tracks.  Need to head back to the doc I guess.  They are becoming regular...scrambles my brain for several hours. Hate it.

Working on a wall hanging and some other small projects in the sewing room.

The neighborhood bear is back....lots of excitement on that regard this week.  He's been hangin' (literally) in a tree off the neighbor's porch.  She's nervous to go out and be on her deck.

Waiting to Skype with the kids back East.   Anxiously awaiting the landing of our eldest granddaughter, back in the USA from Italy...What a wonderful opportunity for her this past semester....so glad for her.

Blessings for the day and always.

Rainy Day

Thank you for the blessed rain, Lord. A rare cloudy day here with rain.  Much needed.
Had a migraine yesterday...on the recliner with my blankie and Alleve.
Started work on a quilt, wall hanging.  My first ...called "Best Friends"...very Southwest. Makes me think of my cousin, Wina.   The artist is from Roswell, N. M. and designs her own fabric for Moda. Pretty darn cool.  Got the kit at the Pueblo Quilt Expo.
Had a chemical leak from a train in Monument today.   Had to evacuate 250 homes...whew!
Not a whole lot going on in our little world.
God is good.  Holy Week.  Keeping our eyes and hearts on Jesus, our Lord, and His sacrifice for our salvation.
Blessings to all.

RAIN!!!!

Ah, blessed, blessed rain.    We have been so low on precipitation on the Front Range here, and now two days of a good soaking rain....thank you, Lord!!  Much needed.  There are fires burning in the southern end of the state and no end in sight.  SNOW in the high country....and we are blessed with wonderful weather overall in our little pocket along the east side of the Front Range, however some moisture would be nice...and we did get it.  Lovely, lovely.

Finished a quilt this week and a tea cozy so that was fun.    Gotta get them in the mail today sometime.

A friend had surgery yesterday so we sat in the hospital with his wife till we knew he was out of the woods...long day but good to be able to serve.

Dad called and has decided to move into an apartment in town there in Sedalia, vs living out in the country near my brother and family.  Said it's time....he'll be 80 this year.  What a blessing in our lives this man has been and continues to be.

Had another sleepless night again.  Missing family and grandkids back in PA, but lovin' living here...what a lot of things to think about.

Blessings to all.

This week

Can we say "Praise the Lord"..???  Downstairs bathroom is FINISHED and the carpets shampooed, most of the tools put away.  Thank you, God!

Overall an uneventful week.   Working on a quilt.  Putzing around outside and welcoming the 'babies' waking up from winter's slumber.  I love it.  I am ready to get out in nature and go camping and fishing.   Need to drag out the pop-up camper and head for the hills.  We can camp during the week when the campgrounds are overall  pretty much empty....most people camp over weekends...as retirees, we can enjoy our time and be out of the way when families want to get away...

Bible study this a.m. and fellowship this evening.  Looking forward to Church at the Ranch tomorrow at the Flying W.   Got a lot of buttons for May this week.  Great ladies contributing to the cause in Thailand.

Our little granddaughter will be THREE years old tomorrow.   These years are passing way too quickly.

Had friends over to help chow down on Skip's killer bar-b-que ribs last night and we all watched "Unstoppable" ...that is a super suspenseful movie!!

Dad is looking forward to his visit in May...and so are we!!   It's always good to see him and spend time together.

Guess that's about it for now.

Blessings to all

The Cowboy Church at Flying W Ranch

http://www.churchontheranch.org/default.asp

We heard of this relatively new church and began to attend ...love the good old country gospel and down to earth preaching.  Good old boys and girls that attend.  Our kind of place.

Pueblo quilt show and spring

We are consistently in the low 70's finally and it is really starting to feel like spring around here....lovely.   I've been working in the yard, doing mulch, feeding things waking up, trimming..all that jazz.

Slow progress on the downstairs bath. Life goes on. Might be done next week.

Started work on a new quilt.  Coming along pretty well, and speaking of quilts......

Had a great day yesterday at the Pueblo Quilt Expo.   It hit 85 degrees there!  BUT  85 degrees in Colorado with no humidity is translated as a lovely day. It was 81 in the Springs, Skip said. Light breeze, blue skies. Lovely.  The quilts were amazing.   I can't imagine having the talent to create some of those beauties....unreal. It was just wonderful to see all those fabulous creations!  Whew!  We ate at a great Mexican food place (imagine THAT, in Pueblo, CO!!)....and browsed a quilt shop in downtown Pueblo, then back to the expo for the rest of the day.

We had the most remarkable start to the day!      The ladies met at Starbucks for coffee and to get our act together....as we were getting into the carpool car, a fellow pulled up and parked beside us to grab his morning java. His back seat was full of gorgeous flower arrangements.  We all made comments about how gorgeous the flowers were...and he heard us.  He asked if we wanted some.  We looked at him and said, "Really?"  He said he'd just set up an event and these were leftover...and were headed back to the flower shop. We couldn't believe he was serious but he started handing out planters full of flowers to each of us.   So, all five of us got gorgeous bouquets.!!!  It looks like a centerpiece to a wedding reception dinner table. White  Roses,  white hydrangeas, white liatris, astible and assorted greens.   God has a sense of humor!

As we all walk through our journeys, we have valleys and mountains, and sometimes we are in the valleys for a long time....but every so often, God can throw us a curve, with a wink and a nod, and brighten our days....                   Had we been 30 seconds later or earlier, we'd have missed this fellow.  He'd have missed our comments..and the Spirit wouldn't have moved him to offer the flowers to these flower-loving ladies!  What a  blessing and we really just talked about it all day.   God reminds us that even in the smallest things, He is there and blesses us with things out of left field...things we totally don't expect.  What were the chances? It was wonderful.
With Christians, there are no coincidences.  It definitely was a God-thing!

We had our weekly fellowship meeting, too, last night.  Planning our meetings for spring...good food, good people to fellowship with..God is so good.

Have a good week and even though we have no idea what our future holds, love and get to know the One who holds our future.

God bless.

Is it spring yet?

Went and got bags of mulch, plant food, potting soil and worked like a dog outside today.  Lovely day to be out.  Got things 'dressed up' and ready to roll. Good to see things waking up for the year. Can't wait to see the "babies" come to life. Things are looking healthy already.   Peeking their little heads out of the earth to see if it's time to come on out...but not quite yet....!

THEN came inside to work on the downstairs bathroom some more.  Will it ever end???

Skip had a bad night last night.  Had to go to the doc today to make sure it wasn't as serious as we feared, and the doc relieved our minds.  Thank goodness.  Getting older stinks, but better than the alternative.

We are planning to attend my high school reunion...the Lajes, Azores alumni....in Santa Fe this fall. I am anxious to see people we haven't seen for 45 years...yes, that is 4-5.  Skip and I have been together 45 years this fall. I can hardly believe it....almost half a century.  I REALLY feel old now...no WONDER my joints and muscles hurt today!    Duh.

Blessings to all.

Renovations....and spring...

Both upstairs bathrooms are done with new 'stuff' and we are tackling the basement bath:   Vanity, mirror, exhaust fan, baseboards, new floor, new toilet...the whole enchilada. Got the old plumbing and vanity out...got the new paint on the walls.... Started chiseling the floor up today...from the cement foundation flooring, literally.  I am not sure what they stuck it down with but it's a bear to get up.  Finally got it up but goodness! What a job.  Starting the new flooring tomorrow....am ready for this to be DONE with.

Ready to start digging in the dirt outside, working on the landscaping.  Always a project under way!!!

Made placemats the past week.  A new obsession with sewing. Headed to Pueblo Quilt Show and Market this coming weekend.  Can't wait to see what they are like. Never went to one....

Blessings for the day.

PC dramas...oy vey!

So, the PC tech says it's "just" a fried video graphics card.  They can do a "cheap" one for $85 plus the $70. they already charged for the diagnosis.  No labor charge...which is nice. The NVIDIA card: GeForce 9800 has a 'lifetime' warranty. Whose lifetime? I did Google searches and seems BFG, who manufactures the card, is going out of business and NOT honoring their "lifetime" warranty.  Geez....that is a $160. card.   So we dug around and found the original video card that came with Skip's PC way back yonder...before we upgraded so he could do gaming.......   I have a Dell XPS400 whose hard drive died last year. We dust it off as it sits on the floor because we don't know what to do with it...so while the guys are in the guts of Skip's PC, may as well add another memory card to expand the memory  (can I do that for my BRAIN?  I need a "plug and play" memory upgrade!!!!)   I pulled a memory card from the "parts" PC, and they installed that and the original video card. Skip is up and running...but not without frustration and driver updates..but hey, he's back!!   Life rolls on, and this is nothing compared to what is going on in the world.....but I have to say, I don't know what I'd do without MY PC.....so ...it's a big deal for this moment in time.

Glass of vino sounds good right now.    Ah! Santa Fe Siesta Red, take me away!

Hugs to all!

PC's and "life"

Well, Skip's PC just shuts off in the middle of whatever he's doing.  Ready to throw it in the middle of the street. Taking it for a 'diagnostic' and hoping for the best.

Feeling funky today.  Lots on my mind.  Just pray that God will give me the answers I need to be myself and to let go and rest in Him.   A granddaughter needs prayer for a dear friend of hers who is on his way to the other side.  Another family member is asking for comforting prayers for their work associate who lost his brother this week...lots of sadness going around.

Started cold and overcast till the sun just burned everything away and now there is sunshine and blue skies. Yumm...

Took Skip's mom's new walker to her at Mt. St. Francis. You would have thought it was Christmas!  She's thrilled and was walking around showing everyone on her floor. They made such a fuss.  It was adorable.  SHE's adorable.  What a legacy of kindness and faith.

Blessings to each.

Of Hollywood and Elizabeth Taylor

Well, another of the old timers and Hollywood icons has left us.  Elizabeth Taylor passed on today.

What can I say? I was born in L.A. and grew up in Southern California. Hollywood and the allure of the culture is in my DNA.   I follow events and things going on all the time...have since we left there in 1963.  Just can't NOT do it.

My own mom ran away from her midwest home in the 40's and came to Hollywood...when there were lots and lots of orange groves and Hollywood was 'becoming.'   She ran with the wild bunch and used to tell me stories...she dated a choreographer for a while. I remember going deep sea fishing out of San Pedro with her choreographer friend, when I was really small..she'd wrap me in a quilt early in the a.m. when we had to get up to get onboard and head out to sea. ..she had many friends "in the business."   But at some point realized it's not the life to raise a youngster, and moved to Riverside via LaPuente and a few other small towns...at the time....we lived in Elsinore for a while by the grace of a fellow she'd met along the way.  He was a wonderful 'father figure' to my mom and took care of us, even after mom re-married.  He was Kirk Douglas's uncle...so you see?  Many connections.

I think those stories of mom's early life in California have stuck with me and thus the fascination with Hollywood and the ilk.

I am sorry to see La Liz leave us..however I have to imagine her last years haven't been the best for her. A legend. One of the few remaining!   Wishes for fond memories to her family.

Wednesday, Wednesday... No, that is "Monday, Monday" but it's Wednesday

Been a strange week so far. Got word that one of Skip's friends from Lancaster passed away.  That is two dear friends in two months. Very sad.....very.    Life isn't getting longer, the journey is getting shorter. What have we done with our time here?  Always the age old question, isn't it.....what's it all about?   Hopefully, we are sharing The Word and pointing people to Jesus. That's our job till our journey is done.  And, loving everyone so much.

Our son's boss' brother passed this morning.  Sad for his family.  

Loss everywhere...the world, too....Japan especially on our minds of late.

Missing OUR family back East...the familiar mantra....

Skip went golfing so that is a good thing. Sunny day so a good distraction for him....

He's been doing pens on his woodturning set up.  They are coming out GREAT.   I am sewing and making doo dads and things to keep busy.   Anxious to get out and go camping.  Have to take our 'new' used pop up trailer out for a maiden voyage...!    Would love a trip to see Uncle Al and cousins in Rio Rancho and Santa Fe, too.

Spring is 'springing' and it's a good feeling.....we are very dry...need moisture badly. Wildfires are raging from Golden, CO and south.  Please Lord, just a bit of rain?   The upper elevations are getting snow....we just want some rain for a day or so.  Thank you....

God bless all who may read this.
Love
"Me"

Burritos!

Skip woke up with a hankerin' for breakfast burritos.  I got out my Sachi tortilla maker, whipped up some home made tortillas, did my thing with the burritos...eggs, spices, avocados, cheese, enchilada sauce..and we hogged out.  The pup got the leftover tortillas...warm from the cooker...can't beat it!

Great Colorado morning today. I couldn't sleep so got up before dawn. That full moon is something else!  Wow. Tried to get pics of it but it was so bright, it messed up the picture focus.   Have to learn more about that camera!

Good day to all.

Friday

End of another week.  Kinda 'wonky' week here...down and then up...hmmm..

Started tearing out the last bathroom...thank goodness!  Will be glad to put the house back in order again.

Been working on a quilt, and a tea cozy...just putzing on the sewing front.  

Woke to some snow this a.m. but sun came out and melted it in short order.  We were watering our yard earlier this week...lack of precip...but grateful for what we can get. Fire danger is high right now.

Watching the news on Japan and the radiation threats. Those poor souls can't get a break.  Praying for that country and its people.

Skip's doing his wood turning thing. Making pens for birthdays coming up.  They are coming out so nicely...

"The Boy" (a/k/a Cody) is running the house as usual..he has a big job to keep his humans in line!!!

Blessings to anyone reading this....

Of mice and men, or man and mice...or whatever

For over three years we have not had mice. This year is the exception.  The old fashioned wooden traps were not working. Skip was feeding the mice a lot of peanut butter. They ate it off and came back for more..but didn't snap the traps.  So he got an electronic one and two heavy duty ones.....as of last evening:  Skip: 3,  Mice: 0. Finally getting the critters.  Woo hoo!

Lazy Sunday

Overall, just hangin' out this weekend.  Glorious sunshine and light breezes....mmmm good.  I am scoping out campgrounds in Colorado,  Wyoming and New Mexico..maybe even Utah....can't wait to get our little pop up out on the road and go fishin' in the mountains, or hiking in the hills, whatever we come across.

We attended our fellowship group Friday ...soon moving to Saturday nights...and that is always a blessing. Great prayer time for needs of the group and the world in general. Good teaching and learning God's Word.

Met with some ladies for our monthly crafting gathering and learned a 'square in a square' technique to use in quilting projects.  Too fun. Can't wait to take it on a test drive on a larger project.  Made a little coaster in our project yesterday and am ready to do even more!!

Watch DVD's last night..read "Unbroken: A World War II Story..."  on my Kindle over the past three days... and it was fabulous.  Makes us realize just how blessed we are. An entire generation has zero clue how much was endured to secure our freedoms they / we enjoy.    Still thinking of Japan and the devastastion there...floods in New Jersey..just "stuff" going on everywhere in the world.  Is God trying to get our attention? Are we listening?

Missing my grandbabies and their parents a great deal. Arghh.... Can we live in both places?  Well, I guess not.  Decisions coming over the next year or so.

Blssings for the day ...

Of Chinooks and Tsunamis....

The dog and I were awaken with a shake of the house around 5:00 a.m. GMT.  A Chinook had blown in! It's ok. Just 'big winds'.... Snuggle back down in the covers and wait for REAL morning.   I get up around 6:30 to a pup softly licking my hand letting me know it's daylight.  Well, ok..since you put it that way!   I hear the wind whipping the house and am bummed that horseback riding will probably be cancelled AGAIN.  Skip realizes I am up and tells me to come quickly and see the news....Japan. 8.9.  Tsunami.   Loss of life, property, livelihoods.  Fires. Nuclear plant not behaving itself.   How dare I feel sorry about HORSEBACK RIDING when people are dying.   Geez.  We pray for those in harm's way all around the Pacific and elsewhere.  How devastating....

The ladies and I did go horseback riding after all, though.  The Chinook winds died down by the time we got to the stables. We were blessed with a peaceful and refreshing ride through the Academy pine forests and little valleys. There is a lot of melting snow somewhere so the little streams that are sometimes trickling or even dry were full. The horses enjoyed a refreshing freezing drink from pristine waters.  It was good...to be out and in nature.  Our conversations were few among the four of us, but when we did speak we thought of those in Japan and their losses.  We just can't fathom it and take it in.

Praying for those dear souls......

Glorious Thursday

Yet another blessed day dawning.  I need to develop the 'attitude of gratitude'.....I try...really I do!  Trying to learn to 'let go and let God' and rest in Him.  I am certainly a work in progress....!

Had a "down" day yesterday but today is a better day.  I have them from time to time.  Missing family and long time friends back East.  LOVE living here....however, not the same as having family close.   My dad, brother and his family live in MO. A dear uncle and cousins live in New Mexico. Skip's mom is here in the Springs, so family IS near...not my children and grandchildren, however. Hmm...a mom's heart.  My daughter-in-law sent me a precious picture of one of our sons holding his children.  It was priceless.

Looking forward to horseback riding tomorrow.  Weather is forecast to be awesome so I am hoping!!!!
We had horses for over 20 years and NOT being around them since moving here, gets to me sometimes so this is my "fix"....A dear woman, Carol, who is in the Air Force Football tailgate group we belong to, offers to sponsor once a month riding through the Air Force Academy grounds....thousands of acres...and it is a piece of heaven to be on horseback riding in that Rocky Mountain paradise.

Dragged the Kindle out yesterday and read "A Dog's Purpose."   Interesting view of life from the dog's perspective.

Hoping for a great day for all!

Vet appointment..

We just brought our Pookie (that is, Cody) Boy back from his annual vet check, shots, heartworm meds, etc. and dropped three weeks' grocery dollars in the process...but hey! He's worth it.  Our baby boy. And, it's only once a year.  While waiting we found some stuff that is interesting regarding what NOT to feed the dog and could be toxic....some may be aware, but if not....this link seems to cover it.

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+1659&aid=1030

Blessings for the day!!

Blonde?

Back in November I was sort of depressed so decided to "DO" something.....I put highlights in my hair and became a sort-of-blonde.   Well, as you know, those things gotta be touched up every so often, so I tried that the other day.....I am a do-it-yourself kinda gal.....and I came out channeling Christina A.  (you know who I mean...) and am BLONDE.    Hmmm...must have left the 'stuff' on too long.  Skip came home from breakfast with the guys and asked, "What the heck did you do?"....I assured him it will 'tone down' in a few shampoos.  Um...well...it hasn't....and I am blonde till the next touch up.  Oy vey!  A girl has to have fun, huh?

GREAT biscuit mix!

http://www.chguenther.com/consumerbrands/pioneer.aspx

Check out the Pioneer Brand pancake and biscuit mix.  Yummy.  Fast. Easy. reasonably priced.

Missin' the pup

Today Cody went for his grooming appointment, cuz we want him to look spiffy for his annual vet check in appt tomorrow.....I miss that little fuzz butt running around the house and wanting to sit on our laps as we watch TV or key at the computer... :(        will post pics of  him after his 'beauty appt'...what a dog.  Our baby boy!

Good morning, Monday!

Well, I was supposed to go horseback riding this morning but it is cold and overcast, vs. the 50, 60, and 70 degree days we've had, so I opted out.  Not to mention the sore muscles and all from the re-do of the upstairs bathrooms.  We are done and need a break before we start the last bath downstairs.  What a job.  Reminds Skip and I that we are not youngsters anymore.  Bummer!  God knew we needed a break, so it's all good!!!

Headed out for a late breakfast at Mimi's Cafe' here in the Springs.  GREAT food and good prices.

Hope anyone who reads this has a great day and many blessings to you.

Bargello Quilt?

We visited a friend on Friday and she'd just finished a bargello quilted wall hanging.  Drop dead gorgeous ....said it was her first and her last...hmmm...that tells me something...but would love to do just one!!!

http://www.bargelloquiltpatterns.com/

The Peak

Just as a 'head's up" I have this unapologetic, blithering idiot love affair with the Rocky Mountains and Pike's Peak in particular.  Just a majestic place to be.   LOVE IT.      Since moving here over three years ago, there is so much to explore and do.   Having said that, we both miss our kids, grandkids, and long time friends back in PA.   Some have come to visit us...but it's not the same....regular grandbaby hugs are much missed!!!

March, 2011

Good morning!  This is my very first post to my first attempt at a blog.  I have NO idea what I am doing except experimenting on an adventure....let's see where it takes us!