What did we do without her?

This says it all!

Monday, Monday......

I hope you all had a blessed Easter with your family. The weather here was absolutely spectacular!

On a down note, I did my back in on Friday and have been in bed all weekend. I was moving a flower pot and set it down and WHAM! Major pain! I have a bad back anyway. I promise I was bending my knees and doing everything I was supposed to do. It was like an electrical shock across the back. I'm going to the doctor today to make sure I didn't do something major like slip a disc or something. I was supposed to take my mom to see my Uncle Carl in Concord Friday which we had to cancel. Also, Sweety and I had reservations to taking the grandsons to Monterey for three days. I was waiting until today to see if we could still go. I'm better, but don't think I can haul luggage around or drive for three hours straight. I know they are going to be disappointed. We're going to see if we can take them somewhere for the day later in the week and maybe take in a movie.

Did you ever have something happen that made you cancel your plans? Or have you ever gotten ready to leave the house and can't find your keys? Something in the back of my head always tells me that God kept me off the road at that time for a reason. So I never get to upset when those things happen. It's like I'm being protected.

It's been difficult for Sweety and I this weekend with little Maggie (Tasmanian Devil, The Terror of Escalon, Little Miss I Want Attention All The Time) as far as housebreaking is concerned. I haven't been able to be of much help. It's something that you have to stay on top of and we haven't been able to. It'll get better. Please!!! We just have to stay focused and in tune with her little schedule. She's a hoot! She has claimed ownership of my slippers. She runs around with one in her mouth - and it's bigger than she is! You take your life into your hands if you are barefoot! "Yea, toes!!!"

This is a picture of Maggie and Finnegan napping at Becky's.

Finnegan, "When is she going to leave so I can get all the attention?"

Maggie, "I can't wait to move to Miss Jean and Sweety's house so I can be a Scotty Diva!"

Easter Wishes

What is Easter to you? Is it bunnies, chicks, chocolate and egg hunts? Is it family meals, touch football and naps? Is it drives to Grandma's for her special recipe of ham, sweet potatoes and cake? Is it decorating your house to celebrate the return of spring? Or is it a day to go to church early so you can come home quick to watch golf or basketball?

My Easter wish for you, dear friends can be summed up in the following two words. May we all take the time to celebrate what the true "reason for the season" is for us this holiday.

~ HE'S ALIVE! ~

Surprise!!!

Did you all read Becky's blog yesterday at Sweet Cottage Dreams? Go read what she says about a surprise! Well, here it is!

Maggie and Finnegan

The woman they purchased Doog's from was in an automobile accident and still had two Scottish Terrier puppies from the current litter that were unsold. Becky is such a dear and a good friend that she went and picked them up to help out the family. I know! I told you she is a great person!! At some point I wish you all can meet Becky in person.

Anyway, Sweety and I had been out there last month to look at the puppies since we had been planning on getting a Scotty. We had Marjorie for 15 years and miss her terribly. I had planned on getting another Scotty after I retired, mostly because this is what Sweety wanted. We loved the puppies but weren't quite ready for one as we have plans for some trips this summer. So then we get a call from Becky. "Miss Jean, you have to come and look at this little girl. She is soooooo sweet." Sorta like, "would you like a piece of candy, little girl?" When we went over and Sweety saw her I knew that it was a done deal. He fell in love with her. So we went home and talked about it (I listened, he talked) and called Becky back. "Ok, we'll take her. We'll come get her tomorrow." Becky and her hubby are so special that since we had some out of town commitments already planned this Saturday and three days next week that they are going to puppy-sit for us! I know! I told you they are great!! It'll be quite an adjustment I'm sure but she is a little dear and we love her bunches already. Sweety loves to hold her but she wants her new Mommy (Mommy Jean)!

So with no further ado, I'd like to introduce you to the newest member of our family! (Drum roll please) Ladies and Gentlemen, it is with great pleasure for me to present:

Little Miss Maggie Dear

affectionately called

Maggie

Maggie, Miss Jean and Sweety!

(On a side note. You may notice that I write "I know" a lot. "I know!" My Sweety and I have discovered Craig Ferguson (fellow Scotsman to Maggie) on late night tv. That's one of his catch phrases. The man is absolutely roll on the floor hilarious. Tune him in one night and see what I mean. I know!)

*As an addendum: Who in the heck are those middle aged people? I usually look skinny, young and glamorous and Sweety looks like some movie star compliation of leading men! I think my copy of The Enchanted Cottage must be broken!!

Tag, You're It!

I've been tagged by Laura from Amongst the Oaks to tell 7 things about myself. I've already done a tag where I tell 7 wierd things about myself. Now I have to come up with non-wierd facts. Hmmmmmm. Wierd (or as I prefer, eccentric) was easy. This could be more difficult.

1. As a general rule I am on time. If I say I'll be somewhere at 8:30, I'll be there at 8:30. I'll stress and calculate exactly the time I need to leave to get from point A to point B. I HATE to be late to anything.

2. I'm originally from the Midwest. Michigan to be exact. I've lived in California since I was 13. We moved out here in an Archway cookie truck. Mom and Dad just up and quit their jobs at Kelloggs of Battle Creek and off we went. No jobs, no nothing. Brave people. But they were successful. I don't think (I know) I couldn't do something like that.

3. I've been fortunate to have a BFF for nearly 21 years. I'm a loyal friend. You're my friend? You need something? You got it!!

4. On one hand I'm an insecure person. On the other hand, I'm not afraid to try new things.

5. I don't like shopping for clothes. I have the most pitiful wardrobe, but I don't care. I love to shop at antique stores, quilt stores and garden centers. My house and yard look a heck of a lot better than I do!

6. I have a son in the Navy and a daughter-in-law (son's wife) in the Air Force. I am fiercly patriotic and don't have use for people who don't support our military. Regardless of where they stand on the war, our troops deserve our respect and support.

7. I'm a big country music fan. When I was growing up my parents listened to hillbilly music (Dad was from Kentucky). My Dad's brothers would come over and they would all go down in our basement and play and sing. The music would come up through the furnace grates and I would lie in bed and listen to it. I didn't care much for it then, but that's what I listen to now, primarily. I guess it was just instilled into me. Simple, honest music. Our local country station plays the national anthem every day at noon. What other types of radio stations do that?

I could go on, but I've used up my 7 facts. Nothing that interesting or earth shattering for sure. Just a normal person trying to do the best I can every day. Taking care of my husband, watching out for my Mom, working on being the best Grandma in the world, and trying to bring out the creativity in myself while attempting to be a good person. Am I so different from anyone else? I don't think so. Have I had it easy my whole life. Heck no. My philosophy is that regardless of whatever life has thrown at you in the past it is no excuse to not be a good person who strives to be happy in the present.

I'm not going to tag anyone else for two reasons. First, this has gone around and I think most bloggers have been tagged already. Second, one of the little facts about myself is that I don't like to put any one out or impose on others. So instead of tagging 7 others I'd like to encourage you all to take the time to think about what you want to do from today on. What kind of person do you want to be regardless of past circumstances.

I promise my next blog will be more lighthearted. By the way. I usually try to tie in the music with the current post. I came up empty on inspiration for this one so I just have one playing because I like it - see #7 above!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

And a Happy St. Patrick's Day to all of you! You know what they say! Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day. I'm actually partially of Irish descent. My Dad's Mum was a Kelly. This is one of my favorite holidays. It's all about fun and celebration with none of the work of the other holidays. Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas and Easter. It just seems easy, especially for someone like me, to get mired down with the work and forget what the true meaning of the holiday is. At least on St. Patrick's Day I can get up, put on some good Irish Celtic music, fix a pan of corned beef and cabbage and enjoy myself. Slainte!!

My gift to you this St. Patrick's Day is the following Irish Blessing. Take the time to really "listen" to what it is saying to you.

May the road rise up to meet you

May the wind be always at your back

May the sun shine down upon your face

May the rains fall soft upon your fields

And until we meet again

May God hold you in the palm of His hands.

Thank you, Mary!!

I thought I'd take a minute to give credit where credit is deserved. I've gotten many compliments on my blog as far as it being "pretty". Most of the comments are about how lovely my banner is. My banner was designed especially for me by Mary from Isabella's Closet. Drop on by her site and wish her a "Get Well" as she is under the weather. Then follow her link to her banner shop and see what she can do for you. Her banners are wonderful.
Thanks again, Mary!

An Enlightening Day.....

Yesterday I drove to the town of Concord to take a class at Thimble Creek Quilt Store to make Anne Sutton's Bitty Bird pin cushion. Anne's patterns are just wonderful, bright and cheery. Now I am no crafter. I'm not good with my hands making little crafty detailed things. Give me big quilt pieces and I'm great but I was way out of my element. However, the class was taught by Nireko Ohira and it was just a delight. She was warm, giving, friendly and, most of all, so patient and helpful to me. I can't thank her enough for such a great class. Even though it's quite a drive for me (it took me almost three hours because of a freeway accident) I would not ever hesitate to take a class from her if she was the teacher. If you are anywhere in the area, check into their classes. I know that she has one scheduled for March 27th to make a French covered box. It is exquisite!!!! Thanks again, Nireko! You are awesome!!!!! By the way, the above picture is not mine. Mine is not quite finished but I wanted you to see how adorable Bitty Bird is.

After my long day yesterday I was less than perky - I think I'm just TIRED! Anyway, I didn't need to get up this morning to have a whole line of electrical outlets not working in he house. Nothing was out like the refrigerators or anything like that. But we had no lights in the kitchen and it needed to be fixed. We finally got an electrician out here and after an hour he figured it out. We had had someone come out yesterday to fix our garage door opener. I had told my husband that it could be something to do with what that repair man did. I told him that you always go back to the last thing that happened and check that first. Do I get an AMEN, Ladies!!?!! Anyway, it turns out that the plug that the garage door opener was plugged into was defective and got jostled when the other guy was messing with it. Somehow it made all the other outlets/lines in that bank not work. OOOOOOHHHHH, trying not to say I TOLD YOU SO!!! It's all better now, though.

I thought I would check my blog as I was tired and flustered (it's tiring to say "I Told You So!") and my blog friends make me feel happy. So it was to my surprise to find that I had been given a "You Make My Day" award by Trudy from Crows In My Attic. Now Trudy, you have truly made my day and I should just give the award back to you! Isn't it wonderful how God sends us these little nudges of encouragement just when we need it? It couldn't have come at a better time. Bless you! So I'm feeling humbled and that I really don't deserve it.


The rules for the “You Make My Day” award are to present it to those whose blogs bring you happiness and inspiration and make you feel happy about blog land. Let them know through email or by posting a comment on their blog so they can pass it on. Blogland is filled with such wonderful people. I know that we all have our days, like I have just experienced, where we are off our game and are less than nice. But for the most part, I feel that bloggers as a rule are positive, caring and unselfish people. There are lots of bloggers I could give this to so if I don't mention you, please don't take offence. I appreciate you all and want to thank you all for enriching my life.

Here are just some of the wonderful blog friends that I truly love and appreciate:

Becky from Sweet Cottage Dreams: First and foremost. I couldn't have done all this without you. You have become such a dear friend. Who would have known that by clicking on that funny word "blog" I would be led to someone who lives so close to me and has so many of the same interests that I do. Thank you so much for being my friend!

Also:

Penny from Lavender Hill Studio:

Anna from Thimbleanna:

Amy from Four Sisters in a Cottage

Esther from Esther Sunday's Journal

Mary from Isabella's Closet

You've all made my day!!!

Nobody puts Baby in the corner......

I'm sorry it's taken so long to write a new post. Life has gotten busy lately what with doctor appointments, field trips with the grandkids, deadline sewing and yard work.

This past week we had a new fence put in the back yard. Now for you non-Californians, we fence our back yards in with a six foot high fence on three sides. My family from Georgia cannot understand why we do it. At times I wonder myself. When I lived in Michigan we didn't have fences. Your neighbor's lawn just blended into yours and created a vast green expanse. It was strange at first when we moved out here. However, as a homeowner I have come to appreciate fences. Fences do truly make good neighbors. I care how the front of the neighborhood houses look as it affects property values . However, I really don't care how a person keeps up their house inside (whatever makes you happy!) and I don't care how they keep up their back yards as long as there are no weeds peaking over the top of my fence. I am very meticulous with my yard as noted by my aching back. It would be disappointing to put in all that work and expense only to have it overshadowed by the neighborhood "messies" if there was no fence to screen it.

While the old fence was down I had a lovely view of the almond orchard blooming behind us and horses in their pasture. But alas, I knew that the cons would outway the pros for putting the new one up. So I am just thrilled to have a brand new fence. It defines my space and encloses my little piece of heaven on earth.

Speaking of space. Dirty Dancing is one of my all time favorite movies. I remember dancing around the family room with my daughter during the last dance scene. It was majic-the movie, not my dancing! There is a great line in in it where Johnny is teaching Baby how to dance. "This is my space!" "This is your space." You may have heard by now that Patrick Swayze is fighting pancreatic cancer. I'm sure that you all join me in sending him your thoughts and prayers for a speedy and full recovery.

It's a Small, Small World

I was tagged by Becky to play a new MEME game and that is to create your own SIX WORD memoir. I have seen this popping up on other blogs and at first I thought how easy this would be. Yea, right!

I suppose something like this would depend on what life experiences you are going through at the time. I for one, right now, am going through a "friendship situation". I am not going to go into details. No need. Let's just say that women can be really hurtful at times. What I do want to say is that I cherish and appreciate my friendship with my friend Nikki. Our friendship has evolved over the last 21 years from being an acquaintance to a co-worker to a friend to a BFF in the whole wide world friend. We're the same in a lot of ways but also have our differences. Rather than the differences being a problem, we view them as an asset. I'm so thankful that she is a part of my life.

I want to also mention Becky. I am so thankful to have her as my new friend. We met in an interesting Kevin Bacon Six Degrees of Separation sort of way. It started when I was checking out one of my favorite quilt web sites, Fig Tree Quilts. She had a link for a blog! "I wonder what a blog is", I asked innocently? "My, what are those links?" Off into cyberspace I went. Somehow I found a link to The Old Painted Cottage. This is a wonderful site and if you haven't been there, stop by. Jennifer has an area where she showcases cottages of the month. I was going through them all and I noticed that July of 2007 was "Becky" from "Modesto, California". Well, ladies and gentlemen, that is only 10 minutes down the road from my little town of Escalon so I was really excited. I started scrolling through the pictures and was hooked. What a lovely home! Then I got excited when I started seeing Scottish Terrier collectibles since I'm a Scotty nut. Then I saw the picture of Duhgall, a real live Scotty and I screamed. We're planning on getting a new Scotty this year. Woo Hoo! A kindred spirit!!!! My plan was to contact Jennifer and ask her to have Becky contact me. I wanted to talk Scotty groomer, breeders, vets, etc.. Before I could do that I stopped by one of our local antique shops in Modesto, Remember When. I started chatting with the owner about "stuff" and then I mentioned blogs. She asked if I had seen The Old Painted Cottage. I told her how I had planned on contacting Becky, etc., etc.. "Well", she said, "Becky rents a space in the shop. Let me call her and you can talk." Get Out Of Town!!! We talked for a long time (sorry I used up so many minutes). We've gotten together at each other's home, gone shopping, out to dinner with our Sweety's and have developed what I hope will be a lasting friendship. Becky and her Sweety are just wonderful people. I consider myself Aunty Jean to Doogs.

Thank you Lord for my lasting friendship with Nikki and my new friendship with Becky!!! My prayer is for each of you to have friendships in your life as dear as I do.

So, back to the game. My six word memoir is:

Because nice matters - cherish your friends!

Here are the rules to the game:

1. Write your own six word memoir (see above)

2. Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you’d like. Yellow roses represent friendship.

3. Link to the person that tagged you in your post and to this original post if possible, so we can track it as it travels across the blogosphere.

4. Tag five more blogs with links

5.Remember to leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play!

Now I am inviting the following gals to play along:

1. Amy at Fours Sisters In A Cottage because she is a new blog friend and she is a great gal!!!!
2. Anna at Thimbleanna because she is a new blog friend and is the sweetest person!!
3. Nicole atSister's Choice Quilts because she is an awesome quilter and I'm in love with her dog!!!
4. Susan at A View From Here because she is one of my favorite authors and I love her books. I don't know Susan so I'm being a little (a whole lot) brave with this one.
5. Lynda at Hedgerow Hollow. This was my "wild card." I just starting going from link to link till I decided to stop. I wanted a new one that I had never been to. Her blog is beautiful and she is a talented lady who lives in Ontario, Canada. In our travels we have found that Canadians are some of the kindest and most friendly people on this earth.

So there you are. Whether you take up the challenge or not, or if you are just visiting my blog today, take the time to remember your friends. Give them a call, send them a card or write them a letter and let them know how much they mean to you.

Have a great week!!!