Our little girl is growing up.....

Our little Maggie went from this....

...to this in the twinkling of an eye! Next thing you know she'll be asking for the keys to the car, start dating, go to college and leave home! Sniff! They grow up so fast.....

A note for all of you non-Californians. We grow lots of things in California. Where do you think we got Maggie?

Potted Scotty?

Maggie and her half-brother Duhgall practicing for Halloween. Or maybe they were auditioning for a spot with the KISS band? Who knows what goes on in their little scotty heads.

It's always a scotty adventure at our house. Have a wonderful and restful Sunday.

Confidence

"Grandma, this is my first trophy!"

Do you believe in angels?

I am so excited! If you have never seen the work of Diane Duda hop on over to her blog, Duda Daze. and check her out. Right now! This very minute. I'll wait for you to come back...........

What did I tell you? This girl is talented beyond belief. I had seen a piece that she had done for Tina at Cherry Hill Cottage. Then I read her blog and she said she was busy with commission work. Hmmmmm, commission work.....I wonder if she would make something for me? So I contacted her, we talked about what I wanted, she put me on her schedule, and voila! Look at what she made just for little ole' me! It's all finished and I'm just waiting to receive it in the mail, but I couldn't wait to show it to you. It's my little Maggie with our little previous scotty, Marjorie, as her guardian angel! Now how sweet is that? As soon as I receive it and I have it hung I'll let you see where I have placed it in my home.

Diane, I cannot thank you enough for creating this wonderful work of art for me. May you have blessings of angels all around you.

Lists

Teresa at Honeycomb Cottage tagged me a few days back. This is the first I've been able to think about it since coming back from the coast for a few days, babysitting the boys, getting Maggie back from the boarder, etc., etc.. Here is the criteria for the tag:

1. Link to the person that tagged you. Done!

2. Post the rules on your blog. Done!

3. Write six random things about you in your blog post. Done!

4. Tag six people in your post.

5. Let each person know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

6. Let the tagger know your entry is up.

I had done a similar tag a while back so I'll try to come up with some more things about myself that won't bore you to tears:

1. I love to read in bed. Book, magazines, the Sunday paper. You name it. I get all comfy with a cup of tea and I could sit for hours. Wait - I have done that! Just sat in bed and read for hours, looking outside at my yard. It's especially great if it's raining outside.

2. I have never met a cheesecake I didn't like. I don't care how much I have eaten, I can eat cheesecake until the cows come home - or I feel like a cow, I don't remember which. I have eaten an entire Sara Lee Cheesecake in one sitting! Pitiful? Yes. Great? Of course!

3. I am not adventurous when it comes to food. If I go in a restaurant for the first time and order something that ends up being good, I will order it every single picking time I go in! There is a restaurant near here that I have gone to for 46 years (I don't know how that is possible since I'm not a day over 21! LOL!) anyway, I have ordered the same thing EVERY TIME! That is what I call comfort food.

4. I like to travel. I don't like to get ready to travel. I will wait till the last minute to pack and then leave biting and scratching all the way. By the second day I always say, "Wow. This is fun. We should do this more!" Hubby just stares out the window and shakes his head.

5. I'm a good friend, even if I do say so myself. Do you need something? I'll get it. Do you need a ride half way across the state? Hop it, let's go. Whatever, whenever.

6. I like watching televsion. There. I've said it. I know what you're thinking. All that trivial drival will rot your brain. I don't watch tons, mind you. But Hubby and I have our special shows that we lovingly watch together. Like Criminal Minds, the CSI's, House, and Numbers. Our favorite is watching Late Night with Craig Ferguson. There is something about sitting for an hour and laughing that is good for the soul. I watch Barefoot Contessa (isn't it so cute that she cooks?) and lots of gardening shows. Along with reading, it's my little way of relaxing. My own little "Calgon take me away!"

Why do I have a sailor as my picture today? Maybe that should be my number 7. My son is in the Navy, of course and I couldn't think of another picture to use.

I'm not going to tag anyone else. I think most bloggers have been tagged. What I will do is encourage you to read a book. It's called "Twenty Wishes" by Debbie Macomber. It is the fourth in the Blossom Street series. In the story, a number of friends who happen to be widows get together and decide that they should each make a list of twenty wishes. Not goals, wishes. As the story unfolds, they become influential in others making lists, also. It is a great book and really gives you something to think about. What would you put on a list like this? Falling in love, skydiving, learning to knit, studying art, taking a trip to Paris? Don't hold back. Give it a try. I'm going to. Who know, maybe wishes do come true.

*Jackie over at Canton Villiage Quiltworks has a tremendous giveaway you can enter. She is giving away her services as a machine quilter to quilt one of your quilt tops. She will even pay for postage to and from her house. Now if you know anything about quilting and the expense of having your top quilted you know that this is a BIG DEAL! Hop on over to her site and enter.

Home from school

What do you do at Grandma's when you are home from school sick? Let me think?

Here's a close up of that beautiful fruit he was eating. Our cherry and apricot season is in the spring and is short. This year they were spectacular!

This is local fruit grown by local small farmers - not big conglomerates! Yea!

*Update: Nikki's sister-in-law is still in the hospital (see post below). She is holding her own and has been moved out of ICU. However, she's still not out of the woods. Her family thanks you all for your continued prayers.

Prayers

We just got back from a few days on the coast. We wanted to get away from our valley heat and relax. Instead I came back with a heavy heart. Watching the news of the devastating floods in Iowa all I could think of were my blog friends. Are they safe? I watched the news as a house was being swept down a river in Wisconsin. On our way to Monterey we drove near a large fire in the Santa Cruz mountains and families had to be evacuated. Just before we left there were a number of homes in Stockton that burned to the ground, families displaced. These were not homes in an area that is usually threatened by fire. They were along a freeway! Our area has been subjected to temperatures of 100 degrees along with incredibly high winds and sometimes all it takes is a spark.

This morning I received a call from my BFF Nikki. Her sister-in-law suffered a stroke yesterday and is in serious condition. It was caused from complications due to another medical condition she has. This is a young, vibrant, caring woman in her 50's.

Please join me in sustained prayers this week for all of these families. Also pray for the families of the two little girls from Oaklahoma who were found shot. Go hug your loved ones. I'm sorry to be in such a downer mood but sometimes situations warrant it.

Quilt for the Teacher

My grandson's third grade teacher missed the last month or so of school this year as she had to have surgery. It was suggested that it would be nice to present her with a quilt from her class - an idea from my daughter. "Can you make a quilt, Mom?" Sure! No problem. I actually had a great time. I went to the classroom and talked to the students about quilting and how the pioneers had to "go green" and make do with fabric from worn clothes to make quilts. No Target to run down to to buy a blanket! We talked about the resurgence of quilting in this country during the bicentenial and how it's grown ever since. The students were all very polite and had LOTS of questions. I had a quilt square for each of the students and they all drew pictures and wrote something about how they felt. Talk about darling! When I got the squares I put them together and took it with my BFF to quilt it on a long arm quilting machine that she teaches with. I can't thank her enough. We were there over four hours and she had a newly broken ankle - not one word of complaint from Nikki!!! After quilting and binding it I took it back to the classroom on the last day of school so the kids could give it to her. "Grandma Jean's here!" I received so many hugs and had to sign everyone's little third grade yearbook. I even received a book full of thank you letters. Good job substitute teacher Amy!!! Very humbling. Here are some pictures of the process.

Backing and binding loaded on the machine.

Getting the top loaded.

Doing my little "loop-d-loops".

Closeup of one of the blocks. Might that be my grandson's?

Getting ready to square it up.

Squared up and ready to bind and label.

Mission Accomplished!!!! Now how fun was that!?!

Babies!!!!!!

Good news! I had posted about a young couple who are friends of our family and were expecting twins. There was a possibility that there could be complications. Well, ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce you to Lidia Renee and Ilona Noelle! Little Lidia weighs in at 5 lb, 9 oz and little Ilona weighs 5 lb, 11 oz. Both babies are healthy and mommy (and daddy) are doing fine. Please stop on over to The Glowing Address and wish this young couple all the happiness they deserve. Tell them Great Aunty Jean sent you. They are going to be great parents!!!!! Woo Hoo!!!! Sssshhhh! Sorry, babies sleeping!!

Front Porch Party!

It's Front Porch Party time! I hope you enjoy my little home. This past year we put the deck on the front and we really enjoy it. I love sitting out front with a cup of tea and watching the grandsons play or Maggie running in the grass. We have a hot western exposure so it's a perfect spot for my lavender plants. It's a work in progress, but like so many others, there's always something to do. We plan on putting a short picket fence in front of the deck, flowers in front of that and a pergola for some shade. Isn't that the way it is? One thing just leads to another.....

Now go on over to Rhondi at Rose Colored Glasses. She has a list of over seventy amazing homes for you to see. Thanks for this wonderful idea, Rhondi! Good job!!

*Prayer Request! In my previous post I mentioned some family friends who where to deliver their twins on Tuesday. It was postponed until today (Thursday). Please be in prayer for this young couple and especially for the safe delivery of their little twin girls. I will let everyone know how they are as soon as I do. Thank you so much.

Walkin'

Well folks! Our little Maggie is now "street legal". She has had all her shots and it is now safe for her to go walking out in the world. How exciting is that? I take her out sometimes three times a day and she just loves it. For such a little girl, she can cover a lot of ground. So if you are in the neighborhood and you see someone being dragged down the street by a tiny little scotty puppy, stop and say hi. And then give me a ride home - I'm tired!!

Mom, I"m ready to go!

Let's go, let's go, let's go!!!

I'm walkin'. Yes indeed!

Can you see my new pink plaid collar and pink leash?

I just love horticulture, don't you?!

Just catching my breath!

*A note of caution. If you have a new little puppy and they have not had all of their shots, please do not take it out in public places such as pet stores, parks or even the sidewalk in front of your house until they are fully immunized. They can contact Parvo so quickly and it is a very painful and deadly disease. Contact your veterinarian for more information. Thanks!

* Rhondi at Rose Colored Glasses is having a Front Porch Party on June 5th. Go visit her blog and read all about it. We're posting pictures of our front porches and I can't wait to see what all you creative ladies have done to make your house a welcoming home. Come join us - I'll have the lemonaide ready!

*Big Prayer Request!!!!! A young couple that are friends with my son are expecting twins. Aaron has known Carlos since the second grade and Carlos was his best man at his wedding this past fall. If all goes according to plan they will induce on June 3rd which is Tuesday. There may be some complications so I'm asking all of my blog friends to please be in prayer for them. Go visit them at The Glowing Address and wish them well. Thank you so much, dear friends.