It's A Mystery To Me!

I'm doing the Designer Mystery Block of the Month from The Fat Quarter Shop. Every month we will receive a different surprise block created by a well known quilt designer. It is made from the most beautiful fabric, Peace on Earth which was designed by 3 Sisters for Moda Fabrics.

This is the first block and it was designed by Brenda Riddle of The Acorn Quilt and Gift Company. This will give you an idea of the fabrics that will be used for the next eleven blocks. I'm usually really bad at doing blocks of the month and procrastinate to the point of not doing any of them. I got a little cocky because I finished the first one before I received the second one in the mail. Wow, my life is so dull that getting one quilt block done gets me excited - sad! LOL!!

God has a way of knocking us back down to size, though. I had no more than turned off my sewing machine (it hadn't even cooled down yet!) when I went to get the mail. Guess what was waiting for me? You guessed it! Number 2!!!

It's going to be gorgeous! It's considered Christmas fabric but not so much that I can't keep it out all year. I better get started on this one......

I'm starting another block of the month project in October called Simply Sophisticated. A bunch of bloggers are going to cyber-sew together and hold each other accountable to get it done. That should be great fun. My only trouble is that I forgot who I was going to do it with! EGADS! A senior moment! Couldn't be, could it? A young vibrant, just plain forgot moment? Yea, that's the ticket. Whoever you are, please remind me - gently.

The Fat Quarter Shop has some wonderful block of the month programs, not to mention outstanding merchandise plus a great blog, The Jolly Jabber. Stop on by and say hi! Tell them Miss Jean sent you on over.

Toodles!!!

*Sure, sure! I have problems with my posts in the fact that most of the time I can't figure out how to have my photos enlarge when they are clicked on. So now with this post they do. What's up with that? The one time I don't want them to because my seams don't meet exactly on the block! Aaack! Keeping me humble here folks.

Un-paralleled Fun!

We took our Grandson's, Redmond and Samuel, on vacation last week. We had a blast! Since we live in Central California and the weather has been unbearably hot, we headed over to the coast and Monterey. We're lucky that it's such an easy drive from here. We got up early, dropped off Maggie, stopped at McDonald's for breakfast and off we went.

Sorry, Dughall. You can't come along. Mommy needs help with Maggie!

First and foremost I want to thank the wonderful lady who watched our Little Maggie while we were gone. How lucky are we that the one and only BECKY from Sweet Cottage Dreams (I know, OMG!) is not only a close friend but loves our little Maggie to pieces!!! She and her hubby, along with Dughall took loving care of Maggie while we were gone. ("You can't put her in a kennel!! I'll take care of her!") Maggie had such fun playing Scotty games with Doogs and attempting to terrorize their cat that I am a little concerned that she'll be lonely here with just me and Sweety. Bless Maggie's little heart, though, she laid on the bed yesterday while I slept. In fact, she's supposed to be Sweety's dog but she follows me around everywhere but that's a post for another day.

Our first stop was Casa De Fruita. This complex started out one hundred ago as a produce market and has blossomed into quite a fun place to go. They have a restaurant, gift shops, a train to ride, a carousel, playground, and animals to see. It's low key, certainly no Disneyland, but the kids had such a good time there that we stayed for about three hours. Sometimes simple is good.

Open your eyes, Samuel!

Then it was off to beautiful Monterey where the weather was forty degrees cooler than here! We went to:

The world famous Monterey Bay Aquarium

We walked along Cannery Row and Fisherman's Wharf (ala John Steinbeck)

Went to the beach

Took in an Imax 3-D movie

We even saw a HUGE! DOUBLE HUGE yacht complete with a helicopter. We later found out that it now belongs to a telecommunications billionaire (with a couple B's!) who is the richest man in Mexico. Awesome!

Then we drove down to Carmel to one of the Missions. In California all fourth graders have a unit in school on the California Missions which were founded by Father Junipero Serra in the 1700's. We thought it would be good for Redmond to get some exposure before school starts.

Thursday on our way back we stopped in San Jose at the Rosicrucian Museum. This place is fascinating. It has the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts in the Western United States.

"They have real live Mummies, Grandma!"

We got home late Thursday to rest up and do laundry. Then on Friday we drove to Sacramento and took the boys to see the Sacramento Railroad Museum. They have huge steam locomotives, rail cars, and lots of fascinating things for little boys of all ages to enjoy!

The boys' dad lives in Sacramento so he met us in Old Sacramento and took them for the weekend. Sweety and I stopped for dinner, picked up Maggie and got home late Friday night.

One thing I did in Monterey that I am so proud of is that I paralleled parked! Woo Hoo! Parking is at a premium down there and when you find it you take it! I have no depth perception because of an eye "thing" but Sweety talked me through it. I'm sure there were people wondering "why is that lady standing next to the car clapping?"

I am so blessed that we were able to do this with the boys. It was trying at times, of course. Sweety says it was like herding squirrels! But I would do it again. We're planning on taking them on an Amtrak train ride next. We also want to do individual vacations so we can devote more time to each child.

Moral of the story? If you have grand kids, become part of their lives! Do it now! You won't be sorry.

Bye! I'm going to bed.......

We're Back

We're back from our trip with the grandson's. Sweety and I are dog tired! This is a prime example of why women my age don't give birth! I don't know when I've been this worn out. As soon as I catch my breath I'll share our vacation with you. Right now I'm going to bed........

We're Off

My Sweety and I are getting ready to take the grandson's, ages six and nine, on vacation. We watch them two days a week during the summer. They are signed up for classes, taken to movies, and generally kept busy doing things that parents can't do while they are working. This week we are headed for the coast and taking them to Monterey, California. The main purpose is to visit the world famous Monterey Bay Aquarium. We have other things planned and I'm sure I'll have some great pictures and stories to share when we return.

In the meantime I have been given not one, but two awards! All I can say is wow! Carol at Charli and Me has bestowed upon me the Just Plain Fun to Read award. What a great award! The other award comes from Terrie at Terrie's Lil' Piece of Serenity. Terrie has given me the Brilliante Weblog Award. Double wow for this one!! What can I say? I am really "floored" by this one. I have no agenda to be brilliant, or creative, or anything else, really. I just love being able to share, in some small way, my little life and the things and people that surround me.

I'm passing these awards on to all of you bloggers out there that are on my links, that I have visited, and the many blogs I have bookmarked but haven't had the time to link yet. There are hundreds! What would I do without you, dear friends? You make my days a little brighter, you add humor to my life, you give me inspiration and you astound me with your kindness and creativity. I feel so very fortunate to be part of this wonderful blogging community. Thank you so much Carol and Terrie. I'm doubly humbled.

I'll be gone for the next week and I will miss you all.

Another chapter in the Maggie book....

Today my Sweety and I went out to breakfast. I had gone to a great place near here with friends yesterday and thought he would really like it. The girls and I had all taken our little Scotties so we ate outside on the patio. Guess whose little one peed on the floor? Eenie, Meenie, Minee, MAGGIE!!!

If they can't look you in the eye they are guilty!

Since it was nice outside Sweety and I decided to leave Maggie in the back yard while we were gone. She was very safe, had plenty of food and water, and her crate with her favorite toy was on the shady covered patio. All fine and dandy, right? Wrong. She chewed one of my drip system sprinkler heads. I say "one" loosely as now I have to go inspect the entire yard for gushers. Her big sister does the same thing at her house so it might be a family trait.

From now on when we leave the house for a few hours it's gotta be jail time in the "big house". We have lots of law enforcement friends so she better mind her p's and q's!

If you can't do the time, don't do the crime!

*Maggie Update: Let's make that two sprinkler heads!

Clean Sweep

I recently lost my housekeeper which, to say the least, is devastating. I don't mind cleaning and I love my house to look nice but my back just doesn't cooperate. What to do!?! Hmmmmmm.......Maybe it's time for Maggie to start earning her keep.

First I tried to teach her to fold laundry.

"Just what is it you want me to do?"

Then I thought maybe she could help me out with the dusting.

"I think I'm too short, Mom!"

Next it was vacuuming. Let's not even go there. I think she had been talking to Ozzie over at Sister's Choice Quilts!

"What?"

I think I'll just call Merry Maids and leave it at that!

*For some reason my photos don't always enlarge (any suggestions?). If you look close at the picture of the vacuum you'll notice that there is a gap in the cord! This is not the way it's supposed to look!!!!! I guess it was my fault. Maggie was in a playful mood and I was ignoring her so she thought she'd get even. That is NOT a chew toy!!!

Pray without ceasing.....

Please go to Amy at Four Sister's In A Cottage. She did a post about our dear friend Deena. It seems Deena is in need our our intercessory prayers. I'm not sure specifically what is going on, but the Lord does. Hold her up in your prayers and your heart. May angel wings surround her with love.

Thank you dear friends.

Happy Fourth of July

The National Anthem

Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight
'O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming.
And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen, thro' the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam
In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream;'
Tis the star-spangled banner: oh, long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash'd out their foul footstep's pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Oh, thus be it ever when free men shall stand,
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation;
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land
Praise the Power that has made and preserved us as a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust";
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave

Commentary on the Pledge of Allegiance
by Red Skelton

As a schoolboy, one of Red Skelton's teachers explained the words and meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance to his class. Skelton later wrote down, and eventually recorded, his recollection of this lecture. It is followed by an observation of his own.

I - - Me; an individual; a committee of one.

Allegiance - - My love and my devotion.

To the Flag - - Our standard; Old Glory ; a symbol of Freedom; wherever she waves there is respect, because your loyalty has given her a dignity that shouts, Freedom is everybody's job.

United - - That means that we have all come together.

States - - Individual communities that have united into forty-eight great states. Forty-eight individual communities with pride and dignity and purpose. All divided with imaginary boundaries, yet united to a common purpose, and that is love for country.

And to the Republic - - Republic--a state in which sovereign power is invested in representatives chosen by the people to govern. And government is the people; and it's from the people to the leaders, not from the leaders to the people

For which it stands

One Nation - - One Nation--meaning, so blessed by God.

Indivisible - - Incapable of being divided.

With Liberty - - Which is Freedom; the right of power to live one's own life, without threats, fear, or some sort of retaliation.

And Justice - - The principle, or qualities, of dealing fairly with others.

For All - - For All--which means, boys and girls, it's as much your country as it is mine.

And now, boys and girls, let me hear you recite the Pledge of Allegiance:

I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic, for which it stands; one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our country, and two words have been added to the Pledge of Allegiance: Under God. Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said that is a prayer, and that would be eliminated from schools, too?
Red Skelton

*I'd like to take this time to thank all of our military personnel serving overseas or at home who sacrifice daily for their country and for our freedom. A special thank you to Aaron, Christina and Jordan!

Hanging around the kitchen.....

I had posted last week that I would show you where I hung my wonderful picture that I had done by Diane Duda. This little sweet piece of heaven is hanging for the moment in my kitchen. I think the colors go nicely with my wallpaper. That's not to say it won't get moved around a bit until I find just the right spot. But for now I like it right where it's at.

Raggedy Ann and Andy, I'd like you to meed Maggie and Marjorie! I know you'll become great friends!