Here Are Many Of The Posts From My Other Blog

(I didn’t include the dates as to when those posts were created. Let’s just say they are from 2013 and back.)

Been Away Too Long....

Hello, Ladies and Cowboys! ;-) Sorry, this has taken me a long time to get back on here. We moved from Texas to Mississippi the first week in June, and even now, I STILL have things to unpack and rearrange, then rearrange again, until I'm satisfied where things go in their new places. However, we are mostly unpacked and things are looking like home. 

We moved because hubby got a new ministerial position at a congregation in Mississippi. He is a 20/20 Vision Director. The congregation here is wonderful. Have made a few new best friends (I still have a best friend in Texas). 

I love our rental house! It's a three bedroom one story house. I'm just giddy that we have a ONE STORY HOUSE! The house we own in Texas is being rented out, and it is a two story house, and I learned quickly I ain't young anymore, because it was a pain to climb the stairs every day! While it was a good house to live in, I prefer this rental here so much better! Oh yeah, it helps when the owner of the house fixed this house up like new when he bought the property! Yes, it's definitely smaller than our house in Texas. We went from a 2300 sq ft house to an 1800 sq ft house. But I ain't complainin' one bit, no siree! The way it's laid out is just perfect, especially when entertaining guests! AND I HAVE AN ISLAND NOW!!! Whoop!

This house also sits on one acre of LAND! My boys love playing outside more because they have so much room to run around! Not to mention, it's out in the country, so there are forests around us. As a matter of fact, across the street from our house is all forest and is owned by the church that we attend. Needless to say, my oldest son has been going into the woods to make bike/hiking trails and a campsite to go to. Love it!

The weather? Just absolutely divine. Sure it gets hot and muggy, but not as hot and dry in Texas. I will always be a Texas gal, but I sure hate the heat there! LOL!! It rains almost everyday. I say, almost, because we do have a few sunshiny days. :-D Folks here say it will get worse. I say, bring it on! Why? I lived in Arkansas several years ago, and it would get hot and muggy up there just like here. Doesn't seem to bother me one bit. In Texas, I hated going outside in the summer, unless we were going swimming. ;-)

I haven't been able to get started back on quilting or crafts, because most of my stuff is in the garage. The Texas house had two living and dining areas, but this house has only one, so I had to store my stuff in the garage (as opposed to in the family room upstairs) I'm waiting for the day when the owner will have built in shelves installed in the garage. I also plan to work in my closet so that I can put some of my quilting and crafting stuff in there. I am SO itchin' to get back into quilting!!!

Y'all have a fantabulous day!!!

Wrap, Stuff, Tape...

...is what I've been doing a lot lately, in addition to trying to finish a quilt for a dear sweet lady before we move!  Two and half more weeks, and we are not even halfway done!  Aaaaaaaaaaaaack!   

The Magnolia State...

The Magnolia State, also known as Mississippi, is a beautiful state, with all the pine trees and Magnolia trees (hence it being the state tree/flower).  I love Magnolia trees (we have them here in Texas too, but not as prolific as Mississippi!).  Not only are they very beautiful, they smell awesome too! Here is a link to the picture of a Magnolia flower: http://plants.usda.gov/java/largeImage?imageID=magr4_009_avp.jpg. I loved looking for them when we were going to Mississippi for my husband to try out for a ministerial type position there. 

Mississippi is also a hunter's/fisherman's paradise!  We went to a church member's property next to a pond, and went fishing.  You should have seen my youngest catch Perches one after the other.  He'd throw in a line, boom... he gets a fish.  Put new bait on (with help of an adult, as he's only 5), throw in the line, and boom, again, another fish.  On, and on...  Me? I only got four!   LOL... It used to be that I'd be the one who'd catch fish, and my daddy would catch very few or none at all.  Now that I'm a parent, guess it's my turn to be the one who catches a few and my kids get many!  LOL!!!!  

Now to the pinnacle of this post. Yep, you guessed it.  We are moving to Mississippi!!!  I have less than 2 months to pack!  Eeek....  

Things Kids Say!

Conversation with Gavin (he had been helping me hang some clothes up, running up and down the stairs) -

Gavin: Man, I'm sweatin'!

Me: Me too. Feel my scalp.

He feels my scalp and an, "Ooh!"

Me: But you seem to be sweatin' a whole lot more than I am though.

Gavin: That's because you are a girl and I'm a boy!

Not Exactly Tech Saavy...

...But will somehow figure out this uploading of pictures. I have FINALLY finished a quilt top. About to sandwich it with batting and backing and machine quilting it together before putting binder on. I , one way or the other, WILL get the pictures of the quilt I've been working on, uploaded to the blog!

I am so glad that first stage is over with. Whew...

Could Use...

...some encouraging here! It has gotten to the point where it's really ruining my health, and desperately need to lose weight, in addition to finding out why I'm so tired all the time (and while I get depression now and then, I think it's entirely unrelated to it. Not going to explain why), at that hot flash stage, etc. :-P

My biggest weakness is motivation, lack of energy, food, and portion control. I love C-H-O-C-O-L-A-T-E. Pasta. Rice. Y'know, all the starchy foods as well as some of the sweet stuff. :-o

I also do like healthy foods. It's just that I tend to eat more of those junk foods than the healthy. Not. To. Mention. Those. Forsaken. Words: portion control! I love broccoli, spinach, green beans, peas, carrots, corn, yucca.. :-D

I also like fruits such as peeled and cubed apples, peeled and cubed pears, sugar free canned peach, strawberries, raw sugar free applesauce, bananas, etc. Eh? Did somebody say bananas?! ;-)

I need to learn how to retrain my brain to reach for healthy stuff when I have an hankerin' for sweets such as chocolate, and know when it's ok to indulge now and then. Sigh... :-|

I also need to retrain my brain to NOT get bored with exercise. If I do the same exercise every day for a week, you can bet I'll be not exercising the next week. Except that I will gladly exercise on the elliptical more than anything else. I love that thing and would love to get my hands on one to use at home, but alas, right now they are too expensive. I have to have various exercises to do everyday, or I'd burn out. I'm not that creative when it comes to exercising, and though pinterest has great sites for various exercises, I just cannot think of a good plan to use. :-o

Another problem is that, other than my hubby, I don't know of any females who live close to me who would take their time to go walk with me, or even train to run, because many of them either work or are pregnant, or are too busy . :-( The upside is that, just one more year, my last child will start Kindergarten in the fall, and I can go walking any time of the day until they come home from school! ;-)

So, here goes with my weight loss journey! <3

You Know...

...it's not the end of the world, if you don't get texts from your friends! Don't go around saying you hate your life because you think your friends hate you, all because they didn't text back immediately. Good Grief...

This in no way does not mean I hate cellphones/iPhones/whatever. I would LOVE to have an iPhone or something similar, because I am deaf, as communication is important to me, but cannot afford one, not even a family plan (as I have four boys). However, whatever means of electronic communication, it is NOT the end of the world if they don't respond to you right away. If you wanted to communicate to them immediately, what is so wrong with a good ol' fashioned phone call?!

On the other hand... it could be that they were just too busy at the moment, different time zone, etc. They will respond in due time, and be patient. Gasp! You mean there is such a thing as patience?! Wow...

...now off my soapbox. Thank You.

Update... I now own an iPhone 3. Yeah, yeah, it’s not the latest iPhone, but I’m happy to have one. However, I still stand by what I said above. Patience is still the key here!!! ;-)

Welllll...

I let time slip by me again.  It's just nuts, I tell ya!  Hubby traveling a lot.  Two eldest boys doing their band thing a lot.  Two youngest, though handsome, are wiggly worms, just can't sit still!  Aaaaack!  ;-)  (Seriously, I love them a lot, and yes that includes hubby. ;-) )

Anyhoo....

In order to paint our master bedroom, hubby had to take apart our "L" shaped desk.   He said,"Well, since I had to take it apart, I might as well put it in the family room."  So, now the family room is half office, and half sewing/crafting room.   When he finished painting our bedroom, he proceeded to paint the South wall of the family room.  He could only do half of it because my sewing/crafting room is in the other half.  Anyway, my storage cabinets were on the East wall, and in order to put the "L" shaped desk in the corner where the East and South walls meet, he had to move those storage cabinets to the middle of the room, therefore messing up my sewing/crafting room.   I'm still waiting for him to finish the other half of the South wall in the family room!  I finally decided that he wouldn't care if I rearranged my sewing/crafting area to make it work.   All he has to do is move the cabinets from the South wall back a little bit, paint the wall, and then push them back when the paint is dry.  Easy, right?!  LOL...

That being said, I plan to do that very soon, because I am SO anxious to get working on my numerous quilt projects,  create a new fall wreath, re-do the most forlorn Christmas wreath, scrapbook, make cards, etc.!  Yeah,  that's a lot to do, but what can I say?  I'm a gal who can do about anything with her hands.  ;-)

So, shall we try this again?  I'll have a new post up soon!  :-D 

Dr. Pepper!

Time for some Dr. Pepper!

Why?  

Because you'd think after almost 45 years, I'd have my body figured out!  I must be going through some kind of "pause" (as in perimenopause, etc.), because it's always changing (and that includes hot flashes)!  Ugh...  :-P

As I mentioned in the previous post, school started on Monday.   I had been getting up and taking a shower before everyone else.  Did the same on Tuesday.  Well, today, I got up at the usual time, but no shower until later.    I tell ya,  there was a big, big, big difference between the last two days and today!  I am naturally not a morning person (hubby can attest to that), and to see the big difference between the last two days and today, dawned on me that there might be a bit of a morning person in me!   If I don't get up and take a shower before everyone, and wait to take a shower later,  I will be sleepy!   Needless to say, I am sleepy today because I didn't take a shower this morning!!   :-0

So, without further ado, I'm going to make an effort to get up and take my shower before everyone else.  Oh, I'll be tired, but definitely not sleepy, therefore more energy.    More energy gives me a glimmer of hope that I'll have motivation to get things done!  

And enjoy some Dr. Pepper!  ;-)

(An update:  my body keeps changing.  Now taking showers in mornings does not keep me from being sleepy.   I am finding out what is going on with my body by seeing the doctor.   Groan...  That being said, I still prefer to take my showers in the mornings.  Gets my day started this way.)

(Another update: I no longer drink soda. After coughing for a couple weeks, in which some of them would make me throw up just a little bit, the sodas would not help make my throat feel better. Water seemed so much better. Turns out I have silent reflux which was prolonging the real coughing. I’ll discuss about this in one of my new posts eventually).

First Day...

...of School for three of my 4 boys today! I now have two high schoolers! Going to treasure my last year at home with my youngest before he starts Kindergarten (and oldest son will start his Senior year by then). Time is going way too fast for my liking! Oh well, nothing I can do about it, but enjoy every moment I can with each of my boys, because before you know it, they'll all have flown the coop! Ok, better stop here before my face is a mess! ;-)

Routines, Routines, Routines!!!!

Yep, it's that time of the year for three of my four boys to begin school, one week from today!  Some parents prefer to stick to routines all year around, but I reckon I'm one of those parents who don't mind if they sleep in late or go to bed later than usual during the summer break or holidays.   I don't let them stay up THAT late, unless they have friends sleeping over or if they are sleeping over at friends'.  I knew that when school was out, that I'd be ready for routines again when the summer break ends.  Sure enough,  I'm so ready for routines again!   (I would homeschool, if I wasn't so impatient with school preparation and paperwork!)  ;-)

I officially now have two High School kids, one Elementary kid, and one still at home.   Eldest begins his Junior year, and 2nd begins his Freshman year, 3rd starts 2nd grade.  Youngest has one more year before he starts Kindergarten.   Sigh...     They sure grow up too fast!  Waaaah!

Just when I am able to start sewing again after rearranging the family room and sewing/craft area, I have to halt it again.  Why?   Because we have been painting our bedroom, and just finished it.  The next room to do is the family room, where I have my sewing/craft area in.    Because we had to take apart our "L" shaped desk in our bedroom, hubby decided he might as well move it to the family room.    So I'm having to rearrange ALL OVER AGAIN!  That's ok, I don't mind.  It took us FOUR years to finish painting downstairs, and I don't want to wait another FOUR years to paint the upstairs!   Oy!

Now you know why I need routines again.   I need everything in order again!  Pbbbbt....

;-)

A Winter Wonderland!

This article was written February 2, 2007 (when I lived in Arkansas):

 Well, it started snowing Wednesday, stopped overnight. There’s still snow on the ground (we got about 3 inches). We are supposed to get at least one, if not two, arctic air fronts coming through over the weekend, keeping it cold up here. Because of the snow, school was let out early Wednesday, and still out today. Depending on the arctic air that is supposed to come through, it looks like the elder 2 boys will be back in school on Monday. The boys had so much fun playing in the snow yesterday and today.

 The snow is so pretty. That got me to thinking about modesty. The snow covered everything on the ground. I like to think that symbolizes modesty. 1 Tim. 2:9-10 “In like manner, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefastness and sobriety; not with braided hair, and gold or pearls or costly raiment; but (which becometh women professing godliness) through good works.” So, modesty can still be pretty (or in man’s case – handsome), compared to what the world thinks!

I Have An Excuse...

...for not having blogged lately.  ;-)    My boys' school year ended, my two eldest boys had band camp, then they went to church camp for a week.   It was during that week that I had an umbilical hernia repair surgery.    It was supposed to be an outpatient surgery, but it ended up being an overnight stay because my oxygen levels were not where they were supposed to be.  I am still recuperating from the surgery, but definitely a lot more mobile than the first day, even though I still have a bit of pain leftover.   Slowly getting back into the routine without hurting myself.  I want the "mesh", which was used to cover the hole that caused the hernia, to remain untorn, so I have to be careful until I'm fully recovered.   That means I can do anything I want to as long as it doesn't hurt and damages the surgery site.   So I can go walking,  do dishes,  fold clothes,  drive,  things like that as long as I don't do any heavy lifting or strain too much for a few weeks.   I go back for a follow up this coming Monday.   I hope I get a good report from the surgeon!

My craft/sewing area is a big mess AGAIN... but this time it's MY fault for not staying on top of it.  However, as I said before, the arrangement isn't working for me, and I think my area needs to be just a tad bit bigger if hubby will let me. ;-)   It's why it was hard to stay on top of it.  I need to keep rearranging until I find what works for me.  Oh well...

In the meantime, I have finally gotten back into quilting!!!!   I'm working on my niece's quilt.   I purposely cut the strips wonkily (if that is such a word), because I wanted blocks with uneven strips.   It's going to look so awesome when it's done.   The only thing I'm nervous about is when it's time to do "long arm" work with my sewing machine on the top to the batting and backing, because the only thing I know how to do is straight lines on a quilt!  EEEEEK!  I've never stitched flower patterns, whirligigs,  etc... before!  I don't have a long arm machine, can't afford one, and can't afford for another quilter to do long arm work on it.   My option is to get a portable Flynn "long arm" kit, but even that I still can't afford.  So my best bet is to just get two tubes,  roll the quilt up and clamp it down so I can do "long arm" work on my sewing machine.  I am sure there are many of you quilters who have had to resort to things like that, and I'd appreciate any tips on that until I can afford my own long arm machine sooooooooooooomedaaaaaaaaay.   I might faint from shock if I ever get one!  LOL!

It feels so good to get back into quilting!!!  :-D

They’re Here!

As promised, here are the wedding cake pictures of Daddy and Beth's wedding:

Cake I Made And Decorated!

Cake Topper

Daddy And Beth Cutting Cake

Traditional Feeding To Each Other

Groom's Cake

I have never made and decorated a wedding cake before (though I've decorated birthday/shower cakes), so it was a new experience for me.  Also, it has been a while since I've decorated a cake, so it took me a while to decorate, and I'd have liked for the cakes to look better than that!   However,  they were delicious!!  ;-)

The pictures were taken by a beautiful young lady named Madeline Walker, so these pictures are her property.  Please do not use these pictures without permission, because that is considered stealing. Check out her photography website: http://www.justphotographybymadeline.com/!

I’ve Been Reading...

..."What To Say When You Talk To Your Self", by Shad Helmstetter, Ph.D., who is a behavioral researcher, author, and lecturer in the field of motivational behavior.    I'm not finished reading it, but I'd say I'm almost 3/4 done with reading it.  I got this book to learn to reprogram my brain for the better.  I will have a review of this book when I'm done.   However,  I leave you with a quote from chapter 1, page 16 : "What if we could find what's stopping us and turn it around?"

P.S.  That quote got me thinking!  ;-)

P.P.S.  Will be reading another motivational book when I'm done with the other book.  Right now, off the bat, I can't remember the name of it and I don't have access to the book at the moment.  Look forward to the next book!  :-D

Welll...

To begin with, a lot of things has happened since my mother's death over a year ago. Fast forward (feels like that though!) almost a year later, this winter, my Daddy started dating again. He (as well as my siblings and I) didn't think he would fall in love again for a while, or didn't think anything like that would happen! :-o

The lady he was (grammatically, I should put "is", but you'll see why I didn't in two paragraphs down) dating is a very sweet lady named Beth. My Daddy and I have known her for about 20 years. Not long after my mother's death, my Daddy joked to her,"So you wanna marry me and move with me to Hemphill?" She said,"No, I gotta go take care of my Daddy and Mother." I piped in,"Well, as a matter of fact, I wouldn't mind if you dated and married him! I trust you!", with a wink. LOL!!! (On a serious note... I DO trust her, and love her a lot!!!!!) ;-)

 I did tell him that I had four (added a 5th one later) criteria when it comes to him dating again. ;-) I told him she has to be: 1) A christian, 2) Be able to cook (doesn't matter if she's gourmet or not), 3) Has to have crafting/sewing abilities, 4) Has to know some sign language (because I'm deaf), is willing to learn sign language, or both. She has ALL FOUR!!!! The 5th one I added was,"Beth, if you want to be a part of the family, you gotta learn to play 42!" Laughter all around! (For you Southerners, mainly Texas, you know what 42 is!) ;-)

However, this winter, he got to wondering if she was joking when he was just joking, and had to find out! The rest is history. Needless to say.... February 14th, he proposed to her! They decided to get married in April! Talk about a Whirlwind Romance! :-o ;-)

I do admit that it will take getting used to having a new mother, especially for one who's only 10 years older than I am! I really never thought about having a new mother to begin with, even before my mother was diagnosed with ALS. But because I've known Beth for so many years, I'll get used to it quickly, in due time. Besides my Daddy has been lonely since Mama died, and Beth deserves a second chance at marriage. Knowing my Daddy having been faithful to Mama for almost 47 years, I know he will love and remain faithful to her as well. :-D

Without further ado, here is a picture of both of them:

Daddy and Beth

The Grandchildren Quilt

This is the quilt that I started making almost two years ago for my parents, while my mother was still alive.  She never got to see the completed quilt but was able to at least see the top before it was sandwiched with the batting and backing, and binding put on.  This was a special quilt because it consisted of hand prints of all 14 grandchildren, starting with the oldest at the top left corner, and ending with the youngest at the bottom right corner.  Out of the 14 grandchildren, there are only two girls. Can you find those two girls' handprints? ;-)

I would have never started this if my mother hadn't instilled her love of quilting to me, so I was fairly new at quilting, even though I had been sewing for as long as I can remember.   Not trying to brag, but it dawned on me one day that I actually designed this quilt, and I've never done a thing like it before!    *shock*   My daddy says my mama was so proud as she was watching me work on the quilt every time we came to visit them.   Sigh... I miss my mama so much!!!! 

BRRRR...

...and I'm loving it!!!!!  Been drinking black coffee with Peppermint Mocha creamer!  Mmmm! All we have here in South Texas are two seasons: Summer and Winter - HA!  And, I'm naturally hot, which is why I'm excited it's finally cold enough!  Weeeelllll... maybe there's a tad bit of spring and fall too.  LOL!!

Things have been crazy here, which is why, once again I have procrastinated posting here, especially with pictures.  I keep wondering if I will ever finish anything!  So, please continue to be patient and I will have pictures up of a lot of things!   8^D

On top of this, this Southern gal is also a sports fan (on some sports, not all), so we've been following the Texas Rangers in the World Series, and it's been a nailbiter!  We are now down to game 7, and I'm hoping they get to win their very first World Series!

Quilts And Numerous Projects...

...Oy Vey! But hey, that's what I get for signing up to do a lot of things that I love to do!  Recently I signed up for a sew-a-long that involves a Christmas Banner with stitchery from http://www.sewhappy.me/,  downloaded patterns from Mystery Mondays from http://thisandthatpatterns.typepad.com/ and offered to make my niece a double sized quilt since she got new bedroom furniture.  Haven't even started on any of them yet, but hope to this week.  My late mother gave me a few boxes of my boys' quilts that she couldn't finish, so I'm trying to finish them.  Not easy when there's a houseful of active boys and hubby!  LOL..   On top of this, I want to make a Christmas tree skirt.   Ay, yi, yi, yi......!  ;-)

I hope to post pictures soon of my WIP's, and a project I had been working on for some time, and was so angry that I couldn't finish it in time before my mother passed away, but is now finished.   I just wanted to let y'all know what's been going on!   Hope y'all have had a great day!!

(Update: I never got to do the sign ups or finish any of the quilts I started.  Still working on them!)