What I've Been Up To

Goodness, it is the middle of January already and what have
I done to pass these long, snowy, cold winter days?  Stayed
in doors and worked on projects.

Some time ago, I discovered that my direct genealogical
line on my Mother's side had been altered and changed by
someone using the same program I had:  Family Search.  Very
frustrating to me and my sister. Also discovered some incorrect
dates for my parents marriage.  Since, I have most of the
information, decided I would try and correct everything.  What
a project!  Needless, to say, I have had to email verification
to Family Search and am now waiting for the corrections to
be made.  As, I further researched the lines on my "fan chart"
I have found other errors and will have to work on them at
a later date.  Can't believe the time I have spent working on
this, but hopefully, it will get straightened out soon.

I've also been making copies of important documents
and certificates of my children and putting them in a book
that will become part of our Family History.  They have
the originals, but I wanted copies for my own records.
Each day I've been trying to get back to working on
cleaning out my drawers and files that contain information
for my own family history.  Decided that I would just
select a drawer or file and work on it and then add it
to my book or file.  Don't know how long I'll do this, but
for now it helps pass the time when I'm stuck in doors.

For Christmas a close friend knitted some dish cloths
and gave me.  I have loved using them and decided I
wanted to learn how to make them.  Now, I am addicted!
Have made four so far. two each color.

Hope to get some made for Valentines to send to my
kids in Oregon and for my daughter's birthday.

Have also tried to crochet some hearts.  I'm not very good
at doing these.  Wanted to make a few to string as a
garland, but think I need a simpler pattern and also one
that is a little bit larger.  They only measure about 2 1/2 inches
across.  Anyone have a quick easy pattern.  Perhaps if
I keep working, they'll turn out better and get easier!

Hope everyone's New Year is off to a good start!

"Fall Harvest"

This fall stitchery seemed to "speak" to me when I
saw it at my local quilt shop the beginning of October
and I knew it had to come home with me.  They even
carried the suggested fabrics which doesn't seem to
happen very often or by the time I decide to make it,
the fabric is gone.  I have had such fun stitching this
and attempting to paper piece the mini quilt.  It has
been quite some time since I have paper pieced, but
think it turned out quite well.

The pattern is called "Fall Harvest" and is by Kathy Schmitz.

A Little Stitching

Wow!  I can't believe it has been a month since I last
posted.  It has been a crazy month trying to get all
the repairs done to my home and the trees trimmed
 from the windstorm.  Finally, they are completed!

I love my trees new look and I believe my trees are
happy also having had a trim.  Reminds me of how I
feel after getting a hair cut---like a new woman!
Think my trees feel the same way.  Hopefully, now
when the wind blows we won't have tree limbs
breaking off.  Oh, I'm sure there will be some branches
but praying not the big damaging limbs.  I am so glad
I had an arborist come.

Silver Leaf Maple in front yard

Ash in backyard

Then just when I  thought things were settling down, I got
a severe bacterial infection in my finger known as
"paronychia".  Never had anything so painful and develop
so quickly.   After being on an antibiotic for a week, it
is much better and am hoping I can now get some yard
work done.

As far as quilting or stitching, it all came to an abrupt
halt when my kids and the windstorm all came.  But,
I did manage to complete this little project that I found
on line.  Sorry don't recall who pinned it.

Thinking life may be beginning to get back to a little more
normal, but probably shouldn't count on it.  Will be
working extra in October while my counterpart takes a
much needed vacation, so don't know what I will feel
like working on.  Need to find something new and
exciting that I just can't live without!

And the Wind Came....

Friday evening the 7th,  we got hit with a micro burst and
heavy,heavy rain.  It actually seemed more like a small
tornado the way the clouds were rolling and twisting. 
Normally, we get extreme East Canyon Winds that do a
lot of damage.  So, it was very unusual to sustain the
damage our neighborhood did from a West Wind.

Although, it only lasted a short time, it was quite
scary.  Thankfully, we did not sustain severe damage
or flooding.  But, our beautiful Silver Leaf Maple tree
in the front yard took the brunt of the wind once again.

This limb actually blew over my roof and landed in
the backyard.  One limb pierced my patio roof.  It
was like someone had thrown a javelin through it.
Fortunately, my son had just cut the limb that extended
out to the patio or I think this limb would have hit it
and bounced back into the windows.

Saturday, my neighbors and friends, along with the
youth in our ward, came and sawed up the limbs and
hauled everything away.  They spent most of the
day going from house to house seeing what needed to
be taken care of.

Now, I'm just waiting to meet with tree people and
the patio installers as well as the insurance adjuster.
Hopefully, we can get everything back in order.
Can't believe we did not sustain roof damage when
the limb came over and no broken windows.  Some
bent pipes, rain gutters pulled off, but that can all
be replaced.

So grateful to all those who spent their time helping
me. 

Finally, A Little Sewing

It seems as if it has been months since I sat down to
my sewing machine.  Having family here for three
months has thrown a kink in my projects.  They
are living in my basement and that is where I have
my sewing machine, supplies, etc

Because they are night people, I find myself avoiding
my sewing room so that I don't disturb them during
the day.  I am a morning person and love to get started
on projects early in the day.

When my son and DIL first came, I thought it was only
going to be a short visit before they moved on to Oregon.
It has turned into three months and they may be
here a few more weeks.

With the thought of them being here for a longer
period of time, I decided that I needed to get busy
doing some sewing projects I had planned for the
summer. So, in the last few days I have been
able to cut and sew a couple of rows for a small
project.

It doesn't look like much, but to me, it is a big
accomplishment and feels so good to be sewing
once again.  I have also been working on a couple
of stitching projects.

Another project I've been working on is retyping a
book my mother put together for me many, many
years ago of my trip to New York and participation
in the Hill Cummorah Pageant  with a group of
students from Brigham Young University.  The pages are
turning yellow and everything needs to be transferred
to acid free paper.  Pictures were glued down and
will need to be scanned and reprinted.  This is going
to take some time, but I am anxious to preserve it.

I enjoy having family here, but it does make it hard
for me to get things done. I also find working extra
days now doesn't help much.  Suppose these are
just excuses, but they sound good for me as to why
I'm not accomplishing much of anything!

I'm Still Here....I think!

I can't believe it has been two month since my kids arrived
to stay with me.  It has been a crazy time and I find that
I am not getting things done that I would like to.  Having
people here all the time is something that I am not used to
and although they are great house guests, our schedules
are very different.  I am a morning person and they are
night owls.  Joann loves to cook and is always baking
or making something which can be both good and bad.
But, I know that they will not be with me much longer
than the summer months, so I am trying enjoy every
minute.

My son Myq is now one step closer to obtaining his
PhD as he just completed his oral exam.  He was able
to do it through a University here that connected him
to his school in New Zealand.  He has a few revisions
to do on his thesis and then hopefully he'll be done.

Joann is still applying to schools here in the West and
hoping to be accepted to attend school in Oregon.

With them here and working more days, I don't seem
to make it to my sewing room.  But, I did complete
this table runner and now it graces my patio table.

'



Saw the pattern for these cute little flags on
http://temeculaquiltco.blogspot.com
and thought it would be fun to make some for
friends and myself since I have so many scraps
that need to be used up.

Well, guess I best get busy as much as I hate to,
but my house is calling to me and I need to get
my wash going so I have work clothes for tomorrow.

THEY'RE HERE!

Received the most wonderful surprise phone call
yesterday afternoon from my DIL.  When I
answered the phone and knew it was her, I asked
why she was calling on the phone instead of
Skype.  She answered because they couldn't get
internet service.  This sounded logical since they
had been on a bike tour in New Zealand and our
visits were few and far between.

AND, then all of a sudden, I just knew!  I said
screamed, "You're here!"  I knew they were coming,
just not when and they wanted to surprise me.  If
they could have connected up with the bike route
from the airport they would have cycled to my
house and knocked on the door.  But, this was so
much better.  My daughter and I were able to
buzz into the airport and pick them up.

Not sure how long they will be with me as they
need to get settled so Joann can begin her
schooling.  But, at least they will only be a
couple of states away now.

It has been 10 years since my son was home, and
the first time I got to meet Joann---other than on
Skype.  Needless to say, I am one happy Momma
and will cherish every minute I get to spend with
them!