The future is here now!

 A BIG HI TO EVERYONE.

I am so excited.  Facebook is now hooked up with Skype and the other day as I was texting my daughter on facebook, who has a bachelor of Engineer from Toledo University, I hit a camera link on facebook and it opened a window and there was my daughter and my favorite grandson right before my eyes.  They live in Ann Arbor Michigan and I live in Toledo Ohio.  Boy it was so easy and it took us some time to get the voices but how much fun is that.  It is so exciting to be part of this tecnology.  Just think, to be able to see and hear our loved ones. 

I know this is has been around for awhile, but it was so easy to do with facebook.





What have I been doing?   This is my mother with her latest great granddaughter, Lilly.  She is 88 and is a wonderful person who has creatively handled all her challenges that life has given her.  I am so blessed to still have her in my life.  I have always felt and told my mother that I would not put them in a nursing home.  That has always been a big fear in her life to be left alone in a nursing home or to go to the "Poor House".  Well, after battling 5th stage Alzeheimer's, my sisters and I have had to make the "very hard" choice to place her into a home.  It has been a heart breaking 2 months.  She is adjusting,  She likes the food, I think she likes having a room mate, She is getting quality and loving care.  She is getting pysical therapy and keeping her mind and body active.  But I am so sad daily and so is she.  She has lost her home, her car, her freedom. 

The last 4 years have brought many challenges.  We took over her bills when they became to hard for her to handle, we worked with Office of Aging with nursing care and home health care. Meals on Wheels provide lunch.  We tried to get her to stop driving, I took her to dr. appts, grocery shopping and beauty shop.  Then I had to take over her medications and make her dinner daily and administer her pills.  It was taking a toll on all of us including the police, who she called weekly because I or my sister was stealing something that she couldn't find. 

 



We love family as you can see.  My older sister is in the back, along with cousins, aunt and uncles, brother in law and hubby.  I am so glad that we did our best to keep mom as independent as possible the last 4 years.  I wish she would of moved in with me, but she has been bull head and has always said NO.  So I am so thankful for the place she lives now and I pray daily for the wonderful workers who now know my mother too.  It is not perfect, but God has shown the way.  He loved her when she was born to an imperfect family, He loved her when her dad drowned while she was young, He loved her when she married my husband at 17 and through their long marriage and death, and He still loves her now.  God is faithful. 

Birthday Craft Party a big hit.

October 1, 2012 came and went.  That is my birthday and usually I hate celebrating birthday, but this time I decided to have several friends over and have a craft night and what fun we had.    Above is two friends who are craft handicapped.  But they found out they weren't.

Collect your supplies, gals.  "What, I got to pick something, I don't know what I am doing, What is this for?"  Well you get the idea. Confusion, arguing over items. "I wanted that"   No, I had it first"  Cackels,  that's what I called it.  Hen House at it's finest.  Well, after much wine and whine, we made our door wreaths for fall. 

As soon as we finished, my neighbor, who was upset I didn't invite her,  came stumbling over with her two girlfriends (they had their own party with hubbys)  to see what we were doing.  Of course I had to pull out my halloween mask to show them all. This next picture is R-rated.

Yes that's me.  As you can see why, my husband doesn't think this is funny.  Maybe because it looks better than his????????    Crazy Ass adventures,  Let's have more of them.  Fun was had by all, except my neighbor and her friends, which I will invite to the next one. 

Crazy Ass Adventure

My Birthday is coming up. October 1.  For those of you who know me, I hate celebrating my birthday.  Yes, I want you to remember me, maybe get me a handmade gift, but no party for me.  I really don't know why. I'm not afraid of growing old, I don't want to, but that's another story and I love parties. But  I guess I love giving parties but not being the center of the party. 

But this year I want to celebrate and have a Crazy Ass Adventure.  So I thought.  A Plane Trip to somewhere exotic.    An Elf house in Ireland?

A Trip to the West.  Arizonia, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah   ?

East to The Sea,  Maine, South Carolina, Florida? 

Or maybe right here in my own backyard?

With friends, family and grandkids?

 

With food, of course!

Something simple, Taco fixings. Or maybe something fancy like lobster tails.

Maybe a boat ride. 

 

 I had a hayride one year given to me by surprise by a good friend.  We had a great time with people from high school.  Or Maybe I should get a tatoo, (fake or real) like this friend?

Well, you can see I have given this some thought.  I guess I am leaning towards family, friends, grandkids, food, drink and a  hay boat ride right in my backyard.  I will let you know.

 

 

 

Ramblings by a Libra

Colors to push your artistic limits.  All the above pictures were taken off the interenet.  I am sorry that I can not give credit to the persons who took these photos,  But I posted them for the visual of my favorite color combination right now.  Orange and Blue.   In all it's shades, in any form, this colorization excites me.  Oh course, for those of you who know color, it is complimentary- Meaning it is opposite on the color wheel.  Excite yourself!

 

Today is dark, foggy and deary along with light rain.  A cold front has come in so a perfect day to celebrate the coming autumn. 

September is Sewing Month, and I am making a quilt for my 3 year old granddaughter, Adeline

 

 Here is her colors I picked out for her new bedroom.  Her favorite color is pink, pink, pink,  but she is not a girly girl.  She is rough and tumble and full of giggles.  I have been spying this print with woodland deer, bears, owls, raccoons, and foxes.  So I am going to attemp free hand machine embrodiered with those hand drawn animals on a white background in 8 inch squares and pinwheels.  I am making up the pattern as I go.  That is how I work,  It can be alittle frustration when it doesn't come together like I would like it, but I lay it out on the floor at night, usually the cats scramble the fabric during the night, and I wake up to a new shuffle that will give me new ideas. 

My Son in Law's Gardening Experience this year.

I would like you to meet Mike and my wonderful daughter Angela. What a wonderful couple they have become. Through many trials, changes in living arrangements and good old solid love, These two have started a beautiful life together. They love to garden and have been learning so many great tricks and sources of gardening information. One of their most proud vegetable they have produced has been my fabulously funny grandson, Aidan-their little sprout.

 

 

But back to their gardening experience.  As you may recall, last year, Mike had many trials with his sowing seeds experiments.  You may click over to last year's blog release.  http://shopconsingment.blogspot.com/2011_05_01_archive.html

Well, this year, Mike learned to start a little later on his seeds, but he did purchase some new growing lights.  He read, he interneted, he browsed web sites, he did his homework.  He is very much an analytical type of guy.  He is so smart sometimes it scares me. He works on computers at U of M, does that tell you anything.  I am so proud of him. 

As with last year, he planted several different tomatoes and peppers.This year was a real challenge, They knew they were going to be moving to Michigan on their journal through life, so the plants had to be container plants.  Container plants have certain challenges to helping them succeed, water, soil conditions, size of container, etc.  But these tiny seeds grew so loving under his tender hand, but they reached for the light a little too fast and got pitched in the garbage cause they did just look right, just like last year.  So he shopped, Web-sited, visited gardening places and picked just the right seedlings for his container garden in his basement with the growing light. 

During all this time, I prepared a small new garden bed at my new home for my side garden.  I am not allowed to have a garden on my lot due to deed restrictions and association rules.  So I asked both of my neighbors, who agreed to be quiet, in my quest for a little fresh vegetables and herbs as long as I shared with them. Of course, I had to be fancy,  I got my plants from a small greenhouse who specializes in organic non-gmo seeds.  I added peat, new soil, coffee grounds (my mother always did this) to the sandy soil.  Then it was ready to plant the new seedlings.  I planted tomatoes, 3 varieties, onions, lettuce, peppers, broccoli and brussels sprouts.     

They all grew thru the hot and dry spring & thru the extremely hot and arid summer, the container plants at their new home and my plants on the side of the house.  I will post tomorrow with pictures of our plants to show you the progress and the results.  (Just a preview-Mike's plants came out better) He is a genius. 

THE FAMILY THAT GARDEN'S TOGETHER,

 STAYS TOGETHER. 

Three little kittens who stole my heart.

Spot, Whitey and Casper

Learning to play

Two weeks ago, three kittens entered my heart,  My son, Aaron, found them on his new property in an old log.  It was a very hot 100 degree day and they were sleeping.  We soon found out the the neighbor's barn cat gave birth on the other neighbor's property but the moma cat moved the kittens to Aaron's property.  But soon the neighbor, who housed the barn cat moma, decided that she was mean and shot and killed her.  My heart broke.  I swepted them up, put them in a box, gave them water and took them home to see if I could save them.  Two weeks later, after feeding them with a dropper, teaching them to suck on a bottle, I am glad to announce that they are alive and happy.  Of course, they miss there mommy, but I am doing the best I can.  And they are growing,  Their eyes are open bright, Whitey has saphire blue eyes.  Their ears are perky and their nails are sharp.  They are certainly a handful especially when they wake up at 6:00am to eat.  Now they are climbing out of the box and starting to use the litter box that is within their sleeping area.  My DH and I are falling in love.  I hope after 2-3 more weeks, I will be able to give them away.  We have two other cats, who do not tolerate the kittens at all. 

Miracle Mother and Son Quilts

Scrappy Quilts for Miracle Mom and Son Nando 1st quilt

Jennie's quilt

Orange Verigated thread

 back of Jennie's quilt, Cross of Jesus

Close up of stitching, Lots of little tiny circles for little tiny miracles.

This will be a long post.  The Last two months have been a very difficult one for the Billups/Clark Family.  Jennie Billups/Clark was not feeling well with her 3rd pregnancy, Her hubby had taken their two other girls to the doctor, who were not feeling well either. While he was gone, Jennie had a stroke from Preclampsia - high blood pressure.  The nightmare began-  Their 3rd child, a boy, Fernando, (Nando) was delivered 2 months early to save Jennie and his life.  He weighted 2lb 6 oz, I think, and Jennie, after 2 seizures, slipped into a coma for several weeks, over a month.  My heart went out to my friends and it took me right back to when my 12 year old son fell off a high dive and hit a pipe into his head.     LIFE STOPS!  
Nothing matters anymore:  Only Prayer, Waiting, Feeling Helpless, Listening, Not Sleeping, Wondering, Lost, and more Prayer.  So my Prayer quilts were born.  I grab colors that spoke to me from my scraps, happy colors, and it was so important to represent hope, love, and miracles.  It also had to be made from scraps because life is a patchwork of pieces, some square, some wonky but it all works together to show beauty in the raw.
It has been 2 months now, Nando is coming home from the hospital, almost 5 lbs and growing fast, Jennie is working hard at physical therapy, learning to speak, count, lift her limbs and make them move and through all of this she Laughs.  Yes Laughs!, Smile, Giggle!    We are having a baby shower on Sat at the Rehab and her son will be there too.  God is so Good.
Remember Life can stop at any moment: Embrace each moment, Savor each hug, Listen to each laugh and Know that God is in control.  

Keep on Keeping on!.

Etsy Account
https://www.etsy.com/your/listings

Well, I am trying to start a store on Etsy.  I haven't been doing well, but there are lots of reasons for that.  I have been reviewing what my work is all about.  I love to do so many things, jewelry making, fiber art, quilting, painting, writing and taking care of others that my mind whirls with all the many projects that I have started, that I have put aside, that I am in the active making of it.  Color seems to inspire me the most.  But color also jumps my brain from one side to the other.  Opposites!,  Love the combination, rotation, obliteration.  Does it sound like I am dysfunctional,    Well, I am.  Prozac to the rescue!    I really think most of us "Artsy Types" are dysfunctional in a functional way.  We do get things done in their own time.  We do multi task, maybe not always very well, but we do it anyway.
So the reason for this post is to say, I am here in Holland, Ohio, living on a lake, watching the bass fisherman, eagle fly high and grey heron and mallard ducks wade on my shore.  They grubs are destroying my lawn, my mother still has Alzheimer, my father in law is marrying someone my age and my dear mother in law just passed away a year ago, my son got his 4 DUI, and my dog is still living after two seizures.  But life is good, everything is fleeting and God is in control.  I'll keep on keeping on!  

Quilts for Compassion

Quilts of Compassion Facebook Page

Quilt of Compassion is a non-profit providing quilts to Joplin, MO after the tornado hit two years ago.  Now with the recent outbreak of tornado in MO, IN, IL, KY another states, Quilts of Compassion are looking to work with ministries at hospitals in those torn up cities to bring some little comfort to those that are hurting.  I believe they have already given out 4,200 quilts to those in need in the last 2 years.  I have been trying to make 1 quilt a month this year to support this worthy cause.  This particular quilt, which isn't quilted yet, was made with scraps that I received from my favorite sewing store: "Stitch" in Toledo, OH. https://www.facebook.com/#!/stitchtoledo .  Thank you Alison for your donation.  Quilts of Compassion are now receiving quilts from all over the US and even from Sweden.  It is so cool. 

Wedding & Lake Forest

My DH, new daughter in law and 2 granddaughters

The newly wed couple,  Love is sweet,  Mother to the left and Grandmother

Cake Topper with Aidan, their son.

Cutting the margarita cake with the nieces & son

What have I been doing,  Whew!  First I have had a three week cold-bronchial sinus, whatever, hanging on.  Which has left me with very little energy.  I went to Florida for 10 days and had a wonderful time and came home with only 1 week to plan my daughter's second wedding, son in law's first wedding.  There were planning on having it in Aruba but that fell through so we celebrated with topical flowers-Bird of Paradise, Sea Shells, Margarita cake, music by Jimmy Buffet and some steel drum bands.  Crab legs, Steak, Sea Bass, Shrimp and Crab Cakes were on the menu.  Yum!   Wonderful time was had by all.  

I'm sewing, yes I need my glasses, I'm at that age.

My trusty Bernina 

The pieced "Lake Forest" by McKenna Ryan 

Cutting, Ironing Sewing-so many little pieces. This project has taken me longer that I anticipated,  but I love the results so far.  Now for the fun part, free motion stitching.  I purchased this project about 6 months ago.  It so reminds me of Hidden Harbor Lake which I live on.  We don't have otters or beavers, but we do have muskrats, fish, frogs, turtles goldfinches, owls, ducks, geese, raccoons & cattails. So as you can see, I have been busy.  http://pineneedles.com/ Here is a website where you are able to purchase the pattern with fabric.  She has so many new patterns out there.  I would like to do a beach scene next, but I think now I am able to do my own design.

Fiber Art Class

Stitch Shop

Fiber Arts Facebook page 

Fiber Art Class at "Stitch Shop" is the 2nd Tuesday of each month.  We have had so much fun.  We have dyed" the parfait  way" with great success and blue hands.  Don't forget to wear your gloves.  ;')  We also discover and played with lutrador.  We painted it, stamped, and sewed it.  I made a treasure chest.  We also learned how to make our own ribbons with yarns, pieces of fabric & threads.