Road Trip Toledo, Ohio to ? Follow along!

My husband retired.  He was a truck driver so when he came home he never wanted to go anywhere.  Well, after giving him 2 weeks to recoup at home, I declared.  "Road Trip"  I wanted to go to the Paducah Ky Quilt Show.  I didn't really think he would want to come but he said he did.  Well, that one idea turned into a "Hey" we are retired now.  We can do anything.
So off we went this morning, Follow along with our adventure and please leave comments.  We love them.  I will also have him blogging too.  He loves food and history; I love music, quilts and nature. We took 75 South to Cincinnati. The trees are all in flower, the grass is green and most leaves are out on the trees.  The sky so blue, the traffic not so bad.  We decided to go to Nashville first, the Paducah, Memphis, New Orleans, Orlando and Tampa and every place in between.
A flowering crab.  So pretty.

.

We didn't eat here.  I wasn't sure what a Colon Buffet meant even if it was only $6.75. I passed on this buffet.

 My dear retired truck driving hubby was in his truck driving mood,  Get on the road, drive to your destination, no side trips, stop for gas only.  Well,  I had to remind him, we can do anything we want, we HAVE no time schedule,  Yes, we have reservations in Nashville, but it was only 8 hours to get there, so I Made Him stop to see the House of Quilts.  Donna Sharp's outlet was here.  It was ok, but not worth the stop. There wasn't much good deals, and quilts looked dull and dated.  It was so disappointing.  www.houseofquilts.com 

Well, now back on the road and south we went on 65.  Well I had to do something for him and guess what I found.  Jim Beam Distillery http://www.americanstillhouse.com/  and Marker's Mark Distillery is down the interstate. https://www.makersmark.com/sections/18-tours 

V-twin Jim Beam motorcycle.  I took the picture for my boys. It says do not touch. 

 Red Bud Trees all along the interstate.  It was so pretty.

Time to eat.  Where is the Bar b q?  Well, he said, check the GPS.  Ahh! next Bar b Q is just at the next exit 1.8 miles.  Yummy. I couldn't wait.  So Smokey Pig it was.  https://www.facebook.com/smokeypig 

We had the family special.  Pull pork with vinegar coleslaw and baked beans with tea-unsweetened. The southern waiter just shook his head at the unsweetened part.  Don't want to rot my teeth out!

 Smokey Pig is guess where? Bowling Green, Ky which is the headquarters of Fruit of Loom and Corvettes.  We stopped for gas and right next to premium was Racing Fuel at $7.99 a gallon. It also had a lock on it. You had to go inside to get the guy to open it. It is only for off road use.

 Finally, we found our hotel after I had to look into it.  Joe had the wrong address and street name, so we were a little confused for a while and had to turn the car around.  (How did he find his way in his truck without me?) Inquiring minds want to know?

Being as old as we are, we are resting in the hotel with a couple of beers.  Tours can wait till tomorrow. Johnny Cash Museum, Coyote Ugly, Country Music Hall of Fame,  the Grand ole Opry, Bluebird Cafe and shopping for some new fancy cowboy boots.   Maybe Joe will get a cowboy hat and learn to line dance, I love a man in a hat.  See ya tomorrow.  If you have been to Nashville and know of something we shouldn't miss,  let me know!

Marvolous Kitchen Update

As you can see, our kitchen is a busy place.  

A Place for parties, making cookies, helping each other clean up.  The bones of the kitchen were fatastic. the height of the ceilings: grand, the fireplace in the kitchen: an added touch, and the wonderful windows to the lake view outside with sliders to the deck.  Added bonus wood floors and black granite counter top with an island.  I know alot of people only dream to have a kitchen like this.  

Before Pictures:  Large corner pantry, lots of counter tops and working areas, heck even a desk area and a little cubbie for a TV. (out of range) 

So as the years past, more grandchildren and new daughter's in law came, The kitchen seem smaller and smaller.  Even to the point of unworkable.  Just what was it.  Well I swirled my magic wand and thought what would my perfect kitchen look like.  What did I not like about this one: Everything worked, certainly enough cupboards. My husband was not happy with my unhappiness.

So out came my list:

1.  The island was too too big, When we replaced the stove and refriderator, they had to lift them over the island.  The walk ways on either side of the island was 18 and 20 inches.  When my husband and I both cook and clean up together, the main work area was right angled (stove, sink) and our butts and stomachs would bump. 

2.  Open the refridge or the dishwasher and nobody could get by. 

3.  We didn't use the desk or work surface, it just became the junk collector.

4. The black granite.  Ugh.  Beautiful when clean and shiny, but every drop, fingerprint, smudge, drip could be seen for miles.  First you wipe it down, then you dry it, then you shiny it.  EVERTIME.  I am not that kind of house cleaner.  I got better things to do.

5.  My Oak Cupboards.  UGH, UGH!  I have lived with Oak cupboards for 25 years.  I loved them in the 70's, I liked them in the 80's, I put up with them in the 90's, but now I wanted something new and different.

The in between stage: It was a mess for 6 straight weeks. Be prepared to be flexible, think outside the box and sweep, vacuum, sweep!  

Choosing, Shopping, Decisions, Not the right side, not the right color, will it look good with this or that, will the cupboards be to dark and make the kitchen look smaller, do I want to move things around, get rid of the pantry and get pantry cupboards with roll outs, what can we save on here to splurge on there?  To be honest, what I thought was going to be the fun part, picking out everything, became a real pain in my neck, REALLY!

So Here is the final revel. Drum roll, please!

We have a different island that I order from Crate and Barrel,  It is grey with stainless steel top and places 4 small grandchildren to sit.  (I will try and get a updated picture of the island) 

I love the height of the fireplace not,  It is very contemporary looking and sleek. 

Hope you all enjoyed the show,  Please leave comments, I would love to know what you think.  Thank you for stopping by.  

FREEDOM My word of the year.

Freedom to Fly.

Freedom to Live.

Freedom!

This is going to be a exciting year.  I have broken free from my chains. Chains of should do's, chains of have to's, chains of need too.  It may seem strange to many of you, but being a mom, daughter and now grandmother, I have been there for all of my family's needs.  That was my priority, other's needs before mine.  And that will still be a priority but what has changed is choice. A choice to choose to have freedom to do whatever I choose.  I took away the must do's.  The rules.  The should's.  

This is the year my youngest will get married and move out into his own home.

 This is the year my oldest is having his 3rd child.  This is the year my husband of 39 years is retiring from his present job with the teamsters. Freedom. Letting go of children living in the home.  Letting go of the daily routine of my husband going to work.  Freedom to go or do what ever we want.  Freedom to blossom. Smell the roses. Discover new places.

Visit old and make new friends.  

Squeeze all our love ones.

Freedom to breathe.   

Road Trip! 

Happy New Year 2014 WOW!

I know some people look behind to review what they have accomplished last year.  And that is nice, it gives you a nice pat on the back of all you have accomplished.  But I really like to looking ahead and this year is going to be so much fun; full of adventure, additions to our family and a change in lifestyle.
Such a Exciting year ahead. *******
 1.  The baby of the family is getting married, He finally proposed and she said yes.  No date yet but this summer I think.  We love her and think God has certainly blessed them already and He brought a great couple together.  So I need to plan the Rehearsal Dinner-something fancy.  I need to lose weight to look great for the wedding pictures.

  2. New week the kitchen redo is going to get started and hopefully finished by Feb. We are getting new cabinets, counter-tops , tearing out the desk area and putting in a grand buffet serving area. We are keeping the same floor , same foot print to keep cost down.  But I am redoing the fireplace area  to match the tile of the buffet and back-splash.  
3.  After all these years, 30 to be exact, my hubby will be retiring from Teamsters.  He worked for Pepsi 15 years and Cassen's Transport for 15 years.  He has worked so hard in putting food on our table, roof over our head, cars that work and gas to put in them,  Private Christian Education and help with College Education.  He has been a very hard working husband and has done a fantastic job in helping raise our family BUT- now our very own personal adventure begins.  That means to me- Getting to really know each other again, Time to learn new things together, Going new places to experience, Letting God lead us!    I can't wait!
4. We are also getting another grandbaby that will be here in June.  We hope it is a boy with the name of Joseph G. Haines IV   but momma wants something different for a name.  We will see,  maybe by next month we will know the sex.    We are also praying for another son and his wife to conceive.
5.  Fiber Artist for me.  I really need to step up my quilting Projects.  I am planning on 24 quilts this year.  2 a month.  Some will be bed size and the majority will be for Contemporary Art Display - 3 D, textural, embellishments.   I also plan on Display at several Art Fairs and Quilt Festival.  I plan on 2 classes with Fiber Artists that I respect to learn new techniques and pay particular attention to my quality.  I want to get my Art "out there" and maybe make some money for my hobby which I want to turn into a business.  I want to spend less time on time wasters.

Here is to a great year to you and yours.  Happy New Year: 2014.

a new way to put a pic into my blog

 Here is my finished "Danger" Fiber Art. 
I am still working on how to do this picture thing! 

"Danger"

I have been working a some fun fiber art.  The 1st is my deer picture called 'Danger'. The challenge of my Fiber Art Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/237798473026812/ was picking a thread color out of a bag, I got a grey blue color thread.   I didn't have any grey blue fabric in my stash so I went to the quilt store and picked 5 blue grey colors, light to dark.  Of course, I fell in love with the Batiks.  They were pricey but it was well worth it.  It really turned out great.  This is the beginning set up.  I used a pattern for the deer at Bernina's We all Sew (Luke Haynes) website. http://weallsew.com/2013/09/23/deer-quilt-sew-along-with-luke-haynes-week-one/  After I placed the deer, danger seemed to be lurking around every winter dark corner.  Run Deer Run.  The wolves are hungry.  

Here is the finished quilt 

2013-11-13 16.20.17.jpg
I have been working on getting my pictures from phone to dropbox to my blog and this is how I have to do it?  I am stilling working on getting it from my phone to my blog directly.  This is becoming so confusing and if I die will anyone know where all the pictures are?    If anyone can give me any ideas on how to make this easier, please let me know.  maybe I will just have to go back to my phone and it's little chip.  It was much easier.
I also made my mother who is 89 and has Alzheimer's.  She loves matching shirts with her jackets because she is always cold.  We use to be able to purchase them in Shipsewana, Ind.  But I can't find where to purchase them anymore except thru a catologue so I made her a set with snowflakes.  She loves her pockets for all her Kleenex.

Bored of Dreams???????

My Dreams have all come true!
Family that loves each other!

House on a lake with fabulous view!

Adventures- First kayak ride, First Fish, First Horsey Ride:

Beauty:

But it all comes down to this,  This is from my Grandmother:

Let me live in a house by the side of the road, Where the race of men go by, The men who are good and the men who are bad, As good and as bad as I.  I would not sit in the scorner's seat, or hurl the cynics ban, Let me line in a house by the side of the road and be a friend to man. 

My grandmother had 4 daughters and her husband died, she married soon after to a man with 4 daughters. She had 10 more children after that.  They lived through the depression, she worked at home in a 2 bedroom home, my grandfather was a barber and kept his boys busy with shinning shoes and selling papers.   They taught them to love the Lord, work hard, lean on each other and work through their problems.  They survived, had fun, hated and loved each other and left us with a legacy that is so wonderful that just blows me away.  Two of the children are still alive and I am so thankful to be born to this family and I am so glad that I have passed that on to my own children.  In the end, it is not about houses, views, gardens, or anything you own, but how you treated others, how you raised your family, how you loved others.  

And when you get bored of your Dreams, or bored with life, remember what it is all for,  Not yourself, but others, not your own desires, but what does God desire for you.  Thank you Lord.  Thank you.