One

A little grand girlie I know is turning ONE. Hip, Hip, Hooray!

I fired up my sewing machine and made a Happy Birthday Tablecloth
(and bib). The table cloth has a plain aqua colored backing fabric.

The reason you ask? So each year on her birthday, they can use the tablecloth, trace around her hand print, have all the guests sign their names and when she is old she can write her own name each year. I think of it as an ongoing keepsake. Easy to fold up and store. Quick and easy to build a tradition and memory.

Don't worry your pretty little head, I saved half of the fabrics that I used. I want to be able to have the materials to make another one for grandchildren from the other set of kiddos.

So we have the rocky moose, the tablecloth and bib, yet the present that makes us the happiest is the savings bond. Yep, we ordered it in plenty of time. When it came in the mail and saw her name printed on it, well it made my heart and soul do the happy dance. The savings bond will be given to her parents (she does like to put everything through the taste test first these days). We will explain that there will be a savings bond purchased every single month for a certain amount. Then we will give them to her on her 18th birthday for her education. We will explain to them the amount we are planning on today. We kept the amount reasonable, in case we get lucky and have 9 more grandchildren, each will be treated equal. We give a year of college/university/mime school/whatever her fancy. With her parents and other grandparents helping along the way, this little grand girlie will be on her way.

Some presents just make you feel good to give. We both are proud and happy of our choice of gifts.

Happy Birthday sweet Zoe Carina, Happy Birthday!

"Life is full of decisions, and when you find you've got one right, it is worth celebrating!"

Why he IS Mr. Right

Today, on the way home from work, Mr. Right stopped to buy lemonade from a
road side stand.

Five kids were selling "Raspberry Lemonade". They had a table and table cloth and mom was up on the porch watching. The lemonade cost 25 cents a paper cup. A FULL paper cup the sales lady told him. He asked the price. Another girl told him it was twenty five cents for each cup full.

He got a $5.00 bill out of his wallet. Then the children started to figure out the change required. Mr. Right said keep the change. Another girl said we have to go ask my mom if that is okay.

Then a FULL to the brim cup of cold lemonade was presented with great fan fare. One of the kids said HEY, there are five of us and you gave us $5.00. wow.

Mr. Right drove home happy, making a quick stop about a mile away from the stand to properly dispose of the cup and maybe a little of the liquid.

Five Happy Kids $5.00

Why I married Mr. Right, PRICELESS.

Happy Summer to all of us!

A Balancing Act

As of late, my balance has become so poor. Using a cane most of the time now, has caused me to rely on one leg more than the other. When just standing still or walking some, I loose my balance. Last night while harvesting all the Lavender in our backyard (something I usually enjoy) it was more of an effort to keep upright than enjoy the process.

I admit to loving the balance between the chocolate and the peanut butter in a certain candy bar cup. When they created the HUGE one cup, the ratio was off and it wasn't balanced. boo hiss

While living in Alaska, outdoor play for our kiddos was sometimes out of the question. Mr. Right built a balance beam for inside. It was downstairs near the washer and dryer. The boys would practice and play while I practiced my "hobby" of never ending laundry. One boy had some trouble and got frustrated easily. One boy
hopped and jumped and laughed while holding his blanket and toys and stuffed animals.

I am the girl who loves popcorn. However, on movie night a small bowl of raisins set inside the bowl of popcorn to go back and forth..........oh well, swoon, that's me, smiling and loving the sweet and salty.

It never occured to me that grown up folks would not know how to balance and ride a bike. Come to find out, the two new grown up girl additions to our family, neither one knew how to ride a bike. Trying to explain balance to an adult is a trick. Good news, both got great lessons from Mr. Right and we are happy to annouce both ride with ease now. (Man I love my red bike with the wicker basket full of yellow flowers.)

The other night, Mr. Right and I had to talk over some "stupid" medical and yucky stuff. Then when we were finished he said okay...now it is time to talk about planning our cruise! So we spent just as much time plotting and planning the good stuff as we did the bad stuff. Yeah for balance.

Everyone of us has had to figure out the balancing act of being a mom and a wife and working & studying, goofing off and playing and trying to make it all seamless. We all fine tune balancing our budgets.

We all have to graciously figure out how to pray for others and lift them up and then on the flip side, ask for prayers for ourselves once in a while.

"the circle of wellness is supported by (both) movement and stillness"

Like I said, Balance.

big girl panties

One week from today, I will be having my fifth knee surgery, this time a total knee replacement.
To say I am nervous, anxious, upset, in constant pain would be an understatement.

I am a GREAT prayer warrior for and supporting others. I am trying to find the Grace to ask for myself. So, I humbly ask for your prayers for August 2nd. A few positive thoughts, good Karma might not be out of the question either. Oh yes, and maybe a prayer for Mr. Right, as I might not be the "sweetest" person to be with right now or the days to come. Thank you sincerely. I appreciate your thoughts and will graciously welcome your prayers.

We found out the surgery date in May, this has been a loooooong time coming. I have two appointments left to go, this Friday.

So, I will just have to put on my big girl panties and walk through this. I will say I am so looking forward to stopping all the drugs at some point. Vicodin daily is getting weary on me. Yesterday, I started my pineapple a day therapy for the next three weeks. Today we start all kinds of good juices and positive steps.

Over the weekend, our bedroom was painted and scrubbed and cleaned and made new and germ free. The double pained windows were taken out and scrubbed inside and out. New blinds, reupholstered the chair, new table skirt and cloth, new pillow.....every little nook and cranny were scrubbed and sanitized for a germ free environment.

I am so looking forward to snorkeling while on our cruise in March......

pillows of goodness

I just love the scene in the movie "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" where John Candy and Steve Martin fall asleep in bed together. They awake sleepily to soft, fluffy pillows................THOSE AREN'T PILLOWS! So funny.

Once while enjoying a lovely Sushi meal with Son number two and a very sweet girl, we were given a plate to end our meal from the owners of the restaurant. All I can say is that it has been a few years now and we all still remember the melt in your mouth pillows of crispy goodness. sigh.

We have purchased so many pillows over the years. We can't seem to get it right. We have bought el cheapo to the most expensive. We have bought down and polyester. We have purchased foam to get this.....buckwheat hull filled! Boy was that puppy LOUD to sleep on! We have selected huge, European, regular, body size, King size,
rectangles of supposedly fluffiness. Some have turned out to be hard as rocks, some you sunk into and plunged your head right into the mattress.

Vacationing a few years ago at a very nice resort, neither of us remembered to bring our own pillows. We were not happy with the hotel pillows. urgh. At one point in the night, I woke up thinking gosh, our dog looks comfy and cozy, I wonder if I could "borrow" her pillow. Come to find out the next morning, Mr. Right had woken up with the same exact thought! ha

Over the weekend, I sewed a new pillow for our bed. At one point in our lives, we had fourteen decorator pillows that we pulled off the bed each night and artfully arranged the next morning, every single day in and day out. The new pillow I made, I used only supplies that I had on hand. Left over fabric from a project, the backing fabric left over from a chair cover and the pillow stuffing from a pillow I was throwing away. I learned to make the roses on the front as well. When I tossed it on the bed, it made me happy. I love the design and the fact that it was all from supplies I already had. The new pillow sure added that final touch to a cleaned up, fresh bedroom makeover.

Before painting the walls, above our bed, the words "sleep perchance to dream" were stenciled over our bed. Somehow willing us to have a good night's sleep.

Oh, how I love a wonderfully well made bed and fluffy pillows and a restful night's sleep.

I have been the recipient a few times of little worry dolls. They come in a little sewn pouch and are made of colorful yarn. You are suppose to tell them your worries. (I have 12 miniature dolls.) You are suppose to then put them under your pillow and they will take away your worries while you sleep. Sure I have read and re-read the bible verses that say you are not to worry. However, I must say I slept pretty darn well last night. Those 12 miniature yarn dolls did their job. They carried my worries for a few hours. I really, really hope they forget to return them.

"We are shaped & fashioned by what we love". goethe

Really, 26?

It is sort of amazes me to think back 26 years to living in Alaska and having a baby. Son number two is 26 years old today.

Considering we all think of him as the "baby", he has some wonderful traits for a "baby". He is uber artistic, talented and creative. He is kind to animals and very intelligent. He is respectful of others and very insightful. I secretly love to watch him do dangerous tricks with his skateboard. (The mom on the outside says, oh be careful, wear your helmet, should you be doing that?) I love that he snowboards and runs. He is fun to have lunch with and can hold his own when it comes to comedy and laughter. If you suggest playing a board game, you will have a friend for life, especially if it is Cribbage. He is someone you WANT to go to a Hockey game with. His exuberance is infectious and so intense.

In this day and age, one of the unique things about son number two is that he doesn't like "things". Oh, don't get me wrong, he has the best skateboard and snowboard that his money can buy. He gives really great and thoughtful gifts to all of us. He owns a very nice car. He just doesn't like to receive things as gifts.

He never has a "list" for a Christmas wish list. Nor does he have an Amazon gift list. So when you ask him what he wants for a special present, he says nothing.

This personality trait has forced us, his family and friends to give him experiences instead. It has made us use our brains and come up with unique and creative ways to tell him that we love him. Last year we told him Happy Birthday and we love you by way of Ducks' Hockey Tickets and pizza and sodas to be delivered to him at the game.

This year, today, by way of overnight mail, he will be opening our gift in front of the UPS man. (They are friends and he will want to see what the gift is.) We are saying Happy Birthday with tickets to tour Hearst Castle. We included, a gas card for the 227 mile drive, and lunch at their favorite restaurants. A little bird told us that "someone sweet" is giving him a kayak trip that is
going to launch right near that restaurant.

Coming up with a special experience to give, makes us happy. It makes you giddy with happiness when you decide on the PERFECT gift to tell someone you wish them pure happiness. That is what gifts are suppose to be. They make both the giver and receiver happy.

Son number two sounds so blah, okay, Gabriel Arlen Arthur Wilson is a good man with integrity, respect and a little mischief all mixed together. Happy Birthday, son, Happy Birthday.

"The only true gift is a portion of yourself" emerson

Cabin Fever

About 25 years ago, we used to live in Anchorage, Alaska. If you drove to
Portage Glacier it was about 44 miles. That was the end of the paved road.
Sometimes, we got a little antsy or cabin fever. Some of those dark days
of winter when the sun would come out around noon and disappear again around
3pm, would not be as uplifting as they could be.

I am not able to ride more than an hour now in a car without becoming the
Queen of Grumpiness. So trips are out for now. No walking on the beach, no
trips for a fresh change of scenery. Back in the day of having two little
boys at home, no car, no extra "travel" money, now that was cabin fever.

Today, son number two sent me a gorgeous site of the world's largest pool. Sadly,
it is in Chili, so a dip in the cool, blue water is a bit out of the question.

I have quilted and sewed and read, read, read. I have tried to rest. Sleeping through the night is out of the question now with pain. Still I wait.

I guess, I am suppose to be enjoying this time of solitude and calm. I miss seeing and meeting people. I miss going out to lunch or to a craft store. I hope that someday, we will travel again and go places so often that I will forget to write on my blog or will be too busy to do so.

"the circle of wellness is supported by (both) movement and stillness."

I need to find the grace to believe that.

numbers

A celebrity couple just had a new baby and apparently
thought the word "seven" would be the ideal middle name.
The next time son number one and son number two ask and
whine a bit as to why they have two middle names, I will
gently and oh so sarcastically tell them "at least either
name is not a number".

Some people live by the numbers game. I never really thought of
myself as a numbers person, I guess I too count and calculate
throughout the day.

This morning, I went on a "slug hunt". So in and around
all my flowers and plants and vegetables on the deck, I
counted (and sent to heaven) 17 slugs.

I did 2 loads of laundry and shook out 3 area rugs. One hummingbird
came a calling and there was one bunny in our backyard.

I used the telephone and punched in the numbers to call
and order son number two a GREAT birthday gift. I just
get all giggly (yes, that is a word) when we figure out
the perfect gift for the kiddos.

I had two iced coffee's today. I did 25 repetitions of
each stretch band exercises with my arms.

So far today, cut out and assembled 12 new quilt blocks.
The colors are cheerful and happy and a delight to work
with.

I am enjoying one bowl of soup for lunch.

Unfortunately, I am well aware of the countdown in the
number of days until my surgery. It makes my stomach
do flip flops and my hands get all clammy.

Friends we know had one baby girl named Olivia this week.
Back in the olden days, before son number one was born,
I thought "it" was a girl and called her Olivia. Heaven
only knows how many numbers of dollars that therapy will
cost in later life?

Nine people were on our prayer list this morning all
having concerns and issues. One prayer candle is going.

Yep, I guess I am a numbers gal.

"It is perhaps a more fortunate destiny to have a taste for
collecting shells than to be born a millionaire." rl stevenson

SF

It was 3:30 am and I was suppose to be jumping out of bed to take Mr. Right to the airport. Didn't happen. He went, I didn't. My leg was not cooperating and I am unable to drive today. As I type this morning at 9:00 am he is walking into a meeting in San Francisco.

I asked the usual, how was your flight? He flew Virgin. He said instead of working the entire flight, he played video games. With the use of head phones and the screens in the back of each seat and the lure of the almighty video game called to him...........he said time literally flew by! Sort of nice to hear. He said when you walk on those planes all the windows are closed. There is purple neon lighting up everything. He said it was pretty neat.

The last time we were in San Francisco was March of 2002. It was our 20th wedding anniversary trip. Unforgettable is the perfect way to describe it. First thing as we stepped into the hotel room, Mr. Right accidentally broke his toe on one of the suitcases! Then we noticed that both suitcases were locked and we might have left the keys at home. We made a phone call to the front desk. They sent someone to cut off the locks (not the toe). Knock at the door, I jumped up to get it. I kid you not, I opened the door and almost fainted. It was a women maintenance worker. Love that women work all sorts of jobs, amen. Anyhow, she was well over 6'5" tall, was a very buxom (love that adjective), large and in charge "Rosie the Riveter" type of gal. Some people just fill up all the space around them. She wore a work jumpsuit and carried these HUMONGOUS bolt cutters (I think she could have just used her bare hands) two quick snips, done. She said, have a good day and quietly and surpisingly graceful gait, left. We were silent. We looked at each other and fell on the bed in hysterical laughter. We belly laughed and laughed until we had tears. You can well imagine the next five days of vacation, sometimes, out of the blue, we erupted all over again. We broke down in tears of laughter in the parking lot of the California Palace of the Legion of Honor (Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco), Alcatraz, Bay Cruise, Cable car, Golden Gate Bridge, Chinatown..... & these are not super funny places. Heck, I am smiling now thinking about it.

We chose the restaurant to celebrate our 20th anniversary. We read about it on line. We called a taxi. We were dressed and happy and anxious. Never mind that it was the taxi drivers first day on the job & he spoke Russian, only Russian. He dropped us off on the corner because of construction. We walked about a half a block. There in front of us was the boarded up and abandoned was "our" restaurant. As you might have guessed, fits of laughter. Standing on the sidewalk in Chinatown. While standing in our good clothes in the middle of a construction zone, trying to come up with a Plan B.

We were hungry and asked a teenager shop keeper a good place to eat. She told us to where to go. It was one dirty looking door, no name just the address number 854 (burned into my memory bank), dumpy, sad, not inviting in any sense of the word place. Hey, we were hungry, we opened the door. There were seven tables, the only sign written in English said share tables if seats are open. They only spoke Chinese. It was a family running the place. It was called "Lucky Creation Vegetarian Restaurant". They called one of their teenagers, who spoke English to come talk to us. Of course we were extremely, extremely over dressed and he asked us why? We told him it was our 20th anniversary. From that moment on, we were treated like royalty. We were treated with kindness and fussing like you have never experienced. As we could not read the menu, they chose what we would eat. Oh my, one of the best vegetarian meals of our lifetime. It was indeed lucky that we ended up there. Unlike anything we have ever experinced, we felt a true sense of celebration and kindness towards us. It was almost insulting the small amount that they charged for such a wonderful meal and experience. We left a generous tip, bowed to each person and thanked them.

Our holiday unfolded with the honor of dining at "Millennium" quite possibly the best restaurant, ever. We were honored the next night to dine at "Greens". Our reservation was chosen, window table, for the sunset, over the Golden Gate Bridge (yes, you can request that exact time and they have several tables reserved for that). We experienced Ghirardelli Square, and Pier 39. Mr. Right gave me the most elegant string of pink fresh water pearls with matching earrings to celebrate. That vacation, I was offered marijuana on a city bus (I was polite and said no, but thank you for offering). This time Mr. Right dissolved into laughter. We also experienced a man with a gun one evening as we made our way to dinner. The cable car conductor was full of personality and made it the perfect time to roll with laughter.

Technology is a fickle but lovable lady. The review we read on line about the restaurant forgot to tell us they were no longer in business. I have already received a couple e-mails and a phone call from Mr. Right today while on business in beautiful San Francisco. The same amazing technology of our time, will bring Mr. Right home tonight for a late supper at our dining room table. I will use technology to share this blog with a niece planning a trip to vacation in SF.

However, something tells me that our "Rosie" is still out there with her simple, sturdy, bolt cutters helping another couple make great memories full of laughter.

Grace Happens. Sometimes disguised as laughter, but oh it happens.

Fireworks, shave ice and quilts

One of the best parts of Fourth of July is the firework display. Oh sure, when we had youngins' living here, the evening was always, always eventful. Always, something to laugh about or fear. Pretty good memories. Let's just say, that yes indeed Virginia, polyester pants on old ladies visiting, do indeed melt when sparks land on them. Lots and lots of melted holes. So funny, I can still work up a good belly laugh, even today.

For the last few years Mr. Right and I journey on post to meander through the festival, buy a Hawaiian Shave ice (this years' combination, orange and blue raspberry). That ought to be just the right amount of colorings, chemicals and red dye to last us both pretty much all year long. ha.

This year it seemed there were a few more soldiers on base. A couple fewer "single" moms taking their family to the festival alone.

We bring a picnic and games. This year was Cribbage. I hate to actually admit it, but we each won one game. dang. I wanted to type that I creamed him.

Quilts, that is what I really want to talk about. Once our bellies were full and we had played our games, our chairs were set up in the "perfect" spot, our glow bracelets and necklaces were snapped and glowing, 3-D glasses ready, we sat down. To wait, and to wait a bit more for the show to start. I started looking at everyone and all the quilts I was seeing.

Quilts that grown men wore around their necks looked like super power capes. Quilts tossed on the ground for moms and babies to sit. Quilts to warm legs, eat picnics on and used to wrap around two 8 year old best friends forever. I saw energized (by cotton candy and Shave Ice and Kettle Korn) boys doing somersaults on quilts.

The Military police close some of the roads on post. Everyone is looking for the ideal viewing area & setting up their chairs, everyone is staking their claim.

On a military post is the best place to watch fireworks with your military man. As you might guess, once a military man always a military man. They don't like to sit in the open. They don't like to sit in the middle of a closed street, and relax while "bombs" are exploding all around them. They like their back to a tree trunk, they like to observe what is going on. They don't like loud noises. They can't relax. When you see every available working Military Police and off base police walking, looking, standing behind and surrounding the roped off areas, police on bikes, on horses, on Segeways , you totally "get it". Shshshshshsh, don't tell the "commies", but the military men let down their guard just a bit and sort of relax for about 30 minutes. Oh don't get me wrong, they are wound tighter than a spring in an old broken grandfather clock. Their legs may be crossed, but those legs are bouncing up and down. They may have on shorts and t-shirts and ball caps and give you the impression they are relaxed. This is one wife that will tell you it just isn't so.

Just before the show starts, a young couple with what looks to be a brand new baby, carriage, supplies, camera, sodas slow for a moment, while he tosses down a hand made quilt onto the pavement. They make camp. They sit and hold each other and whisper to each other and try and sooth the little baby. They do a good job.

Any true and honest quilter will tell you that is what a quilt is for. At first your breath is sort of sucked in, then you relax. Quilts were not made so they could hang in museums for people to hold with white gloves and marvel at the tiny hand stitches. Quilts were made to bring comfort and love. Honestly, they were made to be tossed on the pavement. They were meant to be used and provide a little cushion and a whole lot of safe feelings.

Happy Fourth of July to all and especially to you quilters. You done good. There were a lot of very happy people watching fireworks being comforted in many ways by your quilts.

That my friend is America. A young married couple, sitting on a quilt, stealing a few moments of peace and grace.

Thank you firemen and women.

It was 1988. We lived at For Sill, Oklahoma. Our boys were little and loved the "pop" of fireworks and the sizzle of sparklers. They were in awe of the loud bangs and the "bombs" exploding. They were typical little boys. They had spent days prior to July 4th talking about what they were going to get. What they would get their Dad to buy. They even decided it was so important that they would spend their own money on some fireworks.

Of course during the day, we had a picnic and they were dressed in jean shorts and white t-shirts with Old Glory splashed across the front. We went swimming. We ate red, white and blue everything.

The time was coming near. It was after dinner, they knew it wouldn't be long now.

Here's the thing, we lived in the middle of a fireman's nightmare. We were used to days topping 100 degrees. As you know, the "winds come sweeping down the plains" swiftly and constant in Oklahoma. We were tinder dry and a stray spark could and would cause major damage.

It was time. We all piled into the van. The boys were most helpful with carrying bags of fireworks and the grown up's lawn chairs and the cooler with some cold drinks. Off we went. We drove and drove and finally found the exact spot.

It was a kid's paradise. One huge area (a couple of acres), roped off with neon ribbons, firetrucks and firemen in uniforms. I mean the real deal. Boots and hats and gear and more gear. Every single fireman inside the roped off area, carried a fire extinguisher. The boys carried their supplies and found a spot. They set up. YIPPY, they got to light off fireworks and watch everyone around them and be happy and cheer and squeal as only little boys can. They loved watching the firemen put out the sparks when they started on the ground. Firemen walked the perimeter to make sure a stray spark would be put out immediately.

Thank you to all those firemen and women who volunteered kiddo duty. Thanks for your part in allowing our little boys to experience a safe and happy 4th of July.

Here's hoping that every single firemen/fire women is bored silly this 4th.

God Bless America.

cookies for fun

Last night after a really lovely dinner the time had come for .....wait for it.....
dessert.

So I brought out the bake cookies, cups of homemade frosting and jars of sprinkles.

Mr. Right and I ended up spending an hour or more, decorating cookies. Just for fun.

No reason, just good laughs.


Happy Canada Day! Let the celebration begin!