A Week of Re-organizing or ... Welcome to the Cotton Closet!

Actually this began more than a week ago, approx April 22nd I think. But the most progress has been seen in the past week, which is why I haven't been blogging. My sewing room is a 9' x 13' bedroom which became unusable due to the amount of fabric and other craft stuff in the room. It was in bad need of a makeover. Well no one from HGTV was ringing my bell, and I didn't have $1,000 to throw at it either so I figured we'd see what a bit of good old fashioned elbow grease and a few dollars here or there could do. I have a running pictoral of it here but I'd like to tell you how it started...with fabric occupying one wall in these little cubicle bins I had put in from the local superstore. they were cramping my fabric and I couldn't see all of it. I needed a solution where they could lay out flat. I needed shelves and the closet would keep it out of the harmful daylight sun so it wouldn't fade! So my hubby built shelves in the closet and away I went, filling them from fabric I was finding everywhere... I'm STILL finding it.. but it's a lot more organized now, and it's easier to put things away when you know where they go, and have the room to do it. Take a peek at the pictoral trip, and stay posted to see the ending result. Here's the room so far. Thanks for tuning it!

The birds are singing

The birds are singing, the sun is shining, and all is well with the world. Well, my corner of it anyway. No reason in particular, I just like to look out my door and take in all that God has given me to appreciate. I like to remind myself that no matter how bad I think my problems are, someone else has it worse somewhere. It's all perspective. . . and faith. Faith that the door soon to be opened will show itself. So I continue to look for doors. I think it drives my husband nuts, and maybe a few of my friends, but hey, they are my doors I'm looking for, so I keep looking.

I'm an idea person, I've been told this and I also feel it myself. I get tons of ideas, and mostly good ones. It's the problem of how to follow thru on them and turn them into reality that challenges me. I can usually think it thru to a certain point, then I don't know where to go from there.
I think what I need is a company that is willing to "take it from there and run with it" for me. We'd both make a LOT of money I think. So if you're out there, and you're a "take the ball and run" person or company, looking for an idea person, I'm your gal! Call me! (well, email me)LOL... until then. . . Later!

Always have witnesses

April was an odd month for me. Several things got in the way of me blogging and I can only hope going forward that will cease. One thing that changed my life in April was my underestimation of a certain person.

Girlx will be what we'll call her, not to protect her, mind you, but to not add search results based on searching of her name. It's too late for anyone to protect her, she has already become the person she apparently chooses to be; and at such a young age. It's sad really. But the lesson I learned is invaluable. Never let your guard down, when you know someone wants you "out of the way". You will walk straight into their trap.

Why does someone choose to mess with another person's life? Don't they have a life enough of their own? Shouldn't they concentrate on their newly married status and enjoy the new life they have in a new country, living with a new husband, the world at her fingertips. Why is that not enough? Ahhh yes, the friend she wanted to bring over. The only thing I can think of, is she needed to make room for the friend. No, that would be too obvious. There must be some other reason to whine and cry and lie and file complaints about a person that did you the favor of bringing you to the new country, to reunite you with your fiance, and to take you into open arms welcoming your arrival. I know that is not the way I was raised to show gratitude. I just don't understand it.

Not only did I recommend her to come to this country instead of our hiring someone else to replace our dearly departing team member, but I also recommended her to continue on in the team to follow the end of that project. Wow, that will teach me. Or will it? Do I really have to give up on human beings just because one person chooses to act like a spoiled child? Whatever her motives were, this childish behavior, which didn't belong in the workplace, should not steer me away from believing that basically Most people are good at heart. I've believed that all my life, tried to look for the good in people and teach that to my daughter as well. I will continue to do so, and just learn from this experience that those people Do exist out there, and don't let yourself be left alone with them. Always, always have witnesses.

Happy Easter

Easter is celebrated on the Sunday immediately following the first full moon after the vernal (spring) equinox. It can fall anywhere between March 22 and April 25.

That's Today. Happy Easter. Today is the day I thank the Lord for the sacrifice of His son Jesus.

As a child I attended a church where we celebrated Easter with a Easter Sunrise Service out on Lake Michigan. The congregation gathered at the church and carpooled down to the lake. We assembled on the 'rock' of Fullerton beach and our minister offered a few prayers, we sang a few songs, and I believe we had a short sermon. Then we all traipsed back to the church for a pancake breakfast. It was cold and windy on the lakefront, and earlier than I ever wanted to be up, but somehow these are the memories I refer to as fond memories of my childhood Easter.

Day 2.. or Day 3 ?

On day 2, or was that 3? I'm not sure as I think I lost a whole day travelling. So today we had a nice day with just the twins, burping, feeding, and BATH time. No, I didn't take pictures... maybe next time. We also watched a movie named "Once" which was about an Irish vacuum repair man/songwriter and a girl, and at the end of the movie we finally realized they never named them during the movie. Even the credits called them Guy and Girl. ! lol

Anyway, it was a nice mellow day. Oh I did get a short trip to the mini market. I plan on going again tomorrow. But today I bought 2 cans of soup (Lobster Bisque & Cock-a-Leekie (and a container of creamy rice with rhubarb... very yummy!

On To England

After a long hard week (or 2 or 3) I was really looking forward to getting away - spend some time with my daughter, and my new grandbabies! This trip couldnt have come at a better time. Well, ok, yes it could have, but I did need it now more than ... anyway the story begins in Bloomington.

I arrived at BMI airport, a nice small airport and sat for a bit enjoying some water, and logging on to the FREE wireless internet they offer. YAY Bloomington. There was no line for security, in fact I didnt even see the Security people so I'll take my time... 10 minutes later, I looked up and there was a line 3/4 the way down the hallway! Who were these people?? Where did they come from? I asked one and it seems there was a softball team travelling, ok... they will be gone soon. Well at 4:40 they still weren't gone, and I thought I needed to be on the plane at 4:45 so I started getting panicky. Nothing I could do tho, the security guy said, just get back in line lady (he didnt care that my flight was at 5:15). So back in line I went... soon to notice John & Adam from work wandering around the airport. They had come to see me off! How nice that was, too bad I had to stand in line, but they stood and chatted with me until I got to the head of the line and needed to go thru security. Thanks guys that meant alot that you showed up! It made me forget for a bit that I thought I should have been in line earlier. Good thing I wasn't or I'd have missed seeing them.

Ok so here is a sculpture I was looking at while waiting for them to call boarding for my flight... interesting...
they are Horses made of wire, or cable since it's so thick, just running in midair. That's about as long as I had to look around, then we boarded the plane. Nice plane, a lttle small, but we only had a little over an hour flight to Detroit where I'd get a bigger one to go to London.

The flight was fine, no turbulance, no problems. Nice and smooth, thank you Lord. Even the landing was quite smooth for a landing.

In Detroit I went thru this tunnel first to get to the terminal for International, then I came out and found this fountain. I couldnt capture what it was doing, but it was set to a computer generated pattern to turn parts of it off and on at different times to make the water appear to be dancing. It was quite entertaining..
I found the next gate and then searched out dinner at a nearby restaurant (Tequileria), great cheese/chicken quesadillas, altho if i get to go there on the way back, I want to try the Salmon Quesadillas.. they were out of them this trip, but they sounded delish! Onward and upward, off to London we go.

Another nice, smooth flight, but very very long. And sitting next to someone who doesn't talk, can be quite frustrating for the likes of me. So I got some sewing done, some reading, and watched The Bee Movie, which I had been wanting to see. It was very funny. We landed early! I think the windy weather might have helped us along... a good tail wind will do it every time!

After arriving, I got thru Passport inspection and customs rather quickly and after a small to-do about which coach I should take to Cambridge, I boarded a coach and away we went. It all happened rather quickly - infact the coach driver waited on me to board as he was running 15 min late himself, so there was no time to call my daughter or anything. I figured I'd deal with it later...but Later in Cambridge, I heard there was a bus for Ely and if I called my daughter, it'd take her at least 30 min to get there. I'll just take the bus. So I did and managed to call her just before boarding it saying I'll see you in Ely at 3:30 on Market street... and we did. I was soooo glad to see her, I didnt care that it was out in the street, I just wanted a hug.


The rest of the day was spent with the babies. Holding, feeding, burping, walking, they are lovely. I only got the one snap above of Grace, but I'll get more this weekend. That was her in my lap, and it only looks like she's holding the bottle... hands aren't quite big enough yet. But they indeed are little gems. Like their mother. Talk to you more later!

Sewing Retreat was a BLAST

Yup - it was fun. The house was as cute as could be, there was a full kitchen, stocked with dishes, pans, etc and FOOD. We had brought our own food basically since we didnt know about the food there.. but it's nice to know that Next time (Yes, NEXT time) we dont have to take popcorn. The only part that bothered me, was the sloping floor in the work table area. I think it bothered me because I am sensitive to strains in my back, and i had shoveled a small amount of snow that morning to get to my car. So by the end of the weekend, I could barely move. So I won't sit in that spot again in April. Photos? Oh yes here are a couple.

Sewing 'n such

Yep, that was the last vacation we took. But today I'm getting away on an overnite Quilting getaway. 7 of us ladies are heading for a quilting retreat where we can sew our hearts out (or on) for 24 uninterrupted hours! Well, we do plan to break away for dinner at the famous mexican restaurant a block away, but other than that, it'll be sewing haven for us. I'll see what I can do in the way of pictures when we get back.

The Vacation

Day 1
Quite interesting having a talking GPS unit guide you to your destination! I kinda liked it. and she didn't mind what i called her, she just kept on directing us. We stopped in Springfield for lunch, at Panera Bread, favorite hotspot with free WiFi.
Got online, found a hotel in Hannibal, MO and booked it. Oh, and the Salmon topped salad was excellent! We even found time to stop at the local JoAnn Fabrics there...(go figure) just across the parking lot from Panera... I got to use my FIRST Flyer coupon! YAY!!!... then on our way we went... We found the hotel perfectly, with "Chickie's" help and checked in. After throwing our stuff in the room, we went to try out the restaurant on the corner for dinner, Fiddlestix, it was Great! The oddest thing on the menu was a side dish of "melted white cheese". The waitress says people use it for dipping in with chips or whatever. We didnt try it. Back to the room... Upon entering the room we found it freezing. So I went to turn down the A/C and on the way i cracked my ankle on the bedframe, it hurt like nothing has hurt beore... lots of ice went on it and left it there for hours. In fact i fell asleep with it on.

Day 2
We went to downtown Hannibal today, walked thru a bunch of stores, took a trolley ride.. which really upset my stomach, then found the quilt shop and all was right with the world!... I just cant get used to the stores here not allowing the public use of their store restrooms. One lady did and I was so grateful, but the next one directed me to a public restroom building a block away! Yes, they were clean, Very clean, but they were a BLOCK away!!! Anyway, enough for one afternoon, we headed back to the hotel for a rejuvenation period. YES, a NAP. Well, "he napped" and I posted to my blog. Ok? Later we're going to the hot tub! and dinner. Then we'll see what tomorrow brings. Oh, we did find one Geo Cache, full of stuff, so we left something, and took something, and logged it in the book. Yay... I think that's #18 (thanks Derrick)

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