Perfect Fit (Weds, 01/16/13) Day 1,391

I see my mom's Mother's Day sweater fit perfectly. I was a little concerned because I had needed some measurements & she did them herself, one handed & then called me with them. Then I had lost them, then found them & finished in time to get it to her for the Christmas party on the 12th at Sue's last Saturday.
 
It is always nice when you make a gift or anything for someone to let them know you got it & how you like it.  Best ever is to send them a thank you & a photo.  It shows you really appreciate the time & love they put into a heartmade gift.  I guarantee it will make a difference in their day ♥

Being There (Tuesday, 01/15/13) Day 1,391

We were truly blessed to spend a time of remembrance with friends. Long drive down to Missouri was well worth it to be there for Lynn & Annie, as well as the rest of the family.  We met the other children.  Some we had met before; but really did not remember.  Others for the first time.

Ken, Lynn's sweet late hubby, had such a wonderful & diverse group of friends.  Can't call them acquaintances because they were truly friends.  Right to the heart.  Ken was just that way.  He was a friend of the best kind, you couldn't ask for a more genuine person.  He will be missed & remembered.

A teddy bear for you kind sir, 'Love Bears All Things'





Good time remembering & being together.

Insurance (Monday, 01/14/13) Day 1,392

I finally have health insurance starting in February. Gonna cost a mint; but accepted so for the first time in 8 years will start getting those preventative tests done. Sure praying for positive results ♥

It is so hard to be a blessing to others when one is worrying about their own health.  Our country is such a mess, especially in caring for its people.  We have it all mixed up & the current proposed is not the answer.  I honestly do not know what is; but so many doctors & nurses have said that will not do it.  It won't cover so many & there will still be a majority left to be hanging uncovered.  

Best we can do is offer a hand, give a listening ear.  When someone doesn't feel well we could bring meals, or do shopping.  Be there to lend the support that we can.  Ask, offer, reach out....

Town Support (Sunday 01/13/13) Day 1,393

A small town in Northern WI cam together in support for Lakken's Benefit. So many people, not only gathering to come & celebrate Lakken; but to do whatever was needed to help out.

People who won cash prizes donating them back to the family & so many smiles. I enjoyed watching her smile & seeing her smother Eddie with shaving cream. He was a trooper too. He did 3 turns in the pie face. Not a lover of whipping cream didn't slow him down at all, then twice with the shaving cream. There were several who took turns behind the pies. Carter was very patient waiting with his dollar to get Mr. Eddie & he got him good!!!!! Eddie even came out from behind to give Lakken money to get him a couple extra times, he loved every minute of the attention. Lots of smiles too.

Knitty Group (Saturday 1/12/12) Day 1,394

A difference in my life occurred while at a birthday party yesterday. Chatting with several of the ladies, we decided we would like to form a small knitting group. I have friends in other parts of the country that have these groups & seem to really enjoy them, so I am excited to be part of one.

Ours will be a bit different, since I will be teaching most how to knit, crochet & maybe quilt; but we will enjoy this & praying together. Most of all the time we spend together just sharing & chatting over stuff like we did yesterday. Learning new things, talking & praying about things & who knows. 

We hope a few young ladies will join in so we can share some of the old arts with them, passing along the past & present.  Not only in crafts; but in ways that they can honor themselves & God in the way they behave, act & dress.  So many young ladies see ads on tv & in the magazines that tell them they must dress & act in ways that attract men to them, when in reality men are truly attracted by young ladies who act & dress like young ladies.  You can dress pretty without being revealing, you can be attractive without a lot of make-up or cleavage.  Your skirts can be a decent length & still be just right.  Showing too much leaves nothing to the imagination or for your intended.  I'm sorry if I sound old fashioned; but I do believe that my body is only for my husband & others don't need to see what is there, not that they would want to anyway.  That is not the point, we need to protect our youth; both girls & boys.  They need to know they have value & that we hold them valuable.  

So our goal is to not only enjoy the arts of old; but to have a time of prayer for our nation & our youth, as well as each other.  A time to honor God & His ways, to be able to share & just have fun.

Thanks to Tauna for taking the reins & organizing our little group. Can't wait to see what it becomes; most of all a relaxed group of friends. ♥

Healthy Choices Day 1,395

Today my choice is being thankful for healthy alternatives that taste good & don't cost an arm and leg. With my hubby having health issues that surround his heart & me having a funky thyroid that added unwanted weight, we are always looking for ways to eat healthier; but within reason.

Mashed potatoes are one of his faves, so add cauliflower & mash with chicken broth. When we do noodles I cut cabbage & add that. Tonight it was spaghetti sauce on spaghetti squash. No noodles at all, extra tomatoes that we froze this summer & lots of garlic. Add in chunks of chicken breast for the meat.

End of summer we dig up Jerusalem Artichokes & add those to our mashed taters. He still gets his taters; but it increases the veggies. Many more ways too, just need to be creative & look around. Ask friends & family. Desserts aren't shorted on either. Chocolate cake is a favorite, green tomatoes work great & you can substitute apple sauce for oil.

Yup, enjoy food & eat healthy. Wouldn't hurt to get back to those 9" plates either, eat smaller portions more often, snack on 'good for ya stuff', & move around. Enjoy!!!!

This can make a difference in so many lives of those you love!

WI Weather Roller Coaster Day 1,396

Mid-January, Northern WI & it is raining. Strange, very strange indeed. Interesting, not freezing on the roads; but strange. In 2 days the temps are supposed to drop by more than 35 degrees back to normal January temps.

Already I have seen a hard killing frost on my birthday, the day before the first day of Summer. That is June 20th folks.  We plant our gardens up here during Memorial Day weekend the end of May.  Luckily, that year, I had several tomato plants waiting to get in yet in a protected place.  So I was blessed.

 Corn crops suffered greatly though, that did not do well that year at all.

 Never dull in WI; but wouldn't trade it either.  I do truly love living in WI on the Weather Roller Coaster.  I tried California for a few months, Christmas was a terrible time to be there.  So in my 60 1/2 years of life, I spent just over 6 months living somewhere else.  Never again, I will die in WI.  I don't like being out in the cold; but I don't want to live anywhere else, either.

Spring in Winter Day 1,397

Wow, middle of January, Northern Wisconsin & temps are in the 40's.  Everything is melting; but it is only for a day or two then the chilly temps will return.

A beautiful Spring day in the middle of Winter. It is nice to see & feel the warmth that is surrounding the Northwoodz on this mid-January day. Not breaking any records though. Last year we were even warmer; but still a beautiful warm day & enjoying it immensely. Loving the break from the extreme cold & though not looking forward to its return, I know it is a necessary cycle of life. It's okay & we will hunker back down & knit some more when it returns. Till then breaking out the grille & having a barbequed treat for dinner. 

Maybe a nice walk with your hubby or a friend.  My hubby is off sharing apple turnovers with a friend of his.  He recently remarried, it was two years ago this week he lost his wife of many years to a long battle of cancer & he just had a bout of the flu.  I figured he could use some warm turnovers & some time with my sweetie.  I needed to wait on the UPS fellow anyway, he has a package that needs a signature.  Sometimes guys just need time alone to chatter too, my guy is a social butterfly & it does him good to have time alone with his guy friends.  I know his friend's new bride will find something to do & let them have this time, so won't be a problem for her either.  I have some knitting to catch up on, too cold to do it outside yet; but have been scraping some ice that gathered on the deck.  Good days to get rid of that too.  

Yup, always nice to have a touch of Spring in the middle of a long Winter stretch.  Enjoying it a great deal.  How about you???

Enjoy the warmth, for winter returns in a couple days. If you are one who ventures onto the lakes to fish, remember the ice is not as thick either; so use caution. ♥

Ken Day 1,398

My blessing 1,398 is being dedicated to our friend Ken Mason♥  He has been such a wonderful inspiration to my hubby & myself; as well as to so many others that I couldn't help but take this opportunity to share this blessing with others. We took this special photo last year when we went on our honeymoon (after 30 years of marriage). It is one we will treasure for years to come. Much laughter & joy was had in this visit & the ones that followed.
 
He is an awesome guy with an awesome legacy, touching lives with God's love, as well as his own. Loads of joy & laughter, a love of life & all things living. Never a dull moment with Ken, he truly makes everyone know they are special & means it with his whole heart & soul. He is an amazing man, found he good in absolutely everyone & everything.
  Well, it is just a matter of time now till our friend in MO goes home. His body has pretty much given out, he is tired & wants to go home, they have sedated him to keep him comfortable. We are all okay with it, his wife is okay too, I talked to her earlier today.  He took ill not long after our visit in May, though he had probably been ill long before that. The journey in the hospital has been up & down, very difficult. We were down there in September & will be going down after his passing. We were going down this week; but Lynn said he wouldn’t know us & to wait as the weather could go warmer before God actually calls him home. So we will wait. 

In all honesty I smile when I think about it. We will miss him dearly; but every memory is an absolutely beautiful rose that bring a huge smile. That is what his life is & was, the only way to describe the ‘old rooster’ as his wife calls him. Can’t help but smile when you think of Ken. Anyway, there are many small children who will miss their grampa dearly. Heavy hearts, blessed to have had them in their lives; but happy to know his destination.  ;♥)

Ken is one person who made a difference in so many lives.  When he gets to Heaven there will be many people shaking his hand saying 'thank you' for a lifetime to come; but he will also be one who doesn't expect a thing.  It was just his personality & character.  A truly amazing man of God who we are blessed to call family & friend.  Thank you Lord for bringing him & Lynn into our lives. 

Creativity Day 1,399

Wow, I can't believe it has already been 60 days since I started counting down from 1,460, right after the election.  Today I am so very blessed by Creativity.  Thanks again to Susan O. for posting this picture which inspired me.  

Personally I have been blessed with gifts from God, I haven't taken classes to learn my crafts; just took books or experimented.  The fun part is that I don't really know that isn't supposed to be possible to do.   So I do it.  If I want a stitch to look a certain way, I take risks in my stitches to make it turn or look that way.  Not in the conventional way; so some say 'you can't do that'.  Why not?  It worked, didn't it????

Or the way I do quilts, I definitely break the rules in how they should be done; but it works. I do art quilts in my own way, achieve what I want & it works.  So what if it is different, it does what I would like it to.   One thing is for sure, I have made lots of mistakes; but I have fun. I learn ways that do & don't work.  Thomas Edison did the same thing, it was how inventions came to be created.
Creativity is NOT limited to fiber art, it is in whatever you enjoy doing. We have a sister who used to, maybe still does if she has time, enjoy rewriting computer programs. She enjoyed doing it & was creative at it. It can be in anything at all, just stretch your imagination & follow the steps shown above.  Any or all of them.
Each person is creative in 'their own way', look at what you enjoy, be creative in a positive way & ENJOY the journey.  Encourage your children, friends or anyone...this is what makes our world great!!

Laughter Day 1,400

I tend to be an overly serious person, so today I will share this little scarf poem & the blessing of laughter. Thank you Susan O. for posting it, laughter is a wonderful blessing does so many wonderful things. 

 

Besides being contagious, it is good for health. They say it relieves stress & increases endorphins which is a healthy item in our body.  Did you ever see one of those giggle boxes that had a baby laughing?  My it took a mighty cranky person not to at least smirk with it, most would start laughing too.

Recently, Lenny, Linda, Eddie & I went to dinner after Linda's Christmas concert.  Something Lenny said struck Linda & me so funny we could not stop laughing.  Most of the folks around snickered & grinned.  The table next to us really got cranky, I felt sorry for them; but still could not stop laughing.  We kept it low; but it was obvious we sure enjoyed our laugh.  I still smile when I think about it.

When was the last time you had a good laugh???  When you shared a good laugh???  Just a though...

Laugh on.....

Inner Peace Day 1,401

It is good to feel much better today. I am glad it was something passing. So many have more serious things that are afflicting them. Lots of flu & colds going around.  So many so seriously sick & even ending up in the hospital dehydrated & needing fluids.  Then that dreadful cancer in so many more people & forms.  I can't believe how many of my close friends & family have been affected.  Many other illnesses affecting our bodies.  It is scary to even imagine them all.

We need to really take time to take care of ourselves. Eat right, do what you can & I guess be happy.  I know that probably sounds strange; but being happy is important.  It is proven that stress adds to illness.  We need to each analyze our own situation, try to figure out how to reduce what we can in stress & take the steps.  No, we cannot relieve it all; but we can reduce it some.  

We have only this one body & one life. I guess my goal would be to make the most of what I have been blessed with. God has truly been good to Eddie & me. Some think we don't have much; but we really do, just not in things.  Our home isn't fancy, our vehicles are older & a bit rusty.  We don't have a big bank account or fancy clothes & nothing fancy in electronics; but we have peace of mind & spirit.  We know that God watches over us & has our back.  It doesn't mean we don't go through difficult times; but rather that He walks by our side & holds our hand when we do.  Brings folks to us, to give us support, morally & prayerfully, as needed.

There is a peace that comes with this kind of blessing, it doesn't come with more things, it is something that doesn't need more stuff.  More stuff seems to breed the need for more stuff; but this kind of peace seems to breed that feeling of content.  Not needing a bunch of stuff; being happy with what you have & if God leads you to give it away that is okay.

Make good use of your time, do those little random acts of kindness, enjoy your life 'for real', not just surface enjoyment; but from the heart & soul. Make it count!! ♥

Friends (Friday, 01/04/13) Day 1,402

Sorry, I was sidelined by not feeling so well last night. More something I ate in my old age than anything serious.

Anyway, I was blessed yesterday by friends. We had a wonderful lunch with Patrick at the Curtiss truck stop, with our favorite waitress Lisa. She truly takes care of our (& all her customer's) needs with a genuine smile. It is always a pleasure to go there. She enjoys her job so much & is very good at it.

Patrick is the widowed friend of ours.  His wife was a good friend of mine.  We enjoy his company often & we make it a point to go to this restaurant a couple times a month.  He & Eddie chatter, I knit & eat with them.  We do have a good time.  We go other places too, always an enjoyable visit together.

On the way home Eddie asked if I had heard from my friend Liz.  Then when I go home I rec'd a call from her, hadn't heard from her since Christmas & we had a great chat. We don't get together much in winter since we both drive over an hour to meet in the middle, so our chatting time is precious. I can't wait till Springtime, we will get together over lunch, share what we have been working on & laugh for a couple hours.  We do this 3 or 4 times over the warmer months.  We also have Eddie take the kids out in the boat for an afternoon or two of fishing.  They really enjoy that time well spent while Liz & I sit back & observe the 3 of them.  

It is always a great blessing to be able to talk to friends on the phone or in person. Was only a couple days ago, I heard Lynn's happy smile over the phone too. Her hubby has been so ill for almost 9 months now.  When the weather is nice, we tend to make a wrong turn & pop down for a visit.  That wrong turn is a several hundred mile drive & entails a couple nights in a motel; but so worth it for all the smiles & well wishes it brings. I am truly a blessed person. 

An added thought, my sister commented on facebook how she lives close; but we seldom talk.  When we do it is usually in depth & quite interesting.  When she needs something we make sure she has it & we follow her closely on-line.  Often we drop off little surprises that we collect on our travels, those 'in the hand' items I am talking about below.  I guess she forgot about them.  I am somewhat of a hermit & to those who read this, it is important to remember when you think someone has not contacted you to ask yourself if you have contacted them.  Not being unkind or anything; but I can tell you that she has not contacted me either.  If she has a need I do hear from her, then I try to meet it; but to just say hello there is seldom a contact.  I do like my isolation; in fact I prefer it.  If you want to write or call & smile, I would love to hear from you.  If someone wants to call & complain is the only thing, not so much; but I will listen.  Just don't count on me to maybe be making the contact as often; but I will still do the little personal items & touches.  Just not so much the ear to hear.  :)

Remember to give someone you care about a call or drop them a note (virtual is nice for a quicky; but in person, paper & voice are the real blessing) People have gotten so used to just doing things by texting or on the computer they seem to forget the lovely feel of a card or photo in their hands, or how wonderful to hear someone's voice or best yet to see their smile, face to face.  So don't let this modern age take away the best forms of communication completely.  Take time to say hello in an old-fashioned way.  ♥

Date day with Hubby Day 1,403

Blessed to spend a great day with my hubby, Mr. Eddie. We did a large laundry day. Including sheets, blankets & jackets. We try to break it up more; but with the holidays, it ended up being quite the load.  We had 4 big front load washers & 6 dryers.

My hubby is particular about how some of his garments are folded, so since he retired he does those himself.  I always sort them into their own dryer.  By the time I folded the other 5 dryers, he still had not finished t-shirts & skivvies.  I think we ladies could teach the Marines a thing or two on how to fold much more quickly.  LOL The ladies at the laundromat always think it is neat, they love watching him do each fold exactly as if he were still in the Marines.  I giggle, to myself, I did them my way for many years & they were just fine.  I'm not complaining, it is that much less I need to do if he is doing them.   At least he helps now & if he wants to do it his way, so be it.

Then we did some shopping, got a good buy on a new king-size blanket.  It is so pretty, I made it the new bedspread & moved the old one to the position below it.  Picked up new chips for the camera & some yard goods for the memory quilt that is coming together nicely.  Then we finished up with a few groceries.  After that we headed over for lunch at China Buffet. I had my usual egg drop soup & a plate of mixed toppings, Eddie ate his usual plates of items I cannot eat.  This way he gets to enjoy foods that I am allergic too.  All in all, it was a really enjoyable day we spent together.  Quite pleasant indeed.

Home to get the bed made & relax. Yup, we had a good day. Thanks Mr. Eddie!!!

So many couples think they need to do a fancy date to have a good time.  Yes, it is important to take time to be together.  Put away the electronics, have a conversation & enjoy each other's company; but it can be done while doing every day thing too.  You can do quality time even making the bed or preparing a meal together.  The important thing is to take time to be together, just the two of you.  If you have kiddos, you still need time for two.  Not just bedroom time (though that is important); but special time for two & also special time for the whole family.  Make this a priority & you will make a difference in your family & how they interact with others when they are away from home.

  

Good Food Finds Day 1,404

Today I was able to enjoy an awesome lunch with Eddie at a new 'to us' restaurant. We ate at the Rose Den Cafe in Stanley, WI.  A little place on a back street, out of the way, kinda hard to find.  I was thrilled to see that they even have a facebook page. 

 The special was heartmade spaghetti & meatballs with garlic bread, a large piece of chocolate cake for dessert. It was DELICIOUS. Our first time eating here, we will be back. The prices compete with McDonalds & the food surpasses them. It was only $7.00 each, & way more than enough to fill us up.  After adding a pot of coffee & can of soda it came to $16.00.  Heck, you can't beat that. 

You can sure make a difference in a person's life by taking them for a delicious lunch at a special place, or maybe sharing the location & a gift certificate to go along with the knowledge.  For us it was that someone told us about the restaurant.  We went the day they told us; but it was a Monday & they are closed on Sunday & Monday.  So glad when we were in the area today, we decided to try again.  It was worth looking into.

  Truly a blessing!!!!!!

Chapter 2013, Page 1 Day 1,405

I am so blessed that I am around to begin another year. Love new beginnings. Every day is one, get to start over with a clean slate. Well, today is page one in a new book of 365 pages. I start a new journal, start to read the Bible through again, another photo album on Facebook, this year we plan to tour Wisconsin for our mini-vacations (may still shoot down for those occasional pop-in surprise visits to Ken & Lynn in Missouri; but basically we want to see more of our state). Just lots of new beginnings all start with day one of a new year.
Happy Page One of your New Chapter .... What did you write on it today????

 I plan to keep a daily log, a journal of 365 pages so to speak.  Including my Bible notes & whatever I accomplish throughout the day.  Picked up my new one yesterday.  I think it will be fun.  How about you?  Maybe you could gift someone a blank book so they too could have a journal, share with them interesting journeys you take through life & the Bible.  

 Praying your trip through this chapter is blessed in many different ways....