She's Still Sewing...

Killian, here...

She's still sewing! Plus today she went over to Scarlett and Elizabeth's to teach Scarlett how to make her "special" rice pudding.

Plus she's been reading a lot at night - Know she finished a book by Sandra Brown last night. It was Tempest in Eden. She said it was good. Know she got some books from the library yesterday - but, can't remember what they were.

She was really sad yesterday. Seems Grammy told her that she didn't know who she was and treated her like a total stranger. I think it is really hard on Mommy when Granny slips away like that. I tried to make it all better - and was next to her all night while she slept.

Well, later - ya'll...

Happy Birthday, Daddy...

My father, George C. would have been 90 today had he lived. He passed away on August 16, 1970 at the age of 51 from complications from what is now called COPD.

I didn't know him very well. My parents divorced when I was seven...I think. I can remember that my mom packed us up and took us back to Puerto Rico, where I went to school at a Catholic school for a few months.

Then my grandmother (his mother) sent for us to come back to Tampa - and I remember my dad didn't live with us anymore. And, I was in the second grade.

When I was 20 I received a phone call asking for my father - and I was taken by surprise to know that he was living across town from us in Tampa. We tried to get to know each other - and I think we made our peace before he died.

It took me a long time to forgive him for never keeping in touch with us or for living in the same town for so long and never looking for us.

That is a photo of the painting I have of him - not sure how old he was in it - but, that is pretty much how I remember him.

I never get through St. Patrick's Day without thinking of my dad...

Projects...

Been working on these back scrubbers for the OWOH giveaway. They should be done by this week-end. Tried to have them done last week-end but then with all the things going on with Scarlett - I didn't have time to finish them.

Have also been working on a special class project where the final class will be this Saturday - and I hope to post photos tomorrow. (Pat, just for you!!!)

So, Scarlett left today...after we spent last night making two music cds - one to be played at the chapel service...and the other at Helen's celebration of life.

Now, I'm off to have dinner - cooking myself some really good blueberry pancakes...with lovely fresh blueberries...

Scarlett...

Scarlett's mother, Helen, passed away at 3:15 a.m. this morning, February 21, 2009.

Scarlett, her family, and those of us who loved Helen are doing as well as can be expected. Funeral services will be in Florida next Saturday.

It's In The Mail...

Several folks have asked if I took some photos of the quilt for Tara, my daughter, before I popped it in the mail.

The answer would be yes...The quilt fits on top of a kingsize bed - She has a queen size and wanted it to hang over the size...

This is the entire quilt - you can click on the photos - and you can get a better view of it...

She will have it in time for Christmas - even though I worried about it as I was sewing on the label at 12:45 this afternoon...

Edited by Sara:

There are in this quilt:

672 - 2-1/2 inch squares (including seam allowance)

105 - 4-1/2 inch squares (including seam allowance)

449 - 2-1/2 x 4-1/2 inch rectangles (including seam allowance)

None of the colored fabric is the same - therefore it is considered a charm quilt.

An Early Thanksgiving...

Today was the annual Thanksgiving Day Luncheon at Clough Center - where mother resides. The dining room was decorated beautifully and the tables set with the good china. Family members were invited to enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving Day meal with their family member.

Staff members from the CEO down served the meal to the residents and family members. And, it was good...Turkey breast, dressing, mashed potatoes, squash, green beans, cranberry sauce, and gravy. Dessert was your choice of apple pie (which was awesome), pumpkin pie, or chocolate cream pie.

Parking spots were reserved and all family members were made to feel very special.

It was a really nice time - and while Mother really didn't understand all the goings on - she enjoyed having me there to eat a meal with her. (Even though I do eat meals with her - I explained that this one was special and that it was Thanksgiving!)

I am thankful that she is doing well and seems to be content where she is. And, I am thankful that I have come to accept the stages that she is going through...and that she lives in a very kind and loving environment.

Good News...

Daughter is home from the hospital! She is doing much better! And, just needs to take more medicine for a week or so and check in with her primary care physician - and get another chest x-ray in a few weeks!

I am a happy camper...

Now, I'm off to the grocery store as I am craving "steelhead trout" for supper tonight!

Update on Daughter...Bloglines...

Daughter is still in the hospital...but, hopefully she is going home today or tomorrow. It is pneumonia! But, they are treating her well and she is getting better. She is rather restless - cause she's just used to being out and about...but she has done well for this being her first time in a hospital other than when she was born.

She doesn't want me coming out there - and she is probably right - there isn't much I could do. (well, besides being an overly concerned mom!) But, I still worry...

Oh, and Bloglines is down...and has been for a while - so, I will be reading blogs as soon as it pops up!

My Corner of the World...

Here we have the gym that is next door to the college. It you follow the sidewalk you will end up at the round about.

Other news:

My daughter is currently in the hospital as a result of an asthma attack. Please keep her in your thoughts.

S is for...

Sisters...

Mary Ellen is my only living sister. I had another sister, Evangeline, but she passed away when she was six months old. My two brothers passed away went they were both a day old.

So, this is my sister -

Here she is in front of her pond and garden - it was a magazine shot - for a pond show that was being done for the Humane Society where she lives. The two four-footed children are Maggie May (the one with the black face) and Russell. Both are Jack Russell Terriers.

This is Mary Ellen's wedding photo - She and Michael have been married 28 years.

This is one of my favorite photos of her. Loved her wedding dress...

And, this would be the family on that day - Mom, Mary Ellen, me, and Tara. Tara was the flower girl...age 4...and I made her dress...it was a beautiful cream colored eyelet material - trimmed with ribbon to match the bridesmaid dresses. Still have that dress in my cedar chest.

Handling things from far away...

I'm not good at handling things from far away. I'm a worrier!!! Class A, Card-carrying worrier! And, today is really trying my worry meter!

Daughter lives in Phoenix, Arizona! I live in New Hampshire! She is in the ER!

Somehow she got a cut on the cornea of her eye - they think it was from something that flew into the eye...but, there is concern...and they are sending her to an opthomologist. They were going to send her in an ambulance to another hospital - but, she just called and said that she is going to an opthomologist who is open today - and had an appointment available now. Of course, they gave her a narcotic to calm her down - and she can't drive...and none of her friends are currently at home...so the hospital is sending her in a cab and then bringing her back there once she sees the opthomologist!

So, my little worry meter is just ticking away...

Oh, I was three numbers away from winning the car...but, it was fun to go. Three hundred people qualified - and I think all 300 showed up to try and win that Malibu!

Update: Tara called and she is home safe and sound - a little woozy from the meds - and I couldn't get much information. But, she is not in pain now - and they gave her some medicine and I'll know more tomorrow - when she is able to think and talk rationally.

My daughter's quilt...

Tara's quilt is just about finished. It has been quilted - by my friend, Colleen. I had begun to hand quilt it - but, it was going to be at least a year before it would be finished ... and with the size of the quilt - I felt that machine quilting it would be best.

Showing it off for at the guild meeting where Colleen delivered it that night.
The quilt is a almost a king size one - well, it fits on top of a king size bed - and my daughter has a queen size bed - so, it will hang over the side.
There is a record of the number of pieces in this quilt, but I don't have it handy - none of the colored fabric blocks are the same...none! Now the binding will be added (again - none of the fabric will be the same as is in the quilt already) and a signature block will be added to the back - with a border of 2-1/2 inch squares surrounding it - they won't be the same fabrics as are already in the quilt either...

Hopefully, it will be in the mail to her in the next month.

Please keep in your thoughts...

Please keep the following of my family and friends in your thoughts this week...things are not going so well for them...

My friend down in Salem, MA, Rhonda - her husband had a very serious accident from a fall this past Saturday and has had to have immediate brain surgery. He is recovering but needs all of our thoughts and prayers!!!

My sister and her husband had to take Russell back to the vet for another bout of surgery. The first surgery came back and the margins were dirty - which means he was not cancer free. They are hurting very badly as Russell and Maggie May are like their children as they have never had two-legged kids.

Helen, Scarlett's mom, also suffered a fall this week and has serious injuries on both her arms - she is in a lot of pain...and having to have the dressings changed every day - very similar to having burn injuries...

It's not been a very good week!!!

Thanks...

My Baby Girl is 32 Today...

Tara Danielle

June 27

Happy Birthday, Tara!!!

We love you!!!

Tara Danielle and Mom (yes, that's what I looked like 32 years ago!) Tara was 6 weeks old when this photo was taken. We had the entire family there - her great-grandmother, grandmother, me and my sister. She was wide awake until we went in to get the photos done - then she fell asleep...So, we have photos at 6 weeks old of her totally asleep...

92...

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Enjoy your 92nd year!

Mother's Day...

What my Mother Means to Me

Recently while going through my files I found this paper folded up and carefully tucked away.

It was written by my daughter, Tara, when she was nine years old as an assignment in school. It then came home for Mother's Day that year. Re-reading it touched my heart the same way that it did 22 years ago. (It should be clickable so you can read it)

Have a wonderful Mother's Day!!!!

Guess Who's 60!...

My sister!
That would be her on the right - Mary Ellen! (Of course, this photo is 11 years old). She turned 60 on April 11th!

So, Happy Belated Birthday, Sis!

(I waited to post this until she got internet at home - as she now can read my blog! They are a little behind the times!)

D is for...

Daughter!

Tara Danielle - my daughter ...(she turns 32 on June 27)! Memories are so strong of carrying her and her being born during that frantic night when everything that could go wrong went wrong. But, she was a stubborn little thing and we both held on...and made it then...and continue to make it now!

She is named for Scarlett O'Hara's home in Gone with the Wind...and the Danielle part was because I wanted to reflect our French ancestry...that and the fact that Daniel was one of my favorite songs playing at the time. (Had she been a boy - it would have been Jared Daniel)...

This photo was taken at the Phoenix airport - in October 2006. We haven't been out to see each other since then...
Above in her kitchen. She is one of the most wonderful housekeepers - her home is always spotless.
And, here she is taking care of one of the stray cats in the neighborhood. Her heart is so kind and gentle. She loves animals and cares for them whenever she can. She had been working with this little cat for a couple of weeks and finally got it to come this close to her.

There is never a day that thoughts of my daughter don't cross my mind. She is always in my heart and thoughts and I miss her terribly. Some days more than others...

Shopping Day...

Off I went this morning - to the quilt shop! And, the yarn shop! And even managed to treat myself to breakfast (at Noon) at Denny's!

The quilt shop was so fun...and I bought some really pretty fabrics...wanna see?

The yarn shop yielded this little item - since I sometimes don't feel like dragging out the swift and the ball winder...and setting it all up...Update: This little item is a hand held ball winder - (boy, i hope that doesn't get some weird google searches!) Didn't think to say what it was!

Talked with my daughter for a little over an hour and it was so fun!

All in all - a nice day!

And, for those of you who have e-mailed or commented on wanting info on the new cookbook - I'm planning on reviewing it tomorrow.

We've had snow falling since about 1 pm today - and it is still falling...

Please Welcome...Griffin...

Please welcome my new grandson...Griffin. He is an Australian Shepherd/Sharpei Mix. My daughter, Tara, adopted him yesterday. Isn't he adorable???


Edited by Sara: If he looks a little sad, it could be that he is missing his eight brothers and sisters. Yep, there were nine of them...how precious!