Time Out

 There comes a time when we need to stop, regroup, prioritize, refresh, organize our thoughts and goals and objectives.  Sometimes, that happens when we go on vacation.  Sometimes it's on a spiritual retreat.  Sometimes it's a physical ailment.  Or you can just fall apart  physically and literally cannot move another muscle.

This has recently happened to Hubby.
My main squeeze since 1970, life partner since 1972 and all round, Best Bud, Confidant and Sympathizer.  He completes my overwhelmingly Right Brain.  I depend on him to quilt.  I can put together fabrics and designs, but how in the world it gets geometrically together, I am adrift.
And vicey versa, I venture to say.
So when he is down, I am hindered.
When his body, already weakened from a variety of ailments in the last few years, came to a grinding halt,  I take notice.  The last three weeks it has been my job to nourish, nurture, encourage and heal his wounded spirit, beat up by physical exhaustion.

We all knew it was coming.

But what I didn't now how much fun getting better could be.
We have had a blast.
Hubby and I have languished in our little nest called our bedroom, watching old movies and laughing ourselves silly over comedies that we watched in our early dating days.
We have eaten Squash Pie and drank hot tea on rainy days.
We have enjoyed working on meals together and actually eating together at the same time.
We have embarked on home improvement projects that I thought were relegated to the next owner.
We have traveled to doctor appointments in The Big City, only to have them lead us to meandering  country adventures.
We have taken long walks with our doggies night and day.
I have brought him up to speed  on the goings on in our community during those walks.
We have sat near our fireplace and sighed.
We have plotted and planned what retirement could possibly be like next year in light of our rested, silly, relaxing Time Out.
We have realized that our time together is vaguely reminiscent of our early years of marriage, nearly 38 years ago.

He is much better, thank you, and shall be returning to work soon.
But I will cherish these past three weeks as some of the better days of our marriage.
Funny how that happens, Right?

Extreme Physical Therapy

As you recall, on a previous post, I mentioned Hubby's Unfortunate Condition.  His infirmity that has brought on bed rest and being off his painful feet.  He was quite obedient and agreeable to nearly one week of this kind of Treatment.  Monday, as I was on a Mission of Mercy with Crazy Dee, Hubby put together all his extreme determination, and decided that he would put in our kitchen floor.  I had casually mentioned in bed a few nights previous, that I believed that I could install the floor myself.  My kind and sensitive Hubby refrained from the rank hysteria that he could have in imbibed in but instead became very quiet.  In retrospect, I imagine that he was figuring out how in this green world that he could get his poor, weak body out of bed and get the jump on his impetuous and inaccurate Wifey.  I believe he plotted and planned about the minute I was out the door on my MOM with CD.  I could see him weakly wishing me good bye and promising to feed himself lunch and maybe a sigh or two to affirm to me, that he was safe on his own for a bit.

Sucker.

By the time I got home, almost six hours later, I found him on the kitchen floor, crawling around pulling up our old kitchen linoleum tiles; island and all its contents on the dining room table.  This is no small feat.  There is electrical in the island and the Heaviest Cookware known to man in the drawers of the island.  This crazed man defended his actions by telling me, rather convincingly, that he wasn't on  his feet that much; that he was just crawling around, using his soon becoming flaccid biceps, to do the work.  I gotta admit that the LAST Thing I expected when I walked in the door that afternoon, was my kitchen completely torn apart in preparation for the new floor.  As things unraveled, Hubby admitted that he had been reflecting on how he and I could do this in time for my BIG EVENT at the end of July.  Of course, I referring to the First Annual mama's collection of Friends Crafting/Spiritual Retreat.  I am giddy with the thought of having those near and dear to me and to crafting, sharing my home for two and a half days, while we indulge in the craft and each other's company, sharing our skills and our need to know.  Having a needy kitchen floor did not truly dampen my preparation, but Hubby knowing me as well as he does, KNEW that it would mean a lot to me, if the floor was finished.

Thus the incredible push to wellness, or at least the appearance of such, that he took on this mammoth task.  To most, one would say, 'Well, according to the ads, Deb, this lock/install process is a snap!  What's the problem?'  My maiden name is Murphy and our philosophy is very similar to the very accurate Murphy's Law, 'if anything is going to go wrong, it will.'  Pulling up the tiles, Hubby could see that the underlayment, was indeed damaged by the water problems that popped the tiles.  Parts of the underlayment would have to come up.  Scratch that, ALL of the underlayment would have to come up.  And then, What's This??  Ooooo.  Water damage penetrated the nearly 100 year old original fir floor.  Yep.  You guessed it. A 4X8 section of this antique floor would have to come up as well.  And you see by the photos, we were hanging onto the floor joists, pulling up the planks, Hubby doing his best crawling/pulling, me doing the best bending, fetching, carrying/cleaning/all foot work and back work as dictated by The Boss.  Due to the intensity of the work and the infirmity of Hubby and the necessity of the work to a dead line, we completed this whole job without a cross word between us.  A miracle in and of itself.  Forty years of co laboring must have counted for something.  We both agreed that this might be the last floor that we put in.  It was a bit taxing on our old bods.  So your saying, 'So Deb, don't you have help?  Don't you have friends or family that could have helped up?'  To that I say, 'Of course!  We have several that have offered their help, nay their complete service to our Kitchen Floor Project, but compassionate man that Hubby is, he KNEW that trouble was brewing under that ol' floor and he was not going to ask anyone, especially a friend to invest that much time and labor into such a labor intensive project.  We actually had a fun time.  She says days later.

And as you can see in the last photo, All's Well That End's Well.

Hubby only had one day and a half back in quasi bed rest to recover.  So far.

The Son Shines Bright.....

Finally!
After two days of persevering, the photos uploaded!
The morning after I made the first Sunny Shiny, this is how I found it in my sewing room the next morning....
..... Completely back lit from the glorious early morning sun of a beautiful spring day! The little felt sun just glowed and I smiled to myself, thinking of it as an affirmation from the Main Creator.

It's been a hoot to cut out the thirty main pieces/60 side pieces along with the 180 little rays..(thank you 2G's mama, for your generous assistance with the Ray Cutout!) I so love yellow and I so love felt that the effort seems most effortless....Take that into consideration, with the open windows in the sewing room, the chirping birds entertaining me, the light, inspiring...Well, I could do this for a long time.....

It just started with an 18x8 inch oval..

Side pieces of nearly the same dimensions...(a little wider to allow for the curve)

And six little trapezoidal shapes that formed the perky little points that will be gently stuffed for a more dimensional affect..(template made by Hubby remember; if it was up to me, I would have free-handed all of it, having 30 completely unique and probably wonky suns at an otherwise lovely banquet...

Love it when it comes together.....

40 Years of Birthday Sharing...

Hubby does not particularly care for cake.
He'll eat it but if he had his druthers, he is a Pie Man.
Makes 'em and loves 'em.
There in lies the dilemma.
I make terrible pies.
Been at it for many years, but I just lack 'The Touch'. You pie makers know what I'm talking about.
Every year I set out to make a springy, Lemon Meringue Pie for The Hubby's Big Day, and each year I'm disappointed in the result. My grandmother made amazing meringue so each year I have these great expectations that somehow, through osmosis or some kind genetic Pie Gene, that somehow it shall be grand.
Hasn't yet.
So this year, after much deliberation and some really great recipes offered in the Woman's Day April 17th issue, I convinced Birthday Hubby to switch to a new birthday dessert. And even though he has always been kind about my meringue failures and my massive crust disappointments, even he was ready for a break.
Lemon Blueberry Cheese Tart.
Yes. That is it. We both agreed to break with tradition (for some traditions just need to be dealt with, can I get an AMEN?)

It involved a food processor. Okay. That's good. Something to blame if it goes south.
Good ingredients; lemons, blueberries, almonds, cream cheese...

Simple ingredients, non complicated arrangement, a little oven participation and...

Ah Yes!
And it's beautiful as well!!!! Aesthetics seem to be an important element to my Dessert Standards...

Happy 57th, my Dear Hubby!
And may your New Year be as sweet and beautiful as your new Favorite Birthday Dessert!

Midwinter's Night Dreams

Doesn't this about say it all?
The mid winter blahs. Post holidays, pre spring, gray, dark and drear..
Sigh.

What to do, what to do, what to do.....
Here's what Hubby and I have been doing this week..
Going to bed early!
Last night found us with a sniffy, post H1N1 vaccination Hubby, kinda sorta achy and scratchy throaty from Monday's injection.
So after the dinner things were cleared, we looked at each other and said, Why Not?
Hubby hit the bed and watched his favorite, favorite Bit O Fluff, 'Cars' while I shuttled back and forth from the sewing room, finishing up hand sewing on a few projects.
Miss Dixie was clearly happy(?) to have us nearby and not running in different directions..
Gray and dreary turned into comfy, cozy, cheery!

And then! The piece de resistance!
A new Anne Tyler book scooped up from the library yesterday!!!
Her newest title in several years, long awaited by me, her best fan! (I believe I have read them all!) Couldn't believe I arrived at the library at just the right time to pick up it's shining new January 2010 stamp...!
Ah! Get Hubby tucked in, turn off his TV, cuddle down into my bankies and read till my eyes cannot stay open another minute....

Winter bliss....

What's Been Going On?

What a time.
What a gift.
And reflection.
Time spent well, without too much effort and much joy.
A lot of relaxing has taken place since December 25.
Let's look around at the high points. (Warning: Type A could have a problem with the following photos; A sincere lack of agendas or purpose involved in these highly unscheduled photographs. You've been warned.)

Now here is an exciting new Christmas Tradition coming to fruition: a forced (the most scheduled you'll see) narcissus, making it's blooming event Christmas week. A lovely addition to holiday festivities.

Nothing more satisfying to me than watching Hubby enjoying himself (when he's winning :D) playing games with the 'children'...Whether they be 8 or 28, he loves it and I love hearing them banter back and forth and whoop it up over a great play...
More soul food....

Clearly, this relaxed holiday celebration became contagious.
Here is Lovely Wife curled up, all cozy and comfy with a good book and her faithful companion puppy. We do get wild around here.

And what would Christmas be without a huge batch of cinnamon rolls? Throughout my reign as Chief Cinnamon Roll Baker, I have tried many a recipe. I proclaimed a recent recipe out of a Sunday paper, my all time favorite. Time consuming, but oh so worth it. I likes me a good good cinnamon roll....mmmmmmm

Then The Payoff.
After many, many years of hectic Christmas Mornings.
With lots of preparation and care to meet the needs (and wants!) of our lovely children, we find ourselves this year, on our own.
And it was very nice, thank you.
Getting up slowly, wishing each other a Merry Christmas, seeing to our own breakfast needs, preparing for the day by stoking a grand fire and getting the right book to perch near the fireplace with, the day of reflection and slower pace begins and it carries us through the days of sharing our home and hearts with all that we love and care about.....
Those that are away from us continue on into our thoughts and prayers and best wishes

So that was it..
Much to share, craft wise, now that the reveal has occured...
Counting down to the new decade with fresh thoughts, good outlooks and much anticipation...
Can't wait to share it all with you....

This and That

Teamwork.
That's what it takes.
At no time does it mean more than at Christmas time.
There was a time in my life, that I was unable to leave my home. Agoraphobic.
Hubby would encourage and cajole and compromise. For many years, he did all the Christmas shopping. Some years, out of sheer determination to help him, I would accompany him; he bringing things to the front of the store for my approval. Each year, it appeared that I could get farther into the store/mall. Each attempt would be met with a big 'atta girl' and that little acknowledgement was all it took for me to seek to 'try harder' the next time.
In time (20 years), I was able to be a full complement to the Team Cory shopping expedition. Just when the advent of online shopping came into vogue, I was able to hit the real stores. The internet and my issues, just missed each other.....Funny.
So Hubby and I are used to teaming it.
From tag teaming with sick kids to me mowing the yard and him doing the grocery shopping, me taking the garbage out to him emptying the dishwasher, we've usually been able to strike out a deal.
Today was Neighbor Gifting.
Hubby baked the Holiday Hearth Bread, an old reliable from the 70's.
I kept busy making the bread bags that will go with.
As you can see above, his results are usually swell. Mine usually has some bumps....

And of course, his ways are not my ways; he measures meticulously whilst I tend to throw things in.
He aligns his work space and prepares specifically.
I make a space wherever.
It's usually best if I get out of his way to prevent annoyance. :D

Hubby loves a good high school basketball game. When our boys were playing, years ago, he would be the dad that was cheering wildly and of course, goes without saying, he was the one that got off early so he could attend the out of town games.
He misses it.
Faithful Friend's son plays this year. Hubby follows the stories on the games, watches game times and locations and watches intently.
He wanted to attend tonights home game so I went with.
He's just so cute about it! Can hardly resist.

A monumentous job Hubby has taken on this vacation, is to go through all our old VHS tapes and throw away all those that have not faired well and of course, watch those oldy old videos from a long time ago.
Tough job, huh?
In the doing of this task, he stumbled upon our Advent Tree 'ornaments'! I still have the felt tree that wore these symbolic devotional adornments, but, sadly, I thought the ornaments had long been lost.
And yet, they perservere; just hidden for many years....
Back in the day of small children, our Advent Devotionals would wrap up with one of the children bearing the honor of adding the next ornament, counting down and remembering the story each represented....
Good memories of Christmases past...
Onward to Christmas present!
Baby Girl and her Hubby are on their way home! Eldest Son and Lovely Wife come tomorrow!
Hooray for Holidays!!!

Peeks

Tomorrow, Poppy, Unca Jordan and Yours Truly head off to Cincinnati in our red sleigh to deliver gifties to our Little Sweetie of a Granddaughter.
Not too much, just enough to keep her entertained till The Big Birthday on March 9th.
To be sure, care was given to what country and what type of paint was used in the products selected. We made sure that a renewable forestry was tapped for the wooden products chosen.
Other things were purchased from independently owned companies displayed on many of the crafting blogs I follow.
Lots of good, good sources out there. I am particularly fond of The Pajama Squid. And not just because they sent out squid like gummy bears with my purchases. Or that their packaging is recyclable or that their tissue paper is black and white striped. Okay. It did have something to do with all those things. But mostly was their delightful selection of toys and goodies for My Vivien.
(and it is sure to please the health, environment, safety obsessed (( in a good way!:D, mama, Eldest/Admin ))
Check out their site.....See for yourself....www.thepajamasquid.com

Hmmmmm...glimpses and peeks....Soon to be delivered....

And who is this??
Hmmmmmmm.....

How To Celebrate Thirty Seven Years

1. Thank God that the man that you have been sleeping next to for the past 36 years is still there when you awaken.
2. Take a brisk walk with Dixie, in temps very like the 8 degrees that were present on my wedding day.
3. Come home shivery and hungry and find The Hubby has prepared a ham and cheese omelet!
4. Prepare for the day so that certain undisclosed gift making can commence.
5. Wrap up sewing room detail with The Hubby's help so that we can take off for Anniversary Dinner.
6. Get to Outback early with all the other grey hairs so that we beat the family inundation. We do plan things like that you know.
7. Have post dinner time before Wednesday Night Bible Study so we scoot over to Cato's to check out deals.
8. Fortune of good fortune! Two new skirts!! Hubby finds deals! Yay!
9. Final installment of The Truth Project at church. Good, good stuff.
10. Take advantage of Discover Free Red Box Video Rental. (Julie and Julia for those that are interested). Hubby buys Hot Fudge Sundae for his bride while she wheels and deals with Red Box.
11. Early Bathies so J & J can be viewed in all it's proper comfy coziness.
12. Thank Heavenly Father before the eyes succumb to sleep, for the dear man next to me.

May you all be as blessed this Christmas season...

AND THE WINNER IS!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The winner of the First Ever mama's collection Giveaway Bag is my new friend
and commenter, Ashley!

As you can see, Hubby's Hand pulled the name out of Dixie's toy basket. (Hubby was quite ready for bed thus the bedside drawing:D) Dixie
was not real sure why her toys went missing for a time and being the overseer that she is, made sure the drawing was on the up and up.
(kinda like that accounting firm for the Oscars but not....)
Anyway!
Congratulations Ashley!
Let me know how to contact you so I can get this mailed off quickly!

Ah.....What a nice week......!

Day Six , tick, tick, tick....

Day Six of Giveaway Bag week!
Day Six of Hubby's Week Off!

So, we are off to Indy to visit Eldest Son and Lovely Wife.
Much to report on this Big Gathering of The November Birthday Girls Celebration but today is all about the Birthday Girls....

Can't wait till tomorrow night and the drawing~~~~~ :D
See you then!

Day Three of Giveaway Week!

Well now.
What do we have here?
Looks like a pretty dandy shell of a potential Giveaway Bag, eh?
Gotta confess, couldn't work too much on it today.
Lotsa spoofin today. Hubby off and all.
But my mind keeps going there and improvements are being made all the time!
Just wait!

One spoofin trip involved fabric shopping.
Hubby's idea.
Yeah, you heard me right.
And not just any trip to JoAnne's.
No, no. This in Southern Indiana and our fabric stores find themselves in far away spots with county roads involved.
For instance: The Fabric Hideaway in rural, rural Haysville.
You have to depend on their large signs and mileage markers to get there.
But you're glad you traveled there and persisted.
Large new barn on this family's property, housing an amazing amount of all kinds of fabric and some limited notions. When I asked, 'Do you carry any interfacing?' Her quick hopeful answer was, 'Not Yet!!'

You really must go to www.fabrichideaway.com. If you're enticed to order a new bag, it takes one yard for most bags; more for totes.....:D

Yeah, that 's what I'm talking about!

AND DO YOU KNOW WHAT I FOUND IN THIS FARAWAY FABRIC MECCA?
YELLOW BUTTER SOFT SUEDE!!!!
Oh yeah! I'm talking wonderfully soft and sooooooooo good...
The mind is zooming ahead on plans for that beauty...!
I would love for it to be the first bag on my COMING SOON Etsy shop!!

You really must stayed tune, no?

Day Two of Bag Giveaway Week!

Look at my Sewing Room Assistant!
Just lounging around while I am hard at work.
Have to admit, I've put her through her paces this week..
Going from one project to the next, involving all parts of our home...
And being quite the shadow, I'm sure I've worn her out!
Actually, I wanted to get a photo of the new curtains I put up in the Guest Room upon completion of The Update, but she was lying there on the quilt,looking quite pensive, that I just had to get a pic of it.....
You'll see the curtains later....

Did I mention that Hubby's been off this week?
Yay projects!
On one of my doggy walks, I noticed an old crib kicked to the curb.
For some useful reason, I had this thought while taking my bath...
'Why don't you grab that unuseful as is crib in it's incompleteness, and make a hanging quilt rack out of it??
So after my bath on Sunday night, I announce to Hubby that he need not take off his shoes yet; he needs to go fetch an incomplete crib, on the ground, down the street.
And after all these years, he did not question it a bit.
He just re buttoned his shirt, grabbed his keys and headed out on this crazy mission.
We scoured the hardware store on Monday night, looking for appropriate hardware, only to find what worked in our own garage. Even better.
So, Ta-Da!
All my beloved quilts are now on display!
Huzzah!

Crazy Dee still has me working on her updating projects as well.
She wanted me to recover her couch pillows. And she was very specific.
She wanted them professionally done (as if) and swanky. And free.
What the??
Anyway, I do as I'm told and here is the after and before.
I removed the piping off the old and I think it shall resurface soon....
Her birthday was February 2 and I am still gifting her....
And she thinks I'm difficult, birthday wise.....:D

Now!
Day Two Update!!
The Giveaway Bag is shaping up! I took the blog photo before quite a bit of work was done on the bag. Took a dog walk to clear the cobs out of my brain and plan better for it....
VERY excited about how it's coming along....
I know from all the comments, that it will go to really nice lady..
So many nice things being said...
Thank you all!!
Comment Away!!!

Not Sleepy

The other night, due to an over indulgence of Crazy Dee's heavy duty tea brew, I found myself WIDE awake way past sleepy time.
Since Hubby gets up at 4AM, I decided to just stay awake till his alarm went off and it would be Make the Lunch/Make the Breakfast time.
After making his oatmeal, I popped a mug of milk in the microwave, spritzed a couple o teaspoons of vanilla, a shaking or two of raw sugar and an antidote for sleeplessness was born.
As is our tradition, we read our bibles and prayed while I sipped on my warm mixture.
Before long, it was time for hubby to head to work, and by the silly hour of 5am, I was ready for beddy bye, blissfully tired and eager to sleep.
Warm vanilla milk...
Does wonders for the sleepless soul...

Library Love

I love our library.
It is 198 steps from our home.
Tonight, hubby and I sauntered down there to return our audio books and just look around.

The library is a turn of the century Andrew Carnegie library with some well done updates.
It is beautiful and helpful.
I feel good just being in there.

It was my first official business in Mitchell when I moved here. Took my daughter down to get us some library cards before the moving truck made it here.
Before cutbacks, it used to host different classes. I learned garden sculpture, oil painting and poetry writing.
All in my neighborhood.
Literary enhancement and information and resources available just down the block.
Magazines that I can't afford to subscribe to, are there. Back in the days when I cared for my father at home, I could sometimes sneak down to the library for a few minutes to look through some garden or decorating magazine to take me away from the rigors of care giving for awhile.

The children's section is colorful and complete.

A jewel in a small town.
Thank you Andrew Carnegie

So Much; So Good....

The Weekend started here..
Rain, rain, rain.
But a warm car, grand company and Sugar and Cream yarn to work with.
And a car, that Hubby wisely picked out based on if the dashboard would accomodate my legs on a long trip. He even told the car salesperson that he needed to make sure that his wife would be comfortable in the co pilot seat by putting her feet on the dash. The salesperson, unwisely said, 'you let her do that?' To wit, Hubby said, she can do whatever she wants, bucko, this is my car.....Good Hubby.....

This was the weekend that we were to meet up with Most Interesting Loving Friends. We decided to meet half way from their location, our past home. We have shared nearly 25 years and needed time together to catch up and enjoy each other's affable company. What a good time. What pleasant entertainment we are!
It always helps to stay at a Bed and Breakfast out in the country and with plenty of stories to go with as well!
The house photo is the grand old lady with quite a story.
The Pumpkin Patch story, with a Martha Stewart commendation, is a blog unto it's own. Pretty amazing. Wait till you see.


After leaving Most Interesting and Loving Friends, we headed northerly to visit Baby Girl and her Hubby in Lafayette.
Another amazing visit with a blog unto it's own.
Suffice to say that Baby Girl's Hubby prepared us the most wonderful breakfast one half hour before lunch time!
Ah! Rest and relaxation on a long weekend!

And no visit to Lafayette would be complete without a visit to First Class Clutter, BG's fave store.
I took in the three bags I had promised her and she promptly placed them in the window pictured here. Can you see them amongst the most pleasing clutter??
Picking up a hefty supply of vintage buttons rounded out the visit there.
On to an Aveda Spa visit then lunch/supper at an Irish pub..
Off to make a short check in visit with Eldest Son and Lovely Wife...
Wow.
A blessed weekend from start to finish.
Can't wait to share it with all of you....

Long (Good) Day at the Auction!

As soon as I walked in, I saw it. Even with this older gentleman parked in it the whole day, I still really wanted to take it home. If I had to take the older gentleman in the deal, then so be it. It's not like I haven't cared for an elder gentlemen before. When Hubby gave me the okay to bid up to a certain amount, I was ready. Even if we had to wait FIVE hours whilst the auctioneer had to auction off an INORDINATE amount of knives of ALL kinds! I kept checking with hubby, making sure he still wanted to stay and he affirmed that he was just dandy. We were both bereft that we did not own a large truck and a large storage unit. The wonderful furniture at this sale, went for sinfully low, low prices. If I thought I'd see the day, Child of Oak Furniture Regime, that a 48 inch solid oak table from the 30's would sell for 25.00, I would have called you crazy. That's what it was like all day...Hubby and I staring at each other in disbelief at the quality of furniture going, literally, out the door.
But this little sweetie came home with me...(sans the nice gentleman!)




One drawback to the trade off of our Cash for Clunkers...
Sharky, the Hyundai was a little put out having to go to auction. We finally convinced her that she looked buff carrying around furniture. One good umph and my new wicker acquisition was in the back seat! Did I mention that it has springs? And that there has only been one paint job in many, many years? And that it has CRYSTAL CLAW FEET? Never in all my Wicker Collecting, have I seen claw feet on an item! Tomorrow, I will show you where it got located....


(P.S. This lovely woman had the nerve to sit in front of me and taunt me with her beautiful hair! Quite a bit of coveting going on today....! Had to take a photo of it and put in my Things I Must Do Before I Get Put In The Casket. Grow amazingly long red hair?? Good luck Deb.....:D!)