Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Another thought


I in my basement found a 'popcorn can' full of squares that, I think, Squeaky made. I contacted her to see what she thought of my idea. I figured that since she made the squares I could put them together and we could give it to her mother-in-law, Janet.

She agreed with me that it sounded good.

I started to put it together last night. I tried white, dark green, and black, but It wanted pink. So here is it so far.

Reunion

Well, I did it. I talked to my oldest son yesterday.

That may sound funny to "normal" people, but we are anything but normal.
Let's start near the beginning. I was married in January 1968. In November 1968, John was born. In August 1969, Jeremy was born. I had Post Pardum Depression after the younger son was born. Back then no one knew what it was. Anyway, I got divorce in 1971,and just couldn't cope with being a single parent.
My aunt could see that I needed help. So they took the boys. I went into the Marine Corps.

When I came home I would go up and see the boys every chance I got. When they were about 8 my aunt told me that the counselor had told her that it would be better if I didn't go to see them any more. So I cried all the way home and never went up to their home again.

About 19 years ago, John came by to see me and wanted to borrow money. I gave him $20 dollars and told him that I just didn't have any more. I hadn't seen him since.

After 9/11/2001, Jeremy called me and we got reacquainted. It has been very nice. He calls about once a week.

For 19 years I haven't seen or heard from John. Until Jeremy called Sunday and told me the John wanted me to call him.

I called him yesterday. It was nice to hear him.

I used to cry every time I had to leave my aunt house. And every year I have cried through their birthdays. After Jeremy came back into my life I stopped crying through his birthday, because I can talk to him. Now maybe I'll stop crying through John's birthday.

I have always loved them. They just didn't know it.

It's snowing here this morning. Welcome to Springtime in the Rockies.

I went to lunch with Marie yesterday. I enjoy seeing her. She's thinking about morving to Arizona. I'll sure miss her if she does.

Fatima came by yesterday to ask if I would help her with her crochet. I handed her a hook and some yarn. We talked and crocheted for more then an hour.

I have so much in my life to be thankfulfor for. I am a very lucky person. I have my health, people I love and who love me. And a house full of wonderful things.

Whatever you focus on, you will experience.

Friday, March 26, 2010

26 Happy Years

26 years ago today I met the love of my life. He's the best thing that ever happened to me. I thank GOD every morning that he is in my life.

It was a Monday morning. I was working afternoons so I was home that morning. I was sitting on the floor going through some stuff when I had this thought. "I don't want to spend the rest of my life alone." I had this really strange feeling that I should look in the phone book. This was 1984, before the internet. I tried to shake it off. It just kept coming back to me. So at about 10:00 a.m.I picked up the Yellow Pages of the phone book. I looked under matchmakers. I looked at the Matchmakers listing.

I called and asked, "What kind of wierdos you got down there?"
Mike, who owned and opperated Matchmakers answered, "You wouldn't buy a pair of shoes without seeing them. Come on down and take a look at who we have."

So I made an appointment for about 11:00 a.m.

I drove up to Matchmakers and walked in. Mike was very nice. I looked at a couple of the books that Mike showed me. He said to pick 4-5 guys that I would like to meet. So I did.

Mike looked over my choices and asked, "What about Russell? I think you'd like him."

"Well, he's younger than me, but Hey! I'll try anything once." I replied.

So we agreed that I should add Russell to my list. And I paid the fee and went home.

At 3:30 p.m. that phone rang. It was Russell. We talked for a bit and then agreed to meet at my place at 7:00 p.m. I explained that I didn't have a sitter for Chris, my 7 year old daughter. He said that would be no problem, we could take her with us.

He drove into my driveway at 7:00 p.m. He almost pulled out again, because Chris was standing on the back of the couch holding the drapes open wide and yelling, "He's here, he's here."

Meeting Chris can be daunting. She's a redhead with green/blue eyes and mischief all over her.

Anyway, we went for ice cream and talked. We talked all evening. I felt like I had known him forever. I was so comfortable with him.

He was still at my home at midnight. I had Monday's and Tuesdays off in those days.

That was Monday, March 26, 1984. He moved in on Friday, 5 days later. We never talked about living together, it just felt so right. We have been together ever since.

We had a daughter, Rachel, November 3, 1985. He's 3 kids moved in with us in June of 1990. We got married April 8, 1991.

We have had our bumps, but mostly happy for the past 26 years. He spoils me rotton.

We now have 6 kids, 19 grandchildren with another one due in July. I love him more every day.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

So Happy It's Thursday



I walked over to the gas station to get some iced tea this afternoon. Before I left I checked the weather on TV. They said 57 degrees. They lied! I felt more like 40.
And cloudy. The sun came out just after I got back home. Still cold.

I was just sitting here watching M*A*S*H. I must have seen each episode at least 15 times. But I never get tired of it. They always make me feet good.

Yesterday, I was looking for something in my basement. Never found what I was looking for. I did find a beautiful crocheted table cloth. Only one BIG problem... It had a big whole in the middle of it. Like something has eaten it. I need ideas on how to fix it. It's motifs. There are large ones with smaller ones at the corners.
It's lovely. I don't have any idea who made it. I know I didn't, because I have never made a table cloth.

Frogs are lucky...They just eat what bugs them.

With that I'll close for today.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

We're back.




Hey! I'm back from 10 wonderful days in Jamaica. We laid on the beach, got a tan, ate, drank, and had a relaxing time. It was very nice.

We had some trouble getting there. We left here at 12:01 a.m. on Delta Air Lines. We flew to Atlanta, GA. We had a 2 hour layover so we left there at 8:55 a.m. About half way to Jamaica we turned back because the landing gear was not working correctly. They told us, It's better to be where the plane can be fixed, and we can get medical care, if it has a BAD landing. So there we are in the Atlanta, GA airport ALL DAY. We finally left there at 5:30 p.m.
Then it's a 2 hour drive to the resort. We made it in time for dinner. From there it was just wonderful.

On the way home we got to play with Delta Air Lines again. Coming back into the USA is a joke. They make it so hard for citizen to come back into the country. You go through imigration, then to baggage claim, then to customes. The ticket said Gate A18. Delta changed it to A16 which was no big deal. Except I have been up since 3:00 a.m. with nothing to eat. Then THEY change it to B16 which is in another part of the terminal. Which we had already gone through to get to A16. The plane was supposed to leave at 1:55 p.m. It was 30 minutes late getting off the ground. We finally made it home at 5:00 p.m.

It's always good to be home.

While on vacation I read 6 books, crocheted 3 bookmarks, and 7 Barbie dresses.
I was sitting there on the beach crocheting and a lady passed and said, "That's something you don't see everyday." Meaning me crocheting.
Another couple thought I looked funny trying Barbie's dress on her. They said something about me playing with my Barbie doll. Hey! People I have 19 grandchildren with another one on the way, and 14 of them are girls. So I crochet clothes for their Barbies. So sue me. I enjoy it.

So we are home, well, and happy.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Crazy Thoughts

"The question that sometimes drives me hazy is am I or the others crazy."
Albert Einstein

That about covers my thoughts today.

I retired December 31, 2008. Don't misunderstand. I love retirement. I miss the people I worked with.

I was folding clothes this morning and thought what drudgery. I admire women who can stay at home and keep house and take care of kids. I could never do that.

A one time I thought I wanted to stay at home and raise my boys. And make cookies and do domestic stuff. But...You know what they say...If you want to make GOD laugh, make plans. Life made it necessary for me to go to work. So 40 years and dozens of jobs later I am retired.

I am NOT a good housekeeper. But my home is my haven. I can be alone here.

Thank goodness for my Aunt Letha teaching me to crochet. I also learned to knit when I was 12. I like crochet most.

My younger sister is also a crocheter. She turned me on to Crochet Partners Group on Yahoo. I enjoy seeing what the other people are up to.

I have so many projects that I want to make. I have to remind myself to finish some of them before starting anything else.

Oh! The picture of the Ken in Drag, at the right, is one I did at Christmas time for a friend. He sent me a lovely thank you card for it.

I watched "Bridget Jones Diary" this morning. That is a really cute movie. She is so wonderfully insecure. She feel like I do most of the time.

It never ceases to amaze me how many people think I'm smart. My older brother used to take great joy in telling the three of us sisters how stupid we were. I have spent the past 100 (seems like) years trying to prove to David that I was just as smart as he. And he died in 1980.

One of my customers at the Post Office told me that I was smarter than 90% or the people I meet. SCARY!!! Because I past the Postal Service Test. A very frightening thought.

I had the highest score on the Marine Corps placement test here in Salt Lake City for quite a few years.

OK! I know how to take a test. I don't feel very smart. And I was born blonde.

All Dumbs are not Blonde.

Anyway that's the crazies for today.

Friday, March 5, 2010

SNOW


We got snow this morning. It's almost gone now. But the important thing is that most of the snow landed in the mountains. The Greatest Snow on Earth is back at the Ski Resorts. Skiing is wonderful today. It'll be great tomorrow, too.

I learned to ski when I was 34 years old. I went up to the resort four times. I haven't wanted to go since then. Been there, done that.

Last night was Cousins Dinner. We meet once a month for dinner. At first it was the three of us who are about the same age meeting for dinner. Then we invited a few more of the cousins. Now it's the two original cousins. Suzy's daughter, mother, and grandson and me with my sister, 3 girls and my granddaughter. It's really nice to get together. That's the best thing to happen at any funeral I've ever been to. We got together after my younger brothers funeral.

I may actually be getting the hang of this computer thing. I just moved my pictures from my camera to the computer. There is hope.

It's the weekend. So get out there and have fun.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Just showing off my granny bags. These are just two of the dozens I've made. I sent the Red, White, and Blue one to my sister in Iowa. She said that it's great for her clip-board.

I went to breakfast with my son, Jeremy, this morning. It was very nice to talk with him. He told me that his older brother, John, said to say hello to me. WOW! I would like to have seen my face when Jeremy told me that. We have had a strained relationship for years.

Life never seizes to amaze me.

We got rain today. We have waited all winter for moisture, and finally here it is. It brought the wind with it. And more gray skys. The guy on the TV says maybe be snow tonight. Ok. It never lasts long this time of year.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Just another day in Paradise




My sister and I went down to Nephi and had lunch with Larene. Her silly husband moved her to Mayfield. Away from everyone she knew. So once a week I meet her some place between Salt Lake and Mayfield for lunch. We'll show him. Ha, Ha.

I've been using a new blood sugar tester. The lancet is stronger than the old one and my fingers hurt. Poor me.

I'm working on a critter for the Toy Society drop off. I'm having so much fun. I can hardly wait to see what other critters I'm going to make.

I love my crochet hooks, thread and yarn.

I realized, one day not too long ago, that my hands have been with me for 60 years. I know that doesn't sound like much, but it's a BIG deal. Think about it...Your hands do everything with you. They help drive the car, and wash the dishes. Try doing anything on the computer without them. Oh! I know it can be done, but the cost is unbelievable. You need your hands to wave hello and good by. AND where would you keep your rings? Next time you have nothing to do, think about how much your hands mean to your life. So let's all applaud our hands.

Just another one of my wanderings. Some times my minds just wanders away. I should never let it out by itself.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Toy Society

I just joined the funnest group. They leave toys in public places to be picked up by anyone. I can hardly wait to get started. It's called the Toy Society.
If you are interested go to www.thetoysociety.blogspot.com.

I walked over to the Medial Center to pick up Rachels meds this afternoon. It was warm and a bit breezy. It was a 45 minute walk. I really enjoyed it.

Now it's windy and cooler outside. The guy on the television said that there is storm coming in tonight. Rain or Snow. But not much of either. We'll see.

I got a pattern from Caron for some "monsters" that I am going to make for the Toy Society. They are really cute and I want to make them just for fun.

I'm getting off of the computer and get started with the critters. This is going to be such fun. I'll post some pictures, soon.

"What you think about, you bring about."

Monday, March 1, 2010

Life goes on

Friday, Rachel was hit be a jurk in a white truck who drove off without leaving any information. So she is driving my car. She wasn't hurt, just mad as hell.

The weather is so nice today, I walked down to my crochet class. It's about half an hour walk from my house. It's a beautiful Spring day, but the weather never stays this way in March.

I enjoy my crochet group so much. We just sit, crochet and talk about everything under the sun. We share what we are doing and some of the things we have done. We ask and answer questions about crochet and life in general.

I got another Barbie outfit in the mail today. I love this group. This one is a beautiful varigated purple gown. I had a Barbie sitting here with a purple tie in her hair. I was thinking about making her a purple outfit. Now, I have one that means more to me then if I had made it.

I'm making a "Prayer Shawl." I don't know who I'm making it for. But I am praying that who ever gets it is getting stronger with each stitch I make. I'll find someone who needs a hug and give this to them.