13 October 2008

FALL HOMECOMING DANCE...REMEMBER THOSE!
































THIS PAST WEEKEND, OCTOBER 20TH WAS 15 YEAR OLD'S HOMECOMING DANCE! YOU WOULD THINK THAT SHE WAS GETTING MARRIED...THE UPDO, THE SHOES, THE FLOWER FOR THE BOY...OH MY...THE EXCITEMENT! LUCKY FOR ME SHE WORE MY NIECE'S DRESS, SO SAVED ON THAT BUT SPURGED ON EVERYTHING ELSE! HERE ARE PICS OF THE DANCE AND BOY "FRIEND". OH AND OF COURSE BROTHER AND SISTER HAD TO GET INVOLVED IN THE PICTURES...AND DAD...AND ME AND THEN THE BOY "FRIEND" CAME. HE WAS SO CUTE, SO EMBARESSED BY THE ALL THE PICTURES I WAS TAKING, SO HERE ARE JUST A FEW MORE OF THEM, OTHERWISE I WOULD HAVE 15 PICTURES IN ALL POSTED, BUT WON'T BORE YOU...THEN 21 YEAR OLD WAS HOME FROM COLLEGE, SO HER BOYFRIEND PICKED HER UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS TO GO OUT AND YEP... I SNAPPED A PICTURE OF THEM!! 21 YEAR OLD HAS BEEN DATING CHRIS FOR ABOUT 6 YEARS, THEY MET IN H.S., HE IS LIKE MY OTHER SON TO ME. WHEN WE GO ON VACATION, HE COMES TOO! I JUST LOVE HIM!!! A REALLY GOOD AND SWEET YOUNG MAN!!

OH SOOO MANY THINGS GOING ON OVER IN MY HOUSE. 19 YEAR OLD BROUGHT HIS GIRLFRIEND HOME TO MEET US SAT NIGHT, BUT DIDN'T WANT TO EMBARRASS THE GIRL, SO I DID NOT TAKE A PICTURE OF HER (YET)! WILL GIVE HER SOME TIME TO REALIZE THE CRAZINESS THAT GOES ON OVER HERE, BUT I REALLY LOVE ALL THE CRAZINESS...WHEN ALL OF THEM ARE OUT, IT IS WAY TO QUIET AROUND HERE!

AND OF COURSE, HAD TO ADD PICTURES OF COOPER IN HERE. YOU WILL BELIEVE THIS, BUT ACROSS THE STREET LIVE 5 (YES I SAID 5) LITTLE ONES UNDER THE AGE OF 8 AND THEY COME TO CALL ON "COOPER" EVERYDAY TO SEE IF HE CAN COME OUT TO PLAY, SO TOOK SOME PICTURES OF COOPER AND HIS PALS (ONLY 3 WERE OUT THAT DAY)...HERE COOPER IS TRYING TO GIVE THE OLDEST GIRL, HIS PAW, (OH HE IS LEARNING VERY FAST HERE WHO TO GIVE HIS PAW TOO WHO WILL THEN GIVE ME HIM A TREAT)...TYPICAL MALE!! SHE IS THE SWEETEST LITTLE GIRL AND MY HEART GOES OUT TO HER, SHE IS LEGALLY BLIND, BUT HAS 4 YOUNGER BROTHERS WHO NOT ONLY LOOK UP TO HER, BUT WHO LOOK OUT FOR HER!! IT JUST MELTS MY HEART!! HERE ARE MORE PICTURES OF HIS PALS THROWING THE BALL FOR HIM TO CATCH, THAT IS THERE FAVORITE GAME... AFTER 20 MINUTES OF RUNNING, HE IS WIPED OUT...."OPPS, NO I AM NOT, JUST TAKIN A BREAK" MOMENT!!! "WAIT, WHERE ARE THEY GOING, OH...THEY ARE WIPED OUT, NOT ME!"

AND FINALLY, SOME COOL PICTURES OF FALL I TOOK ON FRIDAY...FALL IN ILLINOIS!
I AM NOW CERTIFIABLE, BECAUSE I RIDE AROUND WITH MY CAMERA TRYING TO CATCH THE TREES CHANGING THEIR COLORS. OH I REALLY LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR!!

NOW TO CATCH UP ON 2 DEADLINES (2 SWAPS), I MUST WORK ON THESE TODAY!!!!

HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT MONDAY,

LOTS OF HUGS FROM WARM (82 DEGREES) ILLINOIS.

MARY

08 October 2008

ANOTHER LITTLE QUILT SWAP 2






MY LITTLE QUILT CAME HOME TODAY!!!!! Oh, Amy ("The Calico Cat") has sent me my Little Quilt from Swap 2. I just adore it! It is soooo beautiful, I was so excited when I opened the package, I immediately went and put it on my table, which is just inside my front door, so everyone can see it. Thank you again, Amy, I really, really, love it!

And it does have a Primitive Look to It, did I say I just LOVE IT!!!

Thank you, Amy, you just made my day!

Lots of Hugs,

Mary

07 October 2008

PUMPKINS, SCARECROWS AND FALL, OH MY!!!












Just bought THE cutest Pumpkin by Jim Shore for a centerpiece for my table. But, after looking at all the DETAIL on the Pumpkin...wouldn't this be an adorable wool stitchery. The motors are starting to turn in my mind, and I thought this would even make an adorable table runner, picture this....cotton or wool one piece, then add all this detail somehow to the pumpkin!! Inspirational right?

Where do you get your inspirations?

Also, picked up these pumpkin candles...aren't they cute! Almost good enough to eat! Oh I am so excited about Fall...the swaps...the leaves falling and ofcourse HALLOWEEN!

Happy Tuesday, everyone

Many Hugs,

Mary

03 October 2008

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28TH








SAM & RYAN'S BABY SHOWER...

THE DAY FINALLY CAME, SAM & RYAN LOVED THE BABY QUILT! SAM CRIED, I CRIED...LOVED MAKING THIS QUILT FOR THEM. I REALIZED SOMETHING WHEN SHE OPENED UP THE PACKAGE...WHEN YOU MAKE A QUILT FOR SOMEONE YOU GIVE THEM A PIECE OF YOUR HEART. YOU REALLY DO. WHAT AN AWESOME FEELING. I ALSO REALIZED WHEN OTHERS LOOKED AT IT, THEY DIDN'T SEE THE LITTLE MISTAKES I MADE WHILE MAKING THIS QUILT! AT LEAST, I HOPE THEY DIDN'T. AND SAM LIKED THE SOX'S LABLE(DUCK WITH SOX'S HAT ON), TOO! HERE ARE SOME PICS OF SAM AND RYAN EXPECTING THEIR FIRST BABY...THEY KNOW IT IS A BOY, AIDEN ROBERT... THEIR IS ANOTHER PICTURE OF RYAN HOLDING A BABY BAG, BOUGHT JUST FOR HIM FROM SAM...HOW CUTE IS THAT!

ANOTHER PICTURE OF ONE TABLE OF PRESENTS...HER MOM MADE ALL THE CENTERPIECES, WHICH WERE CHOCOLATE SUCKERS THAT SAID IT'S A BOY, AND BABY THEMES, (THEY WERE REALLY, REALLY GOOD!!)

AND SAMANTHA'S GRANDFATHER BOUGHT THEM THIS RED FIRETRUCK (IT WAS SO ADORABLE, EVERY LITTLE BOY SHOULD HAVE ONE!) DOES ANYONE REMEMBER THOSE WHEN YOU WERE LITTLE?

WHEN ALL WAS SAID AND DONE, IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL SHOWER, HER MOM AND AUNT WENT THROUGH A LOT OF WORK AND IT SHOWED, THE FOOD WAS GOOD, MY MOM AND SISTERS WERE THERE AND NOW WE JUST CAN'T WAIT FOR THE ARRIVAL OF BABY AIDEN. THEY ARE DUE NOVEMBER 7TH, SO SENDING OUT A LOT OF PRAYERS AND HUGS TO ALL THREE OF THEM!!


OH, I ALMOST FORGOT PICS OF COOPER...YEP, HAVEN'T POSTED MANY OF HIM, BUT HERE ARE PICS OF MY "SUPER PUPPY"... THE LAST PICTURE OF "COOPER" IS WHEN NO ONE IS PAYING ATTENTION TO HIM..HE AMUSES HIMSELF WITH A TOY WHILE LAYING ON HIS BACK...KIND OF WEIRD, BUT THAT IS "COOPER"!!

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND, EVERYONE!

LOTS OF HUGS,

MARY

23 September 2008

ANOTHER LITTLE QUILT SWAP 2


I joined ANOTHER LITTLE QUILT SWAP 2, and have been gathering fabrics to go along with the pattern I picked out, so will give you a quick sneak peak of the fabrics I am going to use.

Sorry the picture isn't that good, but am using mostly civil war prints and a couple of fig tree fabrics. I think I am going to make a couple of these, as I am going to give them away for xmas presents....and I probably will make one for myself, since I just love that blue/red/stripe combo, anyway, can't let you know what pattern I picked because it is a Secret!!

But will post little snippets of the blocks when done...Oh I can't wait for my partner to get this one...this is so much fun.

Hope everyone is having a great Tuesday,

Hugs,

Mary

12 September 2008

BABY QUILT PART 6




Today put the final border on and sewed label to back of quilt. It is sandwiched and basted and ready to be quilted! Thought I would share some photos with you... The Label on the back is a Duck traced from a Coloring Book, but I added a Cap to him, as Ryan is a "Real True Blue Chicago Sox Fan", so had to add the logo "Sox" to Duck's Cap. I hope it doesn't look weird, the Duck having a Cap, but this quilt is for a Boy, so had to free-hand draw the Cap and Hubby thinks it looks funny, tried to make it dimensional (that is what Hubby told me to do), so did the best I could and I think he is really cute, just hope Samantha and Ryan will like it...it's on the back of the quilt anyway so here is the picture of that...

Now I have to get going on another project..."Little Quilt Swap 2"...have some ideas and will start cutting fabrics this weekend. Can't tell you anymore because it is a Secret....Swap....so will post pictures of that project as I progress...

Hope everyone has a Great Weekend and am praying for all of you in the Texas area with all the hurricane and tornado warnings, you are all in my thoughts and prayers,

Hugs,

Mary

08 September 2008

JOGGING............


Yesterday, Sunday, Hubby put shelves up in my Sewing Room. Oh, I was so excited as now, for about the 10th time in my life, I am trying to Organizing my Sewing Room. Actually, it is more of a Fabric Room with a Sewing Machine in there, somewhere! Lately, when I machine sew, I actually disconnect my lovely, beautiful Pfaff Sewing Machine and cart it over to the Kitchen, where there is lots more room on the kitchen table! The only problem with that is, yes, the threads. Oh, tons of threads that my puppy, Cooper, thinks are little goodies sent down from the "humming thing" on my table. So, have decided the Kitchen Table is not a good alternative. Grudingly, I cart my Pfaff (did I mention it is lovely and beautiful) back into the room I call my Sewing Room. Where I am cramped stepping over the 100th project. Said project is ready to go, has fabric and book, just needs Time. That elusive "thing", Time.

So, Sunday, Hubby put up nice white selving all around the top of the room, except over the window (could not disturb the beautiful balloon valance). Oh, how excited I became. Started dreaming of all the Room I would have, so the process of putting fabric, books, projects, large bins, small bins, patterns (the kind that come in those neat shiny sleaves, that fall no matter where you put them) began.

BUT, before I started my actual process of organization (did I tell you I really don't like to organize, takes too much time out of my precious day) Hubby suggested to JOG two miles up and out of our subdivision. Now here I should explain that my Hubby Jogs every other day and that last weekend, our oldest, Kate, completed her first marathon called "RELAY FOR LIFE". This marathon was 6 miles and oh yes, I was so proud of her! As soon as I get her picture from the race, I will post it! It was sponsored by "NIKE"! My 15 year old, Emily, also jogs, but uses our treadmill in the basement. So, I thought, sure, I can do this, afterall, I was always athletic in grammer school. We did not have a lot of money, therefore, I bicycled or ran to friend's houses. Also, I beat my fellow classmates in 8th grade, in a race around the gym (although, I can not remember how many times we actually ran around the gym), but this particular time, it was girls against boys. And I was the only girl left to run the only boy left and I beat him, no less, with literally one shoe on. (Did I mention I was the tallest Girl in grammer school, maybe that attributed to my running record, I don't know...) My other shoe fell off as I ran, but didn't matter, I won! So, jogging two miles with hubby, No Problemo!! In fact, I go to the gym twice a week and do stretching and strenghthing classes, with weights no less (5 lb's ers in each hand), so really, this was going to be a piece of cake.

We did our stretching outside of our garage and walked two houses and then began our little Jog! OH MY GOSH!!!! For some reason, I didn't hear my feet running, they were "plopping" on the hard concrete. Feet are not supposed to sound like that when you run, atleast, from what I can remember from childhood memories. But I ENDURED, after Jogging three more houses with Hubby next to me, I, SHORT OF BREATH, PUFFING, waved him on to keep up his pace and I followed. Well, as soon as he turned out of our subdivision, I fell to a fast walk...arms in the jogging motion, legs in a wide walking one! I then periodically, once my heart started beating right, began to join the jog again, until my sides were hurting which was very shortly after I began again, so back to my wide walking with arms flaying! Oh, I could see him in front of me, WAY in front of me, so I began again and kept up until he got to the 1 mile mark and turned around, so I began to jog again, thinking, "he'll believe I have been jogging all along"! But then once again, fell to my fast walk thing, waving him to keep on going....Oh the humiliation!

This is what I learned, Never Assume Anything! Never, Never run with your mouth open, as I know I swallowed as least one bug! Never run when you "think" you are in good shape, even though you go to the Gym twice a week. Never run when you are, Yes, a "Smoker"! (Embarased about that one). And finally, the Flopping of Feet is never a good sign, I don't think I was running right or jogging or whatever we call it! Always Pace yourself. For someone who is 5 ft 9 inches, my legs have a pretty good span, so don't run like someone is chasing you. Although, I do have to say, I could see my shadow and my Pony-tail looked so coool swiching around on my head. But, don't be concerned about your hair when jogging! And, don't under any circumstance, Jog in a Sweatsuit!

Now that I got that all out, here is a picture of my "jogging shoes". Ugly aren't they! Well, they are good enough to work out in as I do my "stretching and weight lifting" two times a week, did I tell you this already? But, here are a pair of my "REALLY HOT SHOES", one's I really feel like something in, Ok, I feel "Hot" in! They have "GOLD 5 " HEELS", (not real Gold), but Oh the beauty of those shoes! HOT, HOT, HOT!!!!! Now, not many people can wear those shoes properly, but I strut very nicely in them, I must say! I could be feeling really crummy inside, but on the outside, Oh I FEEL GOOD!! Did I mention they are "HOT", Oh Yeah, They Are. So, maybe I can't fly around the subdivision, but give me a pair of 5" Heals, and I can soar anywhere!

Note: DO NOT ATTEMPT 5" HEALS ON A HORSE!

06 September 2008

BABY QUILT PART 5


PUT SOME FINISHING TOUCHES ON SAM & RYAN'S BABY QUILT...NOW ALL I NEED TO DO IS APPLIQUE LEAVES AND DO SOME HAND STITCHING...THEN LAYER AND QUILT! I AM GETTING THERE...MY GIRLS LOVE IT, I ONLY HOPE SAM AND RYAN DO! OH, THE OTHER DAY I BOUGHT A STUFFED YELLOW DUCK TO GIVE ALONG WITH THE QUILT...IT IS TOO CUTE, FORGOT TO TAKE A PICTURE OF THAT, BUT WILL NEXT TIME...HAVE A HAPPY WEEKEND EVERYONE!!!

04 September 2008

BABY QUILT PART 4


JUST FINISHED UP SOME LITTLE PIECES ON SAMANTHA AND RYAN'S BABY QUILT...STILL HAVE TO ADD ONE MORE TOUCH, THEN PUT ON LAST BORDER AND BACKING AND THEN... DRUM ROLL..."QUILT", WANT TO HAVE THIS QUILT DONE BY ABOUT THE 20TH OF THIS MONTH, SO AM ON A MISSION....

OH AND SAMANTHA OR RYAN DO NOT PEEK!!

LOTS OF HUGS,

MARY

30 August 2008

BABY QUILT PART 3


HERE IS THE NEWEST PICTURE OF THE BABY QUILT I AM DOING. I JUST PUT THE TWO BORDERS ON AND AM ADDING THE MIDDLE, PIECE BY PIECE. THERE IS A LOT OF APPLIQUE IN THE MIDDLE WITH THE FLOWERS AND DUCKS, SO WILL APPLIQUE THESE DOWN AND THEN ADD LEGS, EYES...MY GOAL IS TO GET THE MIDDLE PANEL ALL APPLIQUED BY SEPTEMBER 1ST SO I CAN START PUTTING FINAL BORDER ON AND THEN BACKING. I WILL THEN QUILT, DON'T KNOW IF I AM GOING TO QUILT BY HAND OR MACHINE, AS THIS HAS TO BE DONE BY SEPTEMBER 28TH!! BUT THOUGHT YOU MIGHT WANT TO SEE THE PROGRESS SO FAR... HAVE A GREAT LABOR DAY EVERYONE,

HUGS,

MARY

27 August 2008

AUGUST 27, 2008








I AM 50 TODAY, WOW!!!

GROWING UP BIRTHDAYS IN OUR HOME WERE ALWAYS VERY SPECIAL AND SIMPLE. MOM USUALLY MADE YOUR FAVORITE PIE OR CAKE AND MADE YOUR FAVORITE DINNER. FOR ME, IT WAS DEFINATELY, "MEATLOAF"! LOVED MY MOM'S MEATLOAF!

AS A TEENAGER, IT WAS CUSTOM TO DECORATE YOUR FRIENDS LOCKERS AND MAKE THEM A BIRTHDAY "BOW". WHICH CONSISTED OF A PAPER PLATE WITH RIBBONS AND CANDY ATTACHED, THEN PINNED ON THE PERSON SO THEY COULD WALK AROUND SCHOOL AND EVERYONE WOULD KNOW IT WAS THEIR BIRTHDAY.

UNFORTUNATELY FOR ME, MY BIRTHDAY ALWAYS FELL ON BOOK DAY OR THE DAY YOU PICKED UP YOUR SCHEDULE, SO NO BIRTHDAY BOW FOR ME AND MY LOCKER WAS USUALLY NOT ASSIGNED YET...SO...AS I RECALLED ME NUMEROUS STORIES TO MY LOVELY THREE KIDS, THEY DECIDED AFTER I WENT TO BED LAST NIGHT TO DECORATE MY "LOCKER", WHICH AS A MOM IS THE "REFRIGERATOR"!!! SO...WHEN I GOT UP THIS MORNING SCHOOL, LOOK WHAT THEY TO GET MY YOUNGEST OFF ON THE BUS FOR HIGH DID!!!!THIS IS WAY BETTER THAN A LOCKER, A BIRTHDAY BOW OR ALL THE FUSS MADE BY FRIENDS, THIS WAS DONE BY MY KIDS, THE ONES THAT HOLD MY HEART! I FEEL SO GRATEFUL THAT I HAVE THESE THREE YOUNG ADULTS AND TEENAGER IN MY LIFE. THEY TEACH ME KNEW THINGS EVERYDAY. SOMETIMES I FORGET TO THANK THEM FOR ALL THE SMILES, LAUGHS AND TEARS!! THEY MAKE MY LIFE WORTH LIVING. THEY ARE ALWAYS CHANGING AND JUST WHEN YOU THINK YOU ARE NOT APPRECIATED...WELL, BALLOONS HAPPEN AND IT MAKES IT ALL WORTHWHILE!! THANK YOU GOD FOR MY KATE, MIKE AND EMILY, HOW REALLY BLESSED I AM. THEY HAVE GROWN UP SOOOO QUICK, THE RIDE HAS BEEN FAST, BUT I HOPE THEY KNOW I WILL ALWAYS BE HERE, TO LAUGH OUT LOUD, TO WIPE THE TEARS, TO SCREAM IN PROTESTS, TO SMILE WITH LOVE. YEP, I'M A VERY LUCKY MOM TO HAVE THESE THREE AS MY KIDS. THANK YOU GOD!

SO, FOR ALL THE LOCKERS THAT WENT UNDECORATED AND FOR ALL THE BIRTHDAY BOWS I DID NOT GET, LOOK WHAT I DID GET...PRICELESS LOVE FROM 3 VERY SPECIAL KIDS. LIFE IS WORTHWHILE, LIFE IS PRICELESS...I FOUND THAT OUT IN MY KITCHEN THIS MORNING!!

HAVE A HAPPY DAY AND THANK YOU DAVE FOR BEING THE FATHER YOU ARE TO OUR 3 SPECIAL KIDS!!

LOVE,

MARY (50 IS LOOKING PRETTY DARN GREAT) OH I FORGOT TO MENTION MY MAILBOX WAS EVEN DECORATED WITH BIRTHDAY BALLOONS!!!! OH MY!!!