IN PAPERBACK AT LAST

I get an email from Debbie Macomber's website. It keeps me up on what she is writing. It came out last week saying Back on Blossom was out in paperback on March 25th. Today I went to Walmart and there it was. I don't really want to start it yet, I have to keep knitting. i will see just how long this last.

Sometime ago, I bought this knitting book she put out after A Good Yarn. It has the two needle sock pattern in it. I have to say, I still like the four needle sock, but the book is good anyway.

The first book is the Shop on Blossom Street, in case you haven't read them yet. They are all good, especially if you are a knitter.
Now it is Read, Knit, Stitch, Sew???? AHHHHH.

IN TEXAS NOW

Mandie and Jason and Zoe are now living in Texas. She has a new blog entry if you want to catch up on her again. Jason has to go back to Qatar on Saturday and stay for six more months.
Please give them your prayers. Zoe is good medicine for her Grandpa Will, I think. Hope she will enjoy her new school and catch up soon. Good luck job hunting Mandie.

I'M HOME AND NOW THINKING HOLLAND

Ok, I am home from New York as of about an hour ago. We had a very good time with Kristy and her family. I wanted to see Mitch before he has to leave for Iraq, and this was my last opportunity. She was in the church choir for two Easter services and it was really touching watching her. I was so wishing her Mother could have seen her.
Now, I am going to start thinking Holland. I have so much to organize to take to Heidi and I can concentrate on that suitcase first. The time will fly now.
Thanks Kristy and Mitch for the wonderful time we spent with you and the kids. Your house is sooooo nice.
Angela, Hazel and Joni, I can't wait to meet you.

BIRTHDAY GIFTS AND MORE

An online stitching friend named Hazel, who lives in England and I will meet in May in Holland, sent me these wonderful little miniatures she stitched. She also hand made the card. I will treasure them and they will be in a place of honor in one of my dollhouses. Thank you Hazel.

This wonderful handstitched heart shaped pin keep and very pretty card is also from an online friend. She is from England, but now lives in sunny Spain. Thank you so much Margaret for taking time to think of me. I hope you are having only good news about your mother now that you are with her in England.

Diane, also from our stitching group sent me this very pretty card with her own very kind words in it. Thank you Diane, and thank you also for the varigated thread. It is beautiful.

This gift and card is from my pen pal in England. The necklace is so delicate and even the box is pretty. We have been pen pals since we were 8 years old. ( A longggggg time) Thank you Marlene.

Tomorrow we are leaving for New York to visit Kristy and family. This is the second baby afghan I finished and will be taking for her to donate to the post organization.
The following picture is me on the left, and my friend Vicki, who now lives in Virginia. We have been friends since we were five years old when her family moved to our neighborhood. She sent this picture to me online with a birthday wish. Thank you Vicki, I miss you. We were so cool with our fat socks and rolled up jeans. LOL. It was just a few years ago. OH MYYYYY. Have a wonderful Easter.

FOR ME IT'S ALL ABOUT FAMILY

My husband, George, who was my childhood friend. Grumpy was born in the same year he was, so he has this sweatshirt. PS: He isn't Grumpy.
Bill is my oldest child, hummm not so much a child anymore, unless you ask him. He will say he is a children. LOL

Heidi and Jos, and Jos will get me for posting his picture. Love you Jos, and you have to be in my list of people who mean so much to me.

Eric is my youngest son, he is a long distance truck driver and on an earlier post I told you about him making a quilt to have in his truck.

My wonderful Grandaughter Kristen, who added to my family a very special member, Mitch. I love him soooo much. He will be leaving for Iraq in May.

Sorry the picture came out so small, but this is very wonderful Haali and Mitchell. My Great Grandchildren really are great. They are talented and really great kids. They are homeschooled, and way ahead of their grade level. Good job Kristy.

Last by age but never least is my youngest Grandaughter Amanda. She first gave me my Zoe, who has me totally wrapped. She weaves her little magic on me and gets what she wants. She added Jason, who is now stationed with the Army in Quatar. We are so happy to have him with us. They are planning to relocate to Texas. We have been for many years, a total military family, so it makes it a little easier to deal with the moves.

Now you see what I mean, it is all about family.

I will be tagging:

Kristen, Christian Crafter

Christine, The Little World of Christine

Barbara, Grannie's World

My Hidden Stash

Nancy R., Lovely in Chocolate

I was tagged by Roberta, Simply Stitching in the Garden


Here are the rules for the tag:

1. Right your own 6 word memoir

2. Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you want to

3. Link to the person that tagged you in your post

4. Tag 5 more blogs with links

5. Remember to leave a comment on the tagged blog with an invitation to play

FOR AN ARMY BABY

HAPPY ST PATRICK'S DAY, hope everyone has the luck of the Irish on this special Irish day. The first baby afghan is ready to take to Ft Drum, New York. If the weather holds, we will be going on Thursday.

Hopefully, some little Army baby will keep warm with this afghan wrapped around them, or on them in their crib. Don't tell Zoe, but the book is for her.

MAKING PROGRESS

I want to finish this baby afghan before we go to New York next Thurday (weather permitting), so I can leave it with Kristen. I will start a second one right away because I can work on it in the car.
If you haven't yet, please visit Kristen's Christian Crafter blog to see the one my wonderful Great Grandaughter chrocheted. She is the most wonderful teen you will ever meet. So refreshing in the now world we live in.
My little girl is getting a door put on now. Her bell won't work and I can't answer if there is no door.

WORKS IN PROGRESS

Bill was here yesterday knitting on the red sweater he is making for me. He is doing a pattern he has never done before. It is really going to be pretty. There is even cable in the ribbing.
Kristy, he was wearing the sweater I made for him that you like.

I finally finished knitting the back and front of Eric's sweater. I am now starting a sleeve. If I would stop cross stitching, I could get it done.

As if I am not doing enough projects, I started this yesterday. Kristy told me Haali is doing volunteer work at Ft Drum and saw baby afghans in a chest. She asked what they were for, and found out the give them to soldiers families who are under a certain rank. Kristy said their unit gets credit for volunteer hours, and family can also help. I had some baby yarn, so off I go. I will knit the next one, I like to knit better.

THE TIME CHANGE BROUGHT THE SUN

The time change seems to have brought us the sun. The snowstorm seems to be over for now and I hope for the year.

This picture was one I found online. This could be a real problem for some of our rural friends.

OK NOW, THE SNOW CERTAINLY DOES BRING SOME REALLY GOOD THINGS TOO.

IN LIKE A LION

This is me on our second time out today cleaning the walk and driveway. We got the other side cleared off but it is snowing like mad and when the plow comes by, it will be snowed under again. I borrowed George's hat this time out.

Yesterday, we had this driveway all cleaned out. Overnight we got all this snow. We were able to open only one side of our double drive and wore out. As we were cleaning out, the plow came an we had to shovel again. I was using the shovel. George was using the snowblower as you see and the snow was up to the top of his boots. This snow is supposed to continue until 4 AM on Sunday and the temperature is forcasted for only 4 degrees overnight. We even had thunder and lightening last night.

This picture didn't come out well, It is showing how deep my footprints are on the walk. It might show up better on a large view, not sure.

This is our back patio. The swing looks like it has a puffy quilt on it. Nope, it is snow.

This is our neighbor's car. It is in their driveway across from ours. Hope they don't need out. The clocks might SPRING ahead tonight, but IT IS NOT SPRING IN OHIO.

WIP AND QUESTIONING HAIR COLOR

Heidi said if I take a red cross stitched picture at an angle it won't show white through it that isn't really showing when you look at the actual work. I am trying it. It is really very solid red.
Here goes a second try at a picture.

I am questioning my color choice of this little girls hair. I changed it from red/orange, and wanted it more blonde. I think it is now not right either. What do you think Heidi?

IN HONOR OF KRISTEN

My Grandaughter, Kristen of Christian Crafter Blog, which you can click on from my list of bloggers I visit, is a HUGH football fan. Brett Farve is her very favorite. She even has a sign above her chair, bought by Mitch, that only Green BayPackers Fans Sit Here. Well, he is going to retire. SOOOOOOOOO

In five years, she says she will be here for the Hall of Fame Festival. They have to be retired five years to be eligible, and she is sure he will be in the first year he can be.

Ok Kristy, you will have to be one of the hundreds of people standing here watching his speech.

I sure hope you get your wish and he is in on first vote.

This is the McKinley Monument in one of our city parks, and yes it looks like this again. Last night we had an ice storm and at least six times in a matter of one half hour our TV went out.

Now I have an old TV and don't care about it, but I was watching American Idol so it made me mad. I unplugged my laptop and computer. Now the ice is gone but we have snow again. Will it ever be Spring?

GUESS WHAT IT IS HEIDI?

SHE GUESSED IT, she looked at this for less than a minute and she guessed what I was stitching. I cannot believe it. It is mean't to represent her when she was my little little girl, knocking at the door pretending to be Red Riding Hood, or Claire and other little characters.
It will be a small pillow or framed, her choice when it is finished.

Ok Heidi, I am getting totally brave now and making this for you. If you can guess what it is, I will let you see the picture, but if not, you have to wait till I bring it in April.

I have on previous blog entries, shown you items I received as gifts from Jacomina in Holland.

She is a very nice lady in Heidi's quilt group. Her husband, her daughter and she does dances in full costume. They wore there costumes to Heidi's so we could see them. They are wonderful people.

This is the inside of the pretty quilted sewing kit she made for me and gave me one of the times I visited Heidi. I really treasure all the gifts I receive from these ladies.

A GIFT FOR CHARLIE

I gave up on Cross Stitching today to knit this little preemie sweater for a new little boy in our family named Charlie. His mommy , my great niece, has been posting pictures of him on her blog since his birth .
He finally got to come home last week and he has a very cute little sister, named Lily, who has been waiting for him. Charlie was not even due until March and has been here a couple months.
If you would like to see his picture, you can go to my list of blogs I visit and click on Amy Wahl.
We have been following along everyday with his progress. Welcome Home little man.
I will get the sweater to you soon.
Love to you, Aunt Nancy