even though we still are sick :0(
But, on to other things . . . . . . I haven't seen my son in 2 days. It's weird. He's gone to school when I get up, and I went to bed early Wednesday - like, right after I got home from work early! So he wasn't home from school yet. Then the next day he's gone to school before I get up, and there was a thing after school, then he had to work in the auditorium that evening for a concert. I heard his truck rumble in about 9:45pm or so. Then today, again, he's gone when I get up. Strange thing is, I have Bunco tonight, I'll leave about 6:15pm or so. . . .and if he's not home yet . . . .my goodness, I may not recognize him the next time I see him, LOL
The most exciting thing that happened since last we blogged - is the quilt show!! I got to be in the judging room and wow, it was a full two days of learning. The two quilt judges (one of whom looked JUST LIKE HER PICTURE IN THE ADVERTISEMENTS IN THE QUILTY MAGAZINES!!) poured over each quilt. First we read the quilt's name and entry number. Then we held it up so they could see a full-on view. Well, actually, backing up, the quilts in one catagory were all on a table, piled one on top of each other with the largest quilts on the bottom. Then they are folded in half, over each other. So the really first thing is two helpers stand on either side of the table and "open" them back out - kind of fanning them for the judges to see the whole group. Well, it's just impossible to explain without my hands or you having been there - but that's how it starts.
So then after we hold it up, we put it back on the talbe and the fun starts. The judges move in, as if drawn by magnets! They are touching and looking close and talking to each other the whole time. "Ooh, look at these little pieces" "Oh, did you see the points are cut off on the stars" "The quilting stitches look good, how bout on the back" "Oh this binding was handled exceptionally well" and on they go. Questions and answers, observations. Then they will make their "Comments" for the critique sheet. One judge is the "Speaker" for them for each table full of quilts. Then they swap for the next table. Some things they obsessed over surprised me, and some things they didn't look at much suprised me too. I had always heard that on your binding, you want lots of tiny invisible stitches, like 10 to 15 an inch! They never looked much at the stitches there. Just felt ALL the way around the binding to see that it was full and even, and they did look to see that the corners were mitered and perfect 90 degrees. There were only a couple that weren't full bindings, and on the first one the judge actually said she was shocked by it! They hardly ever run across it because most entering shows know it's a biggie they'll look for.
All in all it was tiring , but really fun too. And to hear what they said, and what they looked for, makes me encouraged about entering a quilt next year. Plus, I was a hard worker and volunteered for next year, so that means I can put my poker face on and watch them go over my quilt with their fine toothed combs!
On the other hobby front, the chickens, we have our 10 chicks for spring in a brooder in the living room. They are not quite 2 weeks old. One is quite curious and if he turns out to be a rooster he'll get the name "Curious George" for sure. He'll likely be the first to escape the brooder box by trying to fly over the sides! We also rehomed two of our bigger girls. One was a chick we swapped for last August and had started laying, the other was one of Carly's cast-offs we'd brougth back to good health and laying too. Friends needed more layers and we needed space to keep a couple of these chicks so it was a win-win all around. So a no-name girl and Matilda have gone to a nice family nearby.
Actual quilting hasn't been happening. The next customer quilt is loaded, and has been for at least a week, maybe more. But . . . . .just not started yet. Need to though. It will be custom work and good $$, so maybe my mojo will hit this weekend. So far, not sure if it's the weather or taking away one of the depression meds (or not being 100% healthy) but I could really truly stay in bed all day, every day. Come on warm spring weather and bright sunshine, where are ya?
Friday, March 11, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
It's just a Wednesday
Everything seems to be pretty even keel these days. Ellen is back on antibiotics for bronchitus. I really wish she'd do a better job at taking her meds as directed. I remind her and nag her, but still she manages to only take 2 of the 3 a day antibiotics and I'm sure that's not good *grrr*
Work is ok. Muddling along. It is awfully quiet though. I have more visitors than usual, a couple of deacons check in once a week or so. And my lady who used to call and chat once a week, calls me almost every day - so I'm not all alone. The fellow filling in on Sundays is being received well, so that is good. Our numbers have seen a slight increase in attendance, and that is always good.
I did finish a Quilt of Valor over the weekend, first quilt off the frame for 2011! Next up is a 1930's sampler for a favorite customer. I'm pretty certain of my design ideas, I'm still figuring out thread colors though. Tonight I get to go to a class to make fabric bowls - it's my birthday present, yipee! The cool part is, I stopped at the shop yesterday to ask a question, and while there discovered that there are only 2 of us in the class - talk about plenty of teacher/student attention!! I should have this new technique down pat!
House is all good. Staying pretty tidy, though the laundry is piling up again. Need to address it though, because those baby chicks are coming soon and we need the downstairs bathroom to set up the brooders - the only place really big enough and suitable. So we need clear floor space. I've been doing a couple loads a day, but I'm seeing that the clean, folded clothes I send the kids off to their rooms with, are not making it into the dressers - that must be addressed, or I'll just be getting those piles of clothes back in the dirty laundry (still a little folded sometimes) when they clean their rooms the next time. They'll just gather up all the piles of clothes, call them dirty laundry and send them down to the bathroom/laundry room - silly kids! I can tell the difference.
Work is ok. Muddling along. It is awfully quiet though. I have more visitors than usual, a couple of deacons check in once a week or so. And my lady who used to call and chat once a week, calls me almost every day - so I'm not all alone. The fellow filling in on Sundays is being received well, so that is good. Our numbers have seen a slight increase in attendance, and that is always good.
I did finish a Quilt of Valor over the weekend, first quilt off the frame for 2011! Next up is a 1930's sampler for a favorite customer. I'm pretty certain of my design ideas, I'm still figuring out thread colors though. Tonight I get to go to a class to make fabric bowls - it's my birthday present, yipee! The cool part is, I stopped at the shop yesterday to ask a question, and while there discovered that there are only 2 of us in the class - talk about plenty of teacher/student attention!! I should have this new technique down pat!
House is all good. Staying pretty tidy, though the laundry is piling up again. Need to address it though, because those baby chicks are coming soon and we need the downstairs bathroom to set up the brooders - the only place really big enough and suitable. So we need clear floor space. I've been doing a couple loads a day, but I'm seeing that the clean, folded clothes I send the kids off to their rooms with, are not making it into the dressers - that must be addressed, or I'll just be getting those piles of clothes back in the dirty laundry (still a little folded sometimes) when they clean their rooms the next time. They'll just gather up all the piles of clothes, call them dirty laundry and send them down to the bathroom/laundry room - silly kids! I can tell the difference.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
back among the living finally
It was decided that I likely had Pnumonia just like Tim. Mine started the beginning of January and got me really down about the 10th. I finally got out of bed on Tuesday the 18th - WOW!
At this point, I still have a little cough that folks tell me will take a few weeks to completely go away. but that's it, so I'm happy. I also am off caffiene. I wasn't getting my Diet Coke while sick, so by the time I got better, any withdrawls were over. So I've decided to stich to caffiene free and see how it goes.
My boss retired at the end of January. So it's just me, all alone here at the church. Awfully quiet *insert cricket sound effect* But so far, it just feels like he's on vacation. It won't be until a few weeks go by that it really HITS me.
Home is good. Had a major ordeal with Marci last week that I won't get all into (since you never know who all is out there in space reading all this personal stuff) but we met with a student services guy who is WONDERFUL!! And after a long afternoon with him, she is doing better. It mostly stemmed from the "Mean Girl" stuff going on at school. She's been giving and getting it (not that she tells me the parts she is doing of course!) and it just got to be too much and overwhelmed her. I've been doing a lot of reading about "relational aggression in girls" which is the technical term for mean girl stuff. And it's amazing to learn about. I'm not far enough in the book to give her many good suggestions to handle it yet, but I'm sure hoping to get there soon because this stuff at school is certainly not going away any time soon. *sigh*
On the quilting front, I haven't loaded a single quilt yet this year - YIKES! Need to do that though because I could use the $ and I have a few scheduled to come in at the beginning of March, so I need to clear out the ones on hand. I hate to be behind, and my goal this year is to schedule better so that I'm not in that spot so much.
Looking at seed catalogs and planning our garden. We'd like to switch to heirloom seeds and will be taking that plunge this year. Hopefully the fruit trees will produce a little something this year. I've stocked up on canning jars in hopes of an even bigger harvest from the garden, berries and trees this summer!!
Somehow I got in charge of ordering the chicks for our 4H group, LOL! So there will be 60 chicks coming to my house in the middle of the night late in February. Only 10 are supposed to stay . . . . . .but I'm already thinking 14 - oh, that crazy chicken math!!!
All for now, peace out and purring!
At this point, I still have a little cough that folks tell me will take a few weeks to completely go away. but that's it, so I'm happy. I also am off caffiene. I wasn't getting my Diet Coke while sick, so by the time I got better, any withdrawls were over. So I've decided to stich to caffiene free and see how it goes.
My boss retired at the end of January. So it's just me, all alone here at the church. Awfully quiet *insert cricket sound effect* But so far, it just feels like he's on vacation. It won't be until a few weeks go by that it really HITS me.
Home is good. Had a major ordeal with Marci last week that I won't get all into (since you never know who all is out there in space reading all this personal stuff) but we met with a student services guy who is WONDERFUL!! And after a long afternoon with him, she is doing better. It mostly stemmed from the "Mean Girl" stuff going on at school. She's been giving and getting it (not that she tells me the parts she is doing of course!) and it just got to be too much and overwhelmed her. I've been doing a lot of reading about "relational aggression in girls" which is the technical term for mean girl stuff. And it's amazing to learn about. I'm not far enough in the book to give her many good suggestions to handle it yet, but I'm sure hoping to get there soon because this stuff at school is certainly not going away any time soon. *sigh*
On the quilting front, I haven't loaded a single quilt yet this year - YIKES! Need to do that though because I could use the $ and I have a few scheduled to come in at the beginning of March, so I need to clear out the ones on hand. I hate to be behind, and my goal this year is to schedule better so that I'm not in that spot so much.
Looking at seed catalogs and planning our garden. We'd like to switch to heirloom seeds and will be taking that plunge this year. Hopefully the fruit trees will produce a little something this year. I've stocked up on canning jars in hopes of an even bigger harvest from the garden, berries and trees this summer!!
Somehow I got in charge of ordering the chicks for our 4H group, LOL! So there will be 60 chicks coming to my house in the middle of the night late in February. Only 10 are supposed to stay . . . . . .but I'm already thinking 14 - oh, that crazy chicken math!!!
All for now, peace out and purring!
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Cough, cough, sneeze!
Oh, we've been sick, again, or still. Ellen was sick before Christmas break and it seemed to get better - maybe it was only laying low for awhile, waiting to rear it's ugly head and infect us all!!! Tim of course, had pnumonia so he was sick too. His vacation, getting rest and a normal sleeping schedule helped a lot. But he's started having lots of drainage in his head. And he feels the proper way to handle that is to blow it all out in his hankie. All fine and good, but when I have to listen to a long, damp nose-blow twenty times an hour - it's no longer all fine or good!
Then, I ended up not feeling well Tuesday night. Light-headed, chills, feverish - ugh. So since yesterday was a snow day, I packed all the kids up and took us to the WOW clinic. We all have variations on the same thing - and we're all on Sudefed to dry out our faces, cough medicine to help us sleep, rest and fluids. I tried pushing the Sudefed on Tim, but it isn't drying his face out too much, or too fast. Bummer.
I didn't sleep much last night - though I was pretty bundled up: long underwear, top and bottom, a flannel nightgown on top and two pair of socks - the outer pair being Max's tube socks that I pulled up almost to my knees! I'm at work, and starting to feel my throat getting sore, so probably head home, make a really, really lame dinner (not pot pies, I did that last night, LOL), take cough medicine and crawl into bed.
Then, I ended up not feeling well Tuesday night. Light-headed, chills, feverish - ugh. So since yesterday was a snow day, I packed all the kids up and took us to the WOW clinic. We all have variations on the same thing - and we're all on Sudefed to dry out our faces, cough medicine to help us sleep, rest and fluids. I tried pushing the Sudefed on Tim, but it isn't drying his face out too much, or too fast. Bummer.
I didn't sleep much last night - though I was pretty bundled up: long underwear, top and bottom, a flannel nightgown on top and two pair of socks - the outer pair being Max's tube socks that I pulled up almost to my knees! I'm at work, and starting to feel my throat getting sore, so probably head home, make a really, really lame dinner (not pot pies, I did that last night, LOL), take cough medicine and crawl into bed.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Ah, Christmas!
The Whipkers are having a wonderful Christmas! I was lucky enough to have Christmas Eve off work and Tim started his vacation the 18th or so. The kids first day of break was the 23rd, which was nice, they'll go back on Jan. 3rd -- so they only have about a week and a half off. That works out better than getting out the 17th and having a whole week before Christmas. Plus, with the snow days we've already used, we don't need any other unnecessary days out! The "built in" snow days are gone, so any more will have to be added on to the end of the year. HOWEVER, Seniors have a "Hard" last day -- meaning, Max won't have to make up any snow days, so he is seriously hoping for tons and tons of snow and ice, LOL.
More later, and maybe even pix, but time to get to work and get the newsletter out!
More later, and maybe even pix, but time to get to work and get the newsletter out!
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Operation "Santa's Elves" proceeds ;0)
Oh it was a fun weekend! I was getting worried that although Ellen and her pal had a great plan for the needy family - there was still a mom across town worrying because SHE didn't know that Santa's Elves were coming. So, Saturday I told her we had to at least drop off the card with money so the parents had time to shop. And we needed to put in a note about the Wii so they'd know that a big gift was on the way. We got that done super-sneaky-spy-like and it was a hoot! Ellen got a FWD email from a friend of the daughter later and they were blown away. So excited and just befuddled about how anyone knew they were in need of some assistance, and who on earth did this! Perfect, just the result we wanted ;) We have all the other gifts now, and just want to find someone to impersonate Santa and deliver them. Or, maybe we'll drive in to town in the middle of the night (gee, after midnight mass would work) and tuck the bag in between the door and the storm door?? Oh, the plotting and planning of "Operation Santa's Elves"!!
By Monday, Ellen was sick - turns out she has bronchitus. No, don't get all sympathetic for her -- it also turns out she hasn't been taking her Asthma meds, like AT ALL! Lucky she still can breathe at all. So, she's got a Steroid, plus all her regular meds to take and she feels yucky too.
Tuesday, Marci is flushed and feeling yucky. She's coming down with something, the clinic couldn't really say what - it was almost like we got her there too early, not enough symptoms to make a difiniative call, LOL! Tylonal, fluids and rest for her.
Max made it to school all three days, and today, on the first day of break, he thinks he might be getting something. Poor kids, all puny for Christmas. I'm washing my hands, staying at work as much as I can, and not breathing in around any of them!
Presents are all done, needing wrapped and I hope to get some quiet time tonight to do that. I need to find a gift for Tim from me, because the kids report that he got me something -- we usually don't. Not sure what, but I'll nose around a little today after work. Well, that is, when I finally get out of here. It's almost 2:30, my regular quitting time, and the bulletins are still printing -- oops. Too much dilly dallying I bet.
By Monday, Ellen was sick - turns out she has bronchitus. No, don't get all sympathetic for her -- it also turns out she hasn't been taking her Asthma meds, like AT ALL! Lucky she still can breathe at all. So, she's got a Steroid, plus all her regular meds to take and she feels yucky too.
Tuesday, Marci is flushed and feeling yucky. She's coming down with something, the clinic couldn't really say what - it was almost like we got her there too early, not enough symptoms to make a difiniative call, LOL! Tylonal, fluids and rest for her.
Max made it to school all three days, and today, on the first day of break, he thinks he might be getting something. Poor kids, all puny for Christmas. I'm washing my hands, staying at work as much as I can, and not breathing in around any of them!
Presents are all done, needing wrapped and I hope to get some quiet time tonight to do that. I need to find a gift for Tim from me, because the kids report that he got me something -- we usually don't. Not sure what, but I'll nose around a little today after work. Well, that is, when I finally get out of here. It's almost 2:30, my regular quitting time, and the bulletins are still printing -- oops. Too much dilly dallying I bet.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Good stuff, yucky stuff, and what's left over
Well, the good stuff is that little Ellie-Belle has a plan. One of her friends shared that she found her mom crying over the fact that it was 11 days to Christmas and it looked like there would be no gifts or celebration due to finances. I know mom has been off work some for surgery, not sure of dad's work situation. But they are a good family who live modestly and believe in crazy stuff like, if we can't afford gifts, we'll just have to do without (instead of the 9,385,937,264 others in the world who'd say, heck, just charge it, I have room on this card!)
SO, she offered to take her Christmas money from Gr'ma (usually $100) and forgo a gift from Santa (thought to be around $50 budgeted) and buy the extra Wii I ended up with - then give it to this family! Looks like one kid was raised right!!!! YIPPEEe!! So I said. . . . . "No."
Well, I said, "No. We'll just give it to them. You don't need to buy it. Now, what else do they need?" She had a pretty big grin that's for sure! Her friend and co-conspiritor spent the night on Wednesday (we were 98 % sure we had a snow day coming, and we were right for once!) And that friend's mom will be able to get an extra set of controllers through her work (free, yeah!) and then that family is going to buy a new Wii family game for them. We are going to put some cash $$$ in the envelope (Ellen's and my Christmas money from Gr'ma - a nice amount X 2) so mom and dad can do some shopping for kids (there are 2, one is a Sophomore in HS, one is 11, so maybe a 6th grader). Tim wants to buy and put in a gift certificate to Jonny Corino's resteraunt using some of his overtime $ that he saves to take us out over Christmas, and I have a certificate for a meal from a local pizza place that the Cheer Fund gave us for helping there.
I also turned their name and addy in here at work to receive a food basket from the church here - so, looks like it might be a happy Chirstmas afterall! Ellen is looking forward to her friend coming back to schoool after break and sharing this amazing "Santa came!" story as it is all going to be annonymous, and just from "Santa & Mrs. Claus!"
The yucky is that Tim is over his virus, but I threw up yesterday, so I might have it. And of course, I was in the car . .. . . . . . .driving! Yeah, moms can do most anything! I have a headache today, but that could be from lack of caffiene yesterday or the fact that I forgot my glasses at home today or the lack of sleep last night, no, I never sleep well, so I'm probably used to that. So far my tummy is only a little wiggly, and I'm going to finish up here and get the bulletin done in case I need to go home early ;)
Tim started vacation today, the kids get out of school after class on Wednesday, and I plan to take Christmas eve off. Should be a fun week leading up to Christmas (though the kids dooooo have some rooms to clean, oh, and maybe I do too, LOL)
SO, she offered to take her Christmas money from Gr'ma (usually $100) and forgo a gift from Santa (thought to be around $50 budgeted) and buy the extra Wii I ended up with - then give it to this family! Looks like one kid was raised right!!!! YIPPEEe!! So I said. . . . . "No."
Well, I said, "No. We'll just give it to them. You don't need to buy it. Now, what else do they need?" She had a pretty big grin that's for sure! Her friend and co-conspiritor spent the night on Wednesday (we were 98 % sure we had a snow day coming, and we were right for once!) And that friend's mom will be able to get an extra set of controllers through her work (free, yeah!) and then that family is going to buy a new Wii family game for them. We are going to put some cash $$$ in the envelope (Ellen's and my Christmas money from Gr'ma - a nice amount X 2) so mom and dad can do some shopping for kids (there are 2, one is a Sophomore in HS, one is 11, so maybe a 6th grader). Tim wants to buy and put in a gift certificate to Jonny Corino's resteraunt using some of his overtime $ that he saves to take us out over Christmas, and I have a certificate for a meal from a local pizza place that the Cheer Fund gave us for helping there.
I also turned their name and addy in here at work to receive a food basket from the church here - so, looks like it might be a happy Chirstmas afterall! Ellen is looking forward to her friend coming back to schoool after break and sharing this amazing "Santa came!" story as it is all going to be annonymous, and just from "Santa & Mrs. Claus!"
The yucky is that Tim is over his virus, but I threw up yesterday, so I might have it. And of course, I was in the car . .. . . . . . .driving! Yeah, moms can do most anything! I have a headache today, but that could be from lack of caffiene yesterday or the fact that I forgot my glasses at home today or the lack of sleep last night, no, I never sleep well, so I'm probably used to that. So far my tummy is only a little wiggly, and I'm going to finish up here and get the bulletin done in case I need to go home early ;)
Tim started vacation today, the kids get out of school after class on Wednesday, and I plan to take Christmas eve off. Should be a fun week leading up to Christmas (though the kids dooooo have some rooms to clean, oh, and maybe I do too, LOL)
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