Life is Good!

It is a beautiful day outside, the lilacs are blooming and my Ty is on tonight. Life is good! I think most everyone is aware of how much I love my Ty (Pennington) and his show. The last few weeks, he has either not been on or had a re-run. Tonight, however, is a new show and I can hardly wait. I have been excited for a week. We are cooking out which just tops off the day.

And, oh my gosh, I just found a much quicker way to get pictures onto my blog. I have been downloading my pictures to the computer and then uploading them into my blog. Well, I have discovered that I can just upload them directly to my blog from my camera. Oh you all should feel very lucky, because I am certainly more inclined to post more pictures to my blog. Of course, I also understand if you don't share my enthusiasm to the extent that I would hope.

Other news is that I am finally reading The Life of PI. I kept putting it off, in spite of the wonderful reviews that I heard and read about it. It just didn't seem interesting when reading the description on the book. It's about a tiger and a boy in a life boat. However, I am 32 pages into it and althought the first few were a bit rough, it's coming together and keeping my interest. I will keep you posted. Pi is the boy in the book and his family owns, or at least manages a zoo. The story is to be speak to human understanding and acceptance of the presence or lack of spirituality (God), as I understand so far.

One more thing to report. I am working on my crochet teddy bear and although, it has been a little on the difficult side, I am continuing to make progress. I am not ready to show a picture yet, but maybe soon.

Ooops, I lied. One more thing to report. I just wanted to put in a plug for Habitat for Humanity. Leon spent his first day working on a house yesterday and I think he really enjoyed it. They are rehabbing an existing home and he came home sore and fulfilled. Our church is working on starting a new home and he is planning to help with that. Pretty cool, eh? I liked ole Jimmy Carter.

Spring has really sprung

How do I know this (that spring has sprung)? Because Leon put fertilizer on the yard and we cooked out on the grill tonight (bratwurst with onions and peppers, yum, corn on the cob and deviled eggs). It's a sure sign. He also brought me a little daffodil pot. I love it, it is so springy. Unfortunately Max likes it too and we are catching him up on the table, nibbling. Naughty Max!!! Anyhow the longer days make my mood so much better.

I am working on a bear now. I will give an update photo in the next couple of days. I love this hobby!!

I am also adding a picture of Carrie and Abby making cookies.

Name my turtle

Well, I have made my first little "thread animal". This is my newest interest. My goal is to make them with crochet thread, but am practicing on a larger scale, with yarn. I have joined an online "threadanimals" group. You cannot believe the darling little animals that people have created. I want to do that. Below are some of the ones I have seen online, that other people in the group have made and posted.

I would love some name ideas. I must name all of my animals or they are not really "real". So put your thinking cap on, click on comments at the bottom of this post and give me some ideas.

Don't worry, Abby, I am still knitting your sweater.

Mmmmm Mmmm Good

Homemade Tomato Basil Soup and Grilled Cheese Sandwiches - What could be better ? Oh yeah and cheesecake pudding parfait for dessert.

I always love Tomato Basil soup at restaurants, so decided to try it at home. And of course what goes best with tomato soup, but grilled cheese. These were swiss and cheddar cheese mixed.

The dessert is made specially with Leon in mind. It is sugar free pudding, light cherry topping and graham cracker crumbs. What fun it was to make.

As you all know, I am not a whiz in the kitchen, but am trying to enjoy it more and try new recipes. This was a good one. Of course, it will probably be two weeks before I try another one, but my goal is to keep my accomplishments, cooking and otherwise documented here. I have another blog to add, but am headed to a meeting, so will include it when I get home.

Little Kevin and Carol

A few weeks ago, when Melissa and I were up in Elkhart visiting my mother, prior to her death, we had the wonderful opportunity to get together with Kevin and his family. They met us at the nursing home to see Mother and then we all stopped at a McDonalds to catch up and get a bite to eat. Little Kevin was so shy at the nursing home and would hardly show his face, but as with most little ones, he warmed up to us pretty quickly. Anyhow, to make a long story short, I took the cutest picture of him and Carol and Sandi and wanted to share it. Sandi was sitting there talking to us all and Carol was all cuddled up next to her. Pretty soon, here comes Kevin to cuddle up too, and the picture was born. How cute is this?

Indy and Abby

Down the slide at Childrens Museum: YAHOO!!!!!

We were finally able to get over to Indianapolis to see our pride and joy, Miss Abby; and Carrie and Matt, too. We had a great time, especially at the museum. Carrie has purchased memberships at the childrens museum in Indy for their family. They go regularly, so Abby is very familiar with the museum. She was so excited to show off the museum to her gramma and papaw. She showed us the Curious George display, the dinasaur display, the big slide, the carousel and the toddler playscape area. What a great museum!! Wish I could get one started for the Columbus children, but we have a wonderful museum called COSI. She took a ride on the carousel with papaw and went down the slide with gramma. She was so into showing us around, that at one point her little hands were gesturing like a game show model. It was hilarious!
Here is Abby at the dinasaur dig. Maybe she will grow up to be an archaeologist.!

They also had Dale Chihuly glassworks displays, which Leon and I are familiar with from visiting the Franklin Conservatory. For those who do not know of his work, he is a famous glass artist and his work is amazing. I have included a couple of shots of one part of the museum where you can lay on a revolving recliner-type thing and above you is a ceiling totally of his glassworks. It was one of my favorite parts. I loved it. I could have laid there all day. I am also including Abby and I and Carrie coming down the slide. Carrie is on the first rug. We left at the same time, but I couldn't get going, so she grabbed my foot as she passed and pshew there we went - me and Abby. So you can barely see me, which is just terrible, I know. It was fun!!

I decided to add this one even though it is on it side. I don't know how to fix it, but it is the four story glass sculpture in the middle of the museum - really, really cool.

On to happier things...

It has been forever since I posted. Where did the time go? I just posted the memorial to my mother and now I want to post the fun things I have been up to.

Just one weekend ago, Melissa and I went to the famous bridal district in Cincinnati, with the intention of not coming home without a bridal gown. Drum roll, please..... we did succeed, after many many gowns and Lissy as tired and worn out as she could be. It was a bit touch and go for a while, but she was a trooper. The last one one she tried on, was the one she decided on. Now I cannot post a picture of this one, although I do have one, because since this is the one, it's a big ole secret. No one gets to see before the ceremony. My goodness, are the gowns gorgeous there! I almost wanted to try on a few myself. We only went to one store, which was the one that Lissy had heard about for reasonably priced gowns. They have 4000 gowns on the premises that you can try on. Everything was on sale. Of course, a wedding gown is never cheap, but we did see some more expensive ones. The big fashion thing in gowns these days is "ruching" (not sure about spelling). I absolutely loved it. It is incredibly flattering and you wouldn't necessary think it would be. Very very cool. Lissy liked it too, but her gown does not have it.

Another wedding note. I am doing the centerpieces for the reception and I have decided on what I am going to do. Further, I have someone to set them up for me before the reception begins. The facility wants $10 per table to set them up. I am paying a single mom who can use the money and paying a whole lot less then $10 per table. Again, I don't want to ruin the surprise, so no hints or pictures.

Another "In Memoriam"

Frances Mae Escott Kidder, Elkhart, IN; January 1919- April 2008

Well, she finally got what she wanted. To go home to God, and I for one, am grateful for her. She lived a long life, but a very sad and difficult one. She was a victim of the horrible ravages of mental illness. There, I have said it. It has always been difficult for her family to watch and speaking only for myself, I didn't handle it well at all. I have regrets, but don't know if I could have done it any differently, had I had the opportunity. She didn't deserve what she was handed and it wasn't her fault. It was a shame. This disease ruined her and tore apart a family.

On the positive side, in her lucid moments, she was a true lady, gentle and kind, feminine and soft. She could be so loving. I don't remember much from my early childhood, but would like to share a couple of things that I do remember. I remember her reading to me, night after night. I would lie in my little bed and she would read bible stories to me. I still remember many of the words to one particular story, that I had memorized as a child. She thought I was the smartest thing around.

I remember her taking hair curlers out of my hair after I fell asleep, because she thought they would hurt me and I wouldn't sleep well. (I was in that sleepy, but aware state and have remembered it for many years).

I was around 8 years old when she had to leave us.

I am 54 and she is going home, free-spirited.

I think she can love Daddy now!! I hope they find each other in heaven!