Wine, Aunt Grace, and Nail Polish

Monday when Gracie and I were in town, I picked up the cheapest red nail polish I could find.  Not for me, but for the hummingbirds.  We have two feeders-a bright red cheap plastic one and a really nice brass one that has a solar light.  But the flowers on the brass one weren't very bright:

Jim and Millie's family gave this to me for Mother's day.  Really cute but not very red.

Nice red.

It actually worked better than I expected!

 And now the hummingbirds are visiting BOTH feeders!

On a sad note, do you remember my story about Uncle George and Aunt Grace?  We got the call that Aunt Grace passed away yesterday morning.  She was a young 91-year-old, but life happens and people leave us.  We'll say our final goodby Saturday morning.

Our good friends, Wayne and Connie, came over to pick raspberries tonight, and they brought the bottle of wine they scored on their vacation to South Dakota.  I'm ashamed to say we polished that thing off in a hurry!  Very yummy-mostly rhubarb and a touch of raspberry.  A lovely cool evening on the deck with wine, snacks and good conversation.  Can't beat that.

They said the winery was right there, but they got this bottle at a gift shop.  If they'd bought it at the winery they would have had to buy a case.  Well, now we realize they should have gone with the case!

Log Cabin

A bit ago, my friend Joan had done this post.  Since I have so much yarn that my mom left me, and there isn't much of any one color, I decided this would be an awesome project.

It is, and it is so addicting.  I think the combination of the simplicity of the pattern and and the fun of watching how each round and each color changes its looks is what makes it so addicting.

It's a really simple pattern:  Cast on 20 stitches of knitting worsted, knit in garter stitch until you have 24 garter ridges, or 48 rows.  Bind off all but the last stitch, rotate your work and start picking up stitches on the LEFT side of the piece.  A hint-you'll probably end up with as many stitches as garter ridges, not as many as you have rows.  Now knit 18 rows or 9 garter ridges, bind off all but one, then rotate and pick up stitches on the next left side of your work.  See a pattern here?  Go until you get sick of it, you run out of yarn, or it's as big as you want it.  But I warn you-you won't want to put it down, and you'll be rummaging through your stash for more yarn for the next one.  Finishing is easy-just bury the threads on the back.  Oh, and I used a #9 straight needle.  I may switch to a circular when the blanket gets bigger, we'll see.  (I hate circulars!)  One thing I might change is that I might knit a square for the center, then the afghan would be a perfect square.

A word about my knitting basket-isn't it neat?  Last summer, there was a lady from Ghana at the Manhattan Potato Festival who had these baskets for sale.  I told her I would be back-she had $80 marked on them-not bad for a hand-woven basket-but when I came back near the end of the day, she had marked them down to $40.  She was such a nice lady I would have paid the $80.  It's really roomy and I specifically bought it for my knitting projects, but Millie thought, since it's green and red that it would be nice filled with Christmas greens and ornaments.  I'm afraid it'll never be empty of yarn, though so I might have to buy another one.  Hopefully I will see the lady at one of the many local fairs this summer.  The basket looks nice on my pew, doesn't it?  Can't wait til it warms up a bit more so I can sit out there and knit and people watch.

Nice Reunion

This weekend Stan's high school class celebrated their 50th reunion.  Hard to believe it's been that long!  It was a lovely time, starting with a nice buffet dinner on Friday night, breakfast at the school's new atrium Saturday morning, then a drive to Gates of the Mountains-a place along the Missouri River where the mountains close in and form a "gate."  They give guided tours on boats.  Good trip, even though we had to drive about 90 miles to get there.  Then we met at a classmate's home for a burger fry.  Gave us lots more time to gab and gab.  Stan reconnected with his best friend from high school, Howie, and they are plotting fishing trips for the fall when Howie comes back to help his brother with the potato harvest.

It was great to see Howie-his wife passed away in January, and it's been pretty rough for him.  He almost didn't come, but he told us he's glad he did.  He's a retired school administrator who can't be idle, hence the potato harvesting.  It'll be super for Stan to get together with him again!

A few people who didn't graduate with the class were there, and it was good for them, too.  It's funny how 50 years can strip away all the pretenses and we can just relax and enjoy each other.  All the spouses had a good time, too.  They made us really feel like part of the group.

This isn't all of them, but there was a nice showing.  They've only lost two-pretty good for folks pushing 70!

A Small Change

I know I promised chickens, but I worked a 5-day stretch so haven't had time to finish it up.  Tomorrow maybe.  Anyway, I wanted to share my news.  A couple of weeks ago, our church secretary announced she was quitting to go full-time at her other job.  When I saw the announcement, I decided to give it to God for a week or so to see if I should apply.  A little background-I had that job before this gal did.  I was always sorry I had left.  The job I went to was way too stressful and even though it was a ministry as well, I never felt like I was really making a difference.

I am a deacon in the church and was a bit uncomfortable with the idea of being secretary also, but my three-year term is up in December.  I finally shot off a resume to the Council president, sharing my misgivings about what people would think.  Last night we had a special Council meeting to select a new secretary.  There were three applicants.  I announced that I wouldn't be a part in the selection process and left the room.  As I left, I told them not to worry about my feelings, just do what God wanted them to do.  I went into the office and prayed over the proceedings.  I didn't pray that I would get the job, only that God would put the right name in their hearts, whoever that may be.  Stan, who is also on the Council, told them he also wouldn't be voting-too close for comfort.  We did everything we could to keep it ethical and above board.

Long story short, they voted to hire me.  I am very happy about it, and the pastor has told me to be sure to do what I need to the office.  Actually I had been thinking of some things for a while-a lot of groups use that small office and it could be refitted to accommodate more things, such as when the deacons count their money.  Right now we count it standing up, around a tiny desk.  We could get rid of two desks and put in a small table that would work much better.  It will be fun doing that, and the pastor suggested a paint job would be a good idea, too.  Nice!

I will be staying on at Macy's but on a flex status.  I will log into the database on Sunday mornings and pick up a couple of shifts for the next week that will work around the 12 hours at the church.  Things fell into place so well I can't help but think God is in this.

There is a sad part.  One of the women that was not hired is now causing an uproar on Facebook because she and her family think it's unethical for me to have the job.  Most of her children have said things that Christians shouldn't say.  Makes me really sad-we were friends.  And Stan and I both worked really hard to keep things above reproach.

I'm just giving it to God and hoping that they will see what they are doing.  I know I have the backing of the Council and feel that I am not wrong at all.  I am going to work very hard to not get into any kind of row with them and only be discreet and loving.  Say a little prayer for me that this can be healed.

Thanks, New Friends!

Thanks to some new friends in Mazatlan, all my DIL's fears and questions were answered and she is happily anticipating our trip.  I can't believe the kindness of people I have never met.  And they tell me that most people who live in Mazatlan are this way.  I love that place!

Tick tock-five days!  If I just didn't have to get up at 3:30 AM to catch our flight!  I always say I'll sleep on the plane but I never do.  Nap?  Maybe-if it doesn't interfere with my fun!

Lost Friendship

I got an e-mail today from a friend that I occasionally have coffee with. She told me she wanted to end our friendship. She said it wasn't "healthy." Meeting her once in a while was a nice break from my daily routine, and was just fun. I guess she wasn't getting what she wanted out of the relationship. She hinted that she couldn't get a word in edgewise when I started talking. I am a bit gabby, but I didn't think I monopolized the whole conversation and is gabbiness a terrible character flaw? I also, recognizing my trait, would stop and make sure she could have her say. I have noticed that she has kind of retreating into herself and that does worry me. Maybe she's depressed and I didn't give her a chance to tell me. She told me once of a business idea she had, and I told her it was a neat idea and she owed it to herself to give it a try. She got angry and said I didn't have faith in her-I should have told her she would definitely succeed.

I'm still a bit stunned. I guess I'm not sure what real friends are. I never required undying bosom buddy friendship, but just a lively idea exchange over a latte.' I live in a relatively small town with small town attitudes, and most of the people here don't share my political views, so it was fun to actually be with someone whose ideals were closer to mine.

This is the second friend I've lost. The first one was someone I've known since childhood but when we started working together, she became hostile and cool and eventually I left. She hasn't spoken to me much since, even though I've made several attempts to reconcile she hasn't responded.

Now this one. I am sad, very sad.

I replied to her e-mail and told her to have a good life.

One World One Heart

Check out my sidebar addition. I will be participating in this again this year, so watch for my post with all the info about what I will be offering as a prize. Last year, only a couple of weeks into blogging, I gained a ton of friends and readers. I still communicate with a lot of them.

Sooo-check back soon and see what I've decided to put up for a prize. Anybody have a request from the pictures of some of my stuff?

I Met Another Bloggy Friend!

Last night Chris played his last football game for the season. It just happened to be against the Livingston Cougars. One of the Cougars' moms is Jenn Claar. We got to finally meet after the game-she's a bubbly, lovely lady and her daughter is pretty cute, too. AND her son did a great job playing football. The Panthers won, but the Cougars did a fine job.

Hope to see you again soon, Jenn, maybe you could teach Millie and me how to scrapbook. Or just get together for a gab fest.

Reunion

This weekend my high school class celebrated 40 years. We had a fun time, and today a few of us met for lunch, to get just a bit more visiting in and so two who couldn't make it on Saturday could see one lady who lives in Arizona.

I've really been doing a lot of remembering and thinking, thanks to this weekend. We had one girl in our class who was a holy terror. From the first grade on, she bullied me, and judging by the comments today, a few others. I hold no grudge-I'm sure the reason she was the way she was had something to do with either her home life or maybe a chemical imbalance. She actually came to the reunion, but it's pretty obvious life has done a pretty good job of crapping on her.

I left high school and got married about a month after school started in my senior year. I went to another high school for a while, but my high school diploma came in the form of a GED. I even went to college for a while and have taken lots of community classes.

Seeing this lady and remembering all the things she did were actually very freeing because now I realize that nobody can make me a victim like that unless I give them permission. Even though the bullying lasted 11 years, I never took ownership of being the victim. She was very reluctant to talk to me and I think it had to do partly with guilt, but also with the fact that I came out just fine, and she is stuck in her dysfunctional life. I don't think she's matured past junior high.

It was very eye-opening to hear others talk about being bullied by her. If I'd known this before I probably would have enjoyed high school more and probably wouldn't have dropped out.

But if I hadn't dropped out I wouldn't have married Stan, or had my three terrific sons, or all those darling grandkids, so life does have a way of working itself out.

And even though I knew it, it was nice to be reminded that this person has no power over me.

I Was Blogged About Today!

Saturday I went to a book signing for the book, Crochet Adorned, written by Linda Permann. I showed her a variation of one of her patterns that I had made, and bought her book.

What a nice gal! She is so natural and chatty it was like meeting an old friend. She even recognized Sydney from my blogs, which means she has been reading them, so cool! Her stuff is super cute, too, and the book is full of interesting and helpful instructions.

I'm now all fired up to crochet flowers and trims-I actually have small amounts of fancy yarns that I've picked up at various sales, so they should really work up cute in one of Linda's patterns. Check me out on her blog, I'm definitely not the prettiest one in the picture but Sydney is really cute.

Our Weekend

We had a very busy weekend. We started off with a barbecue to honor the chili contestants in the state chili cook-off, held in conjunction with the Manhattan Potato Festival. Stan was a contestant. It was pouring rain, so the meal was moved to the senior center. The street dance was bagged because it didn't stop raining until late in the evening. The Festival is held to honor the potato growers in the area. Manhattan area potato farmers grow about 90% of all seed potatoes used in the United States.

Master at chili.

Saturday was the Festival and miracle of miracles, it was sunny. Not really warm but warm enough to get out and have some fun. The parade was fun and full of neat things, and just as the parade started, Air Force One flew over Main Street. Purely accidental, but neat anyway.

Parade loot.

There were booths in the park that runs along Main Street. There were crafts, food, games, and someone was even selling those dumb visors with the fake fur that looks like hair.

Taking in the attractions.

Stan came in third in the cook-off and won a new camp stove, $50, and a pottery chili bowl from Big Sky Carvers.

Big Sky Carvers is a company that manufactures carved wooden bears and ducks, as well as contracting with other factories to make dishes and figurines. The company has their products in stores all over the world. They are probably Manhattan's largest employer. Every year at the Potato Festival they have a huge tent sale and sell their seconds, overstocks and unfinished items for super-reduced prices. People start getting in line the evening before the sale and charge the tents when they open at 6:30 AM. (Yes, AM)

The firemen have their breakfast-their big fundraiser for the year. I think a lot of people become firefighters for one day just to help put on the breakfast. It takes tons of work to pull off, but the food is always good and it's a good opportunity to catch up with friends and neighbors.

After the festival, we went to a friend's funeral. This was a 56 year old man who went before his time. He was a co-worker of Stan's. This was quite a coincidence because the funeral was held in the same church as last Saturday's funeral. It was sad but Stan and I both got to visit with several of the guys he used to work with.

Today was church, a special service-we installed our new pastor. It was really neat-we as the Council got to lay on hands and pray for him. I think he'll be a real blessing and asset to our church.

Then this afternoon we attended a birthday party for our grand niece. I hadn't seen my nephew since their wedding two years ago, and here he is with his one year old daughter! We had good food, great conversation and were entertained by the kids' antics.

Cutie patootie opening gifts.

Now Stan is snoozing in front of the TV and I'm not too far behind him!

A Giveaway!!

Since I've reached my 100th post (actually 101-got away from me), I'm having a giveaway to celebrate.

A hand-crocheted purse, made from a bulky acrylic, approximately 16" by 11."

Fully lined, with pockets in the lining. The lining is hand-stitched in. The blue is actually a steel gray-gotta learn how to tweak color!

This is a small way for me to thank all my bloggy friends. Thank you so much for reading my rantings for over 100 posts.

If you would like to enter, just comment on this post. Be sure to have a way for me to contact you. I'll draw on Monday, July 6, to give leeway for the 4th of July holiday.

Hope to hear from lots of you and good luck!

Thanks, Lera

I never win anything, but last week was the exception. Lera had a drawing for these lovely napkins, made from thrifted sheets. I got them this morning-what a nice thing to happen on a Monday!


They even have a cozy home, but I think a basket would even be nicer.

It's so cool that she lives in a small town like I do-my town has about 1500 people. Her return address is a PO box like mine! City people have no idea-they're always asking me for my mailing address, not getting the fact that we actually have to go to the post office to pick up our mail. A neat thing that Lera and I have in common. Thanks again!

Bye, Miss Anna

Anna's husband and mine worked together for many years-more than thirty, I'd say. I first got to know her when I worked at McDonald's and she would come in and buy an ice tea on her way to work. In those days, the only drinks that had free refills were coffee and ice tea. Being the frugal soul she was, on the way home from work she would swing by and ask for her free refill. We resisted for a while, but she was persistent so after a while we just gave in and refilled her tea.

In later years, when she began to have grandchildren, she would invite Stan to play Santa for them. She was nuts about Christmas and spent days getting ready. Everything had to be as Christmasy as possible. One year she had a surprise for us. The previous year she had taken a careful snapshot of Santa and commissioned a good friend to paint a portrait of him. It still hangs in our house and always will.

We said goodbye to Anna yesterday. Her body was done fighting, but it was very obvious that she touched many people and her legacy will live on for many years. It will for us, and we have the visual to keep it going.

It Came!

My invitation to Ravelry, that is. Soooo-pop on over and visit me there. Hopefully I'll fill it with projects, patterns and pictures. Yayyy!

They're Off!

Sent the hankie bonnets today. I meant to send them yesterday, but I wasn't bright enough to remember that it was President's Day and the Post Office was closed. Since I retired I don't keep very close tabs on what day it is. I used to know when all the 3-day weekends were.

It wasn't very expensive to mail the three-one to Colorado, one to Canada and the third to Malaysia. I did have to fill out customs forms, however. I chuckled when I filled in the contents box as "baby bonnet."

Anyway, girls, they're on their way.

P.S. Jacket is done, pictures soon.

We Have Winners!

First, I want to thank all of you who visited my blog and entered my drawing. It was so cool to meet people from all over the world. In fact, my three winners come from three different countries. I couldn't have planned that!!

I recorded each entry on an Excel sheet and used those numbers to draw. I used the Random Number Generator (so easy) and plugged in my range of numbers.

The generator picked:
Franny at Picklebeans
Fitty at Fitty's Pink Rose Garden
Beckie Holso at Art Beckons

Franny and Fitty had e-mail addresses, but I couldn't fine Beckie's. Beckie, I left a comment on your most recent post, so contact me through that.

I'm so excited to have been a part of this. I can't wait for next year!

That is sooo cool!

I am overwhelmed at the number of comments I've been getting. What a neat thing to hear from people all over the world! So far I've visited all the blogs, but haven't had the time to reply to all of them. If I don't get to all of them, just know that I really appreciate hearing from all of you. This feels great, knowing that I've only been a blogger for just over a week!

One World-One Heart

I'll add my giveaway to the rest. This is called a "Magic Hankie Bonnet." First I make a hankie, then with a few stitches and ribbon, I transform it into a bonnet. The baby wears the bonnet for christening, dedication, etc., then you take out the ribbons and stitching, wash and put away. When Baby grows up, it becomes the "something old" she carries on her wedding day. If you have a boy, I can supply one that is more tailored with blue trim. I also have some with pink lace if you like that better. Just state your preference in your comments. Be sure to have a valid URL (I've noticed some of the links aren't valid) or e-mail address. Deadline is February 11. Good luck!

Update-I will close comments at 9:00 A. M. Mountain Standard time on February 12. Be sure to have your entry in by then.

Also, because there were so many entries, I have decided that I will draw three names and give away three of the bonnets. Better chances to win!!

Some entries don't have valid URLs or e-mail addresses, so watch my blog for the winners. If I can't contact you in 5 days, I will redraw. How will I draw? I think I will try the newfangled Random Number Generator thingie.

Thanks, friends!

Update-we have winners! See my latest post to see who won.