My daughter's first Fabric Postcard!!!

My dd#2 is visiting for 10 days from Ohio. We haven't seen each other in a YEAR! Yes, I know that's hard to believe, but hardly a day goes by without speaking by phone or playing a game of Literati together online.

Since I'm on heavy overtime (YEAH...the end is in site, next Friday is our done-date), dd has been entertaining herself sufficiently. Dh has really stepped up too (as a new stepfather), taking her to the driving range, and to visit the Sahauro National Park.

I made my first fabric postcard about a month ago, and dd#2 saw it. SHE'S HOOKED. She spent literally ALL day in my sewing studio, creating! OMG, I'm in awe. She made an apron in 7th grade, but that was the only time she ever has sewn. (edit: #3 made the apron, #2 made a Smiley Faced pillow, lol-oops!). ANYWAY, She only asked a few questions, and I'm totally impressed. Please go take a look and leave a note of encouragement if you have a moment, Erika's blog.

dd#3 arrives next Thursday, we have our annual Sister's Reunion next weekend. I hear she's interested in purchasing a sewing machine, could I possibly be lucky enough to have cultured TWO artists? One can only hope!!!

Cacti Crazy

Only logged 8.75 hours of overtime last week, THAT'S a good sign. Next week we're scheduled to work both Saturday and Sunday....so I am hoping last week's scheduled 13.5 turning into 8.75 was a good sign for the future. That makes sense, right? August 3 at 5pm is our drop-dead date/time so I may be insentia until then. I do get my reading in during the early hours howsomever.


I passed out yesterday afternoon after work, didn't even hear the phone when it rang at 6pm. That's tired.


Today I reintroduced myself to my lovely Janome. Oh Janome, my name is Fitzy, don't you remember me? After a briefing, we were in good stead.


I have family visiting August 3-6 and I am a nervous Nelly. I have an inferiority complex I guess, I never feel like I can measure up to their expectations.


So we needed new kitchen towels. We priced them at Bed, Bath & Beyond, the decorated ones were hugely expensive, but I WANTED decorated ones, lol...so what's a gal gonna do? Make what you want.


Ok, they aren't great, but they're kitchen towels for goodness sake. They depict what I love about Arizona. They'll get dirty and stained, and cost me $2 each. And I love them. That's all that matters!


The alarm rings at 4:00am, better start thinking now about what to pack for lunch, I'm not exactly at the top of my game at that hour.

The dinner that almost was

June 30th was our fiscal year close at the County Offices. I hired into the Finance Department on June 19, WHAT WAS I THINKING?? lol The HR person enticed me by telling me that all county employees hired by the 24th were getting a 5% raise, so I caved and started right away.

The month of July is our forgiveness period while we get all invoices loaded into the system to be paid, and mandatory overtime. This last week I started 45 minutes before normal time and stayed 2 hours after quitting time, and worked 6.5 on Saturday. It was a l-o-n-g week, to get progressively longer as the days go by.

I ride the express bus to and from work. Since I am a county employee, I get a break of a $10 monthly pass. Can't buy 1/2 a tank of gas for one WEEK at that rate. I actually love it. It's a great way to relax if you ask me. Unfortunately, the last bus leaves downtown at 5:40pm, and I need to work until 7.

I had arranged to ride most of the way home with a co-worker, when working late, and did so Monday. Tuesday when we tried to leave, her car wouldn't start and we had to wait for more than an hour for the tow.

My dh came to town and rescued the two of us and we dropped her off at a family member's house. Needless to say, dh is worried about the reliability of my friend's car and is more than happy to pick me up in the evenings now.

Anywho, Tuesday, we were starving by the time the tow arrived and stopped on the way home for fast food at 8pm (Ugh!). We ate at the restaurant. We got home about 8:30 and this is what I find:

Dinner completely prepared, table set with all the newly unpacked Blue Willow and Fostoria Crystal that I've inherited, silverware was polished, crystal candle holders filled and napkins cleverly arranged.

He uttered not one word while we scarfed our burgers. He never complained one iota. I cried.

It's wonderful to be loved and appreciated and SURPRISED.

Oh yeah, he's a keeper.

My 5 things MeMe

Gee thanks NORMA, lol.

My 5 things MeMe:

5 things to do before I die
Get down to a healthy weight AND STAY THERE
Have self-confidence
Make a quilt for MYSELF
Not be a burden to my childeren
Keep travelling and exploring

5 things I can do
Be a good person
Give you my advice
Enjoy the rest of my life with my dear husband
Read books like no other
Do whatever it takes to get whatever it is DONE


5 things I cannot do (and refuse to for the most part!)
Discuss politics
Discuss religion
Tell a joke
Remember a plot
Understand T accounting

5 things that attract me to the opposite sex
Kindness
Respectfulness
Sincere smile
Good grooming
Smiling eyes

5 celeb crushes
Kurt Russell
Tom SelleckUm…dunno who else, I'm so over the "crush" age, lol.

I still owe Tonya a Meme, and I owe Niki a post of the awesome quilt hangers I won on her blog. I owe Erika a post about a gift I received from her, and I can't wait to show you my surprise my dh had for me Tuesday evening. Gosh, working overtime is getting my a** in a sling!

Oh and Erika, I tag YOU!

Pass It Forward (Part Two)

OK, I was desperate to be gifted by Dorothy, lol. So I'm opening it up to the next three.

So, from Dorothy's blog...

I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this Pay It Forward exchange. I don't know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week... LOL... but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise! The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.

Post a comment, and if you're shameless too, post this on YOUR blog!

Just call me crazy! (It's really no surprise!)

WHO wants to play???

Pass It Forward

This what I found on Leanne's blog, I'm playing, will you?

I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I don't know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week... LOL... but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise! The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.

So....comment already, this is as close to a contest as I'll ever get, lol. Then put that lil blurb on yours and play along. (When you do, send me your snail mail address!)

I'm so excited!

Friday Flashback - A little bit o' me

1960 - Pleasant Lake, Michigan - 3 yrs.

My oldest sister was probably closer to being my mother than I'll ever fully understand. She always "says" that I was "her baby". She was 10 when I was born and I guess her mothering instincts kicked in early. I am sure it is she who took the picture, and made the swing stayed in motion. If you'll look closely, you'll see my brother in the background playing catch with himself, lol, and a favorite tabby passing by.

In my memories, this is my "favorite" house. Maybe just because it was my first memory. Painted a Williamsburg Blue color, a cinder driveway, with great red barn and out-buildings. Just a rental, as all childhood houses I lived in.

My sister would bike us to the lake, riding me, for a mile or so, in the wire basket on the front. Wonder if her teenage friends thought it was odd she was stuck with her kid sister. She begged to take me along tho, it was just natural for her.

Guess it's not surprising that when my parents divorced that I lived with her during my 3 years of high school. I was a bigger baby by then, but still "her baby".

My sisters don't read blogs, and barely use the computer, but I need to figure out how to tell my sister thank you for her unselfish unconditional love and care. She turns 60 this year, can you help me think of a way? (Yes, she already has a quilt!)

And btw, start doing these Friday Flashbacks! It's a great way to revive (and record) a few dusty old memories.

"But it's a dry heat!"

The 4th of July here certainly has the ! HOT ! part, lol. It was predicted to get to 115F, but thankfully it always seems to fall short a few degrees. No, I'm not complaining, Norma, Leah, Niki, etc., probably had higher temps(?).

We went for an early swim and did as much yard work as the temps allowed then kicked back with a second pot of coffee. Coffee and english muffins with fresh pineapple poolside for breakfast and an early lunch at IHOP. Boy, we have an exciting life, no?

I'm trying to kick back and relax, I have a busy month of July with my new job. Hiring into the Finance Dept. of our County was a brave move, but I'm questioning my sanity because we're at year-end...ouch. Except this Saturday, I work each Saturday this month, and even a Sunday too for good measure. I will be one tuckered gal by month-end.

I'm up to 14 blocks on my neutral log cabin blocks. I know it's going slow, but that's to be expected, I have NO life right now!

We'll skip the fireworks tonight, I have to be up at 4:00 each morning, so my bedtime is right about BOOM time! Hope you're enjoying your holiday, I sure have!