2008 Christmas Gift

Last year, Marcie from Patchalot More generously published a pattern for free public use. It was an adorable Christmas Table Topper. Lots of suggestions for variations, and easy instructions. THANKS MARCIE for all you do! She posted another pattern this year as well, so please visit her too!

I made two versions, but you're only going to see ONE. Just as I inserted the second photo in my blog today, I noticed a glaring error. I should never have looked, I'm sooooooooooooo sad. Dh says "chalk it up to experience." I left out an entire row of inner border.

Yes, I know, "We've all done it."

Yes, I know, "It's your humility piece." AND HOW. I knew they weren't the same. I knew for some reason they weren't the same size, one came out more rectangular. I never, ever stopped to look at them to see why tho. (grumble, grumble)

I don't know which of two brother's families received which table topper. I couldn't get to any decision of who should get which. I'm mortified tho, and that's something that goes way under the skin.

I'll pull on my big-girl-panties now and move on.

***********

Lesson I learned - No matter how hard you try, nope girl, ya ain't perfect.

Something that made me happy today - Two gifts created with my own hands, for ones I love.

Bonus - Using mostly stash for my gifts! 8^)

Finding Lost Loved Ones

Back in the day, you could blame distance for lack of communication. Remember when Grandma would call and you would really hustle to talk “LONG DISTANCE?”

How many of you have lost communication with someone you held dear because of elapsing time? Some one moves away, you loose a phone number, delete a phone message in error. Any number of things can get away, not to mention family crisis, divorce, and the obligatory responses.

If you don’t already fear it, the internet is your friend, your ally.

Fifteen years ago, my Venezuelan son went missing. (Figuratively) I managed 6 counties for Youth For Understanding, and Oscar was my exchange student placement in my home. During the year he was in our home, our whole family fell in love with this boy, etching his place in our heart forever. Returning to Venezuela was our last real contact with him. The phone system was less than idealic, he would call and virtually yell, “MOM??” The line would promptly go dead. It’d ring again, we’d answer, it’d go dead. Ultimately VERY depressing, we wanted and needed to connect, but never did.

We’ve never forgotten this sweet boy.

Thru the years I’ve resorted to reading Venezuelan phonebooks. I don’t speak Spanish, lol, but I would not be deterred. I even looked in their Yellow Pages under both of his parent’s professions. Blah.

I have searched thru AOL’s database, ICQ database, Yahoo’d, Google’d, and come up empty-handed.

Dd#2 encouraged me to sign onto Facebook a few months back. Mmmm…a new database I could utilize. I did search his name, with no success.

A few nights ago I had the brilliant idea to search for Oscar’s younger and older sister’s names. Several entries appeared, but lo and behold, one sister’s “friend” list contained the other sister’s name.

I.was.speechless. I eagerly sent an identical message to both possibilities, and the younger sister wrote back immediately. She gave me Oscar’s email address, and I have no reconnected with our sweet MAN. OMG, he’s married! He’s got 2 little girls! He’s all grown up! (How did that happen?)

I also helped another blogger find some missing friends. The world may be big, but I’ve been shown once again, just how very small it really is.

On another note, look a few posts back, and go to my dd#2’s blog. She has another contest!

My Daughter COOKS THANKSGIVING!

This is WHY I'm thankful:

...and now we're headed to the casino for some fun!

Have a happy safe day wherever you are.

Fitzy

PS..Thank you my creative child, loves you!

Blog Contest!!

My Best Daughter (who has hacked into my blog and is actually writing this) is running an awesome contest on her blog! It is really easy to enter, I promise! Well, what are you waiting for??

GO CHECK IT OUT!

Five Friends

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Could you stand to win a $25 Gift Card?

Some I know...

Some I actually gave birth to...

Someone who actually lives in my home...

Is giving away a $25 Best Buy gift card. Woo-Hoo!

Run.Don't walk. Visit Erika's blog!

So I've lost a little speed?

70 words

Speed test

I first did the test in (maybe) Spanish, because I didn't realize I had a choice, lol. There I did 40wpm. It was HARD to type words you don't commonly use!

I used to type 80wpm. I figure 5wpm is lost in improper posture as I slump drastically to the left to key on the laptop. It's precariously perched on the arm of the sofa. DH occupies the other end with his laptop...DD#2 occupies the easy chair and her laptop. We're impossible, lol.

So go'on and try it, I dare you!

My First Wool Hooked Rug is FINISHED ! !

Presenting my first originally designed and first wool rug ever FINISHED!

I'm VERY good at beginning projects, but really b-a-a-a-d at finishing. It's something like loosing a friend when I finish a project (or even a good book!) and no one likes that!

I can proudly say I'm done. Every bit, bob and tail. It's been freshly steamed and is drying on my Big Board. It measures 19 x 25 and will rest by my (rarely used) front door. Yes, yes, INSIDE the house, lol. The wool is cut into a #8 which is 1/4" wide.

I am completely self-taught, and used Wendy's Site for help with the binding. I purchased my wool from Wendy as well, and I strongly recommend her company. She traded several emails with me to aid in my selections. Funny thing, her shop is about 10 miles from where I lived Ohio. Too bad I didn't rug hook then! Wool seems a little scarce here in the Sonoran Desert, d'oh!

I designed it onto freezer paper and transferred the design by taping it to my large sliding glass door. It was nice not having to reverse the pattern like you would do with applique.

I want to get a second rug designed and started..."Oh Wendy....."

Enjoy!

A Creative Kid, another milestone

I really wasn't going to post that I'm "getting older" today, but how can you resist showing off your kid's work? This is what awaited me this morning, I'm such a happy older person!

Thanks Erika, you're one of the best!
xo, Momma

Sisters 2008

As I have mentioned before, the 3 girls of our family gather each Summer to have a "Sisters" gathering. It's a way to preserve the family when we all live SO far apart. Over the years the 3 Sisters have blossomed to 8. No, Mother didn't have more children! Daughters, and daughter-in-laws have all come on board, we're getting quite a gang.

Each year we exchange a gift or two, it's hard to come up with something original, but I've managed, lol. I've done specially embroidered pool towels (with our "Sisters" logo) and pool cover-ups, I try to give something I've made, sometimes I have to settle for something I've "added to".

So if you're related....and don't want to see what you're getting as a gift...don't read any further!
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It measures 6" x 10" and is fully lined with timtex, liner fabric and clear flexible plastic, in case of make-up spills. No pattern, just thunk-it-up. There were a few boo-boos along the way, but nothing an impromptu tuck didn't take care of.

I'm really please with the proto-type. I only have 7 more to go by the 24th.

Yeah, it's really, really early for me to have one done. I'm a last minute kind of girl!

Sure hope they like them!

What I did on my Summer Vacation

I wish I could say, "I've been on a cruise," or "on a deserted island," or even "watching Soaps and eating Bon-Bons". ANY of those would have been more acceptable and easier to believe. Except for me I suppose.

Mid-May my Dh and I went to the Sonoran Desert Museum for a free skin check since our state is #1 for skin cancer. I suspected my Dh would have cause for concern, he has numerous moles on his back. I never, never, EVER suspected I would be the cause of our worry.

Sure, I am a blue-eyed, fair-skined gal..who spent a goodly amount of her teenage years in the sun. Slathered with Baby Oil, NEVER with SUN-SCREEN, isn't that why you laid out there for hours in the first place. Not to mention I only could attain a dusty shade of tan, but was really good at the burn-and-peel mode.

The Physician at the free skin check said I had a spot at my hairline that was of some concern. I just thought it was just an ugly bump. Never itched, changed color or size, etc. You know, all those they tell you to watch for.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common form of skin cancer.[1] It can be destructive and disfiguring. The risk of developing BCC is increased for individuals with a family history of the disease and with a high cumulative exposure to UV light via sunlight[1].Treatment is with surgery, mohs surgery, topical chemotherapy, X-ray, cryosurgery, or photodynamic therapy. It is rarely life-threatening but, if left untreated, can be disfiguring, cause bleeding, and produce local destruction (e.g., eye, ear, nose, lip). As with squamous cell carcinoma, the incidence of basal cell carcinoma rises sharply with immunosuppression and in patients with inherited defects in DNA repair.[2]Basal cell skin cancer almost never spreads; however, large and longstanding tumours may metastasize into regional lymph nodes and surrounding areas such as nearby tissues and bone.

I followed up with his office and "gave" a sample for biopsy. Moh's Micrographic Surgery was ordered, and below is my "after". Yeah, shorty hairs and all. I had to change my part for the grow-back, and that scar will all but be hidden.

While I was in for #1 Surgery, the surgeon took a "sample" of a spot he suspected, but the Dr. didn't spot. Oh joy, #2 surgery was scheduled, and he removed about the size of a dime. Gave me a new smile line. *ahem*

#2 surgery performed, and the surgeon says he wants another sample in another spot of my forehead. Oh joy, #3 surgery was scheduled for a squamous cell carcinoma. This pic is a before. The after was about the size of another dime, I had it done yesterday.

Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common cancer of the skin (after basal cell carcinoma but more common than melanoma). It usually occurs in areas exposed to the sun, and can generally be treated by excision only. Sunlight exposure and immunosuppression are risk factors for SCC of the skin. The risk of metastasis is larger than with basal cell carcinoma.


Mohs Surgery, created by a general surgeon, Dr. Fredrick E. Mohs, is microscopically controlled surgery that is highly effective for common types of skin cancer, with a cure rate cited between 97 to 99% for basal cell carcinoma, the most common type of skin cancer, and for squamous cell carcinoma. It has been used in the removal of melanoma-in-situ, but this is an unproven treatment. Because the Mohs procedure is micrographically controlled, it provides precise removal of the cancerous tissue, while healthy tissue is spared. Mohs surgery is relatively expensive when compared to other surgical modalities. However, in anatomically important areas (eyelid, nose, lips), tissue sparing and low recurrence rate makes it a procedure of choice by many physicians.

So that spot you have? You know which one I mean, yeah, THAT one. Go get it checked. I seriously didn't have a clue, I caught them very early but still got sizable scars and some doozy of headaches as a recovery present. It could have been SO much worse. I have otherwise healthy skin, and I'm still young. I've used sunscreen for the last 10 years and hopefully won't have many more issues. I'm on 6 month check-ups for the next 5 years, not bad when you consider the options or alternatives!!!

I'm doing fine. Thanks to you who have asked. Just got the wind knocked out of my sails a bit.

I'm back! You're stuck with me, and I'll still be a little sporadic in posting. I just do the best I can!

Hugs.

(definitions courtesy of Wikipedia)

"Mom, can I move in?"

"Sure honey!"

#2 cynet is coming to the roost. I am thrilled!

Lots of adjustments, Dh & I have not had people in house for several years. A prolonged visit or two maybe, but not a "live-in"! She's all grown-up too, not a kid I can mother around much! (OK, OK, so I'll still try, but I'm sure she'll remind me, lol.)

Dd is leaving her college dorm tomorrow, with degree in hand, and entering that sometimes scarey place of "getting a real job". She'll stay with us until she gets on her feet. Lots of job interviews and testing ahead.

I tried to mark her approximate route on the picture above, hope she has good weather. I'm envious of the driving part...it will be a good adventure for her. She'll be camping or hotelling it while on her way, stopping to see the Arch and other notables.

"COME ON DOWN E! The weather is for perfect swimming and the huge night skies await your star gazing.

Love ya babe.

Congrats to my baby girl

The only female in her group who has successfully gotten her Jump Wings.

I am SO unbelievably proud of my girl. Blown-out knee in high school sports, plates, pins....running 8-minute miles in the Georgian heat....being put in your place by superiors....jumping off 250' buildings and out of planes....all things I would never have even attempted.

You go girl. You do ANYTHING your heart desires. Follow your dreams.

I'll be there to support you.

Yeah, I know what it all "means". It's heavy stuff. She is scheduled to deploy June '09. Yes ma'am, you'll have your quilt before you go. I promised, and my promises are good.

The ONLY person who'd I EVER let tag me, EXCEPT Erika, lol...tagged me for a MeMe. Randomness is my best attribute!

1. Once you are tagged, link back to the person who tagged you.
2. Post THE RULES on your blog.
3. Post 7 weird or random facts about yourself on your blog.
4. Tag 7 people and link to them.
5. Comment on their blog to let them know they have been tagged.

Here are the 7 random facts about me:

1) I've lost 31 lbs. since Christmas...woo-hoo
2) I'm a great starter, a horribly finisher!
3) I'm extremely competitive, but couldn't care less once the game is over.
4) My favorite color is blue. ONLY blue, not turquoise, not aquamarine.
5) I'm most vain about my hair. I have good hair, always. ha!
6) I'm most embarassed about my feet. Post surgical, funky shaped and just plain UGLY.
7) I'm a blog and reading fanatic, I read 300 blogs at least twice a week, and usually finish a book every 7-10 days. Not to mention I'm an auditor, lolol.

So I humbly tag:
Lucy
Dawn
Ruth
Leah
Tanya
Taniwa
Jane Ann

Thanks for indulging me, and learning more than you ever really cared to know!

8^)

It's Coming Along

OK, so I've learned lots!

Today I learned NOT to leave my rug on the frame, it has gotten all lumpy. I trust it will relax way before I do.

I may rework the baby quails, they sort of look like frogs, lol. If I don't, that's OK too, my art is far from perfect.

Sure wish I had a group to join, or a friend who was learning with me, but I think I'm doing OK.

I've got ideas for a door crown and a second rug, it's addicting. I'm enjoying creating some things to decorate our home reminisent of our life here in the desert.

Friday Flashback - The Things the Kids Will Remember

The tiny black computer chip that touts an spooky "ooooOOOOOOOOOOoooooo"
It came from a box of cereal in about 1998. We've hidden it in each other's belongings for soooo long now. Just when you've forgotten it's existance, "ooooooOOOOOOOOooooooo", you get it BACK! It.doesn't.die.

The cereal freebies
Having 3 girls all in 5 years, made sibling rivalry very interesting! Everyone wanted the race car in the Rice Krispies, or the license plate in the Frosted Flakes. The giftie was more important than the cereal. The gifties were ALL placed in a large coffee can and passed out on our first official "snow day" of the season. Living in Ohio, made snow days pretty likely.

The top of the 'fridge
It was the "no man's land" for all things you fought over. The cherised item was plunked up there and promptly forgotten. (By Mom too, lol.)

Paying to "borrow" clothes
Instead of stealing a shirt, one kid would charge another for the wearing rights. They purchased most of their own clothing, it was just the way it was. Hey! Otherwise they fought like CRAZY women!

Being paid to do the family laundry
We had "laundry mountain". 3 kids, each in several sports, 2 working parents...it NEVER was caught up. You earned $1 if you washed, folded and distributed a load. No partials.

Making Mom change her clothes BEFORE she could come into the house
OK so for awhile I sold fish in a retail market. P-U, I don't blame 'em.

Looking up in ANY set of bleachers, and knowin' good ol' Mom would be there, rooting you on like crazy.

Knowing Mom would help with ANYTHING involving helping her kids succeed and not stop until the job was done, the homework was brought up to school, the clean uniforms delivered, the cookies were baked.

So if you're still reading...
I got THE BEST gift today, an early Mother's Day gift. A thank you for all those goofy things I did cuz I love my girls fiercly. I got an IPOD Shuffle. WOW. Thanks Erika, and I do...

LOVE YA, LOVE YOUR SHOW.
She had it inscribed. This was a slogan from a radio station as I would drive them to school (instead of them having to take the school bus).

WOW.

"Bliss"ful Worms & "I'm a HOOKER"

I've had my Bliss wool cutter for about 1.5 years, but it never really got out of the box. I may have hurt my dh's feelings tho, as he had thought I didn't like my birthday present! It was quite the contrary, it took me 3 years to gather all the "parts" so I could begin my wool rug hooking journey.
This nifty little handy handy machine slices and dices...well, not quite, but it DOES slice the wool to the required width, depending on the cutter head. I've begun with a #8 cut which is 1/4" wide.

I'm not exactly a "rule follower", but more of a "wanna be". Was supposed to start in the middle, but the middle of this rug is all background. Background is NOT the most stimulating part of the adventure. I began with Big Daddy Quail first and am lovin' it. I'll behave now and settle in to work on some of the background in the center, lol. OK. So I am a rule follower, but they are MY RULES, dadgumit.

My dh and I have a hard time separating. If I am in my sewing room...eventually he's in there too. If he's outside on the patio...I'm digging up something to work on out there. It's just the way we are. 8^)

Rug Hooking gives me the opportunity to be in the great room WITH dh and hey! I can even watch TV..amazing.

My wool from Wendy arrived in Saturday's mail. Big Daddy Quail was my first day of progress "being a hooker". I had the wool in the washer and dryer faster than you can imagine, and had the worms cut before dinner.

Doin' the happy dance!

Economy? Stock Market?

No.

No.

No.

It's a chart of my weight loss since Christmas. The bottom axis is the month's of persistance, the vertical axis is in 2 pound increments.

I've been chipping away at the bod again. And yes, I'm learning some new stuff along the way. Revelations in fat calories, imagine that. I don't need to drown my salad or baked potato in cardiac coverings!

Dh and I have both lost 25 pounds, and even if I doubled that amount I sadly wouldn't be "done". I just know I'm doing the best thing for me right now, and all I can do is give it my best.

What are YOU doing for YOU right now?

Changing boats in the middle of the stream

I seem to be bouncing around alot lately. First standing on one foot, then boucing to the other. Thankfully dh never says one iota about my sewing room and I try to keep my mess confined. (Yeah, right! Well...I said I tried.)

I'm 3/4 done with a sweater for work. It's now tooooo hot to knit on the bus, I did appreciate the warmth when it was cold. I don't know if I'll get back to it before next winter.

I'm 1/2 done with my piece for Tonya's Winter Class. The background has me a little befuddled and I'm chipping away at it slowly.

I'm 0/0 done with my piece for Tonya's Summer Class. It's still playing tricks with my head.

I am changing boats mid-stream.

I've just received a lovely Ault's wool rug hooking frame and have designed my first rug pattern. This is something I have always wanted to do.

My maternal grandmother and her sister were master's of the craft of rug hooking, I'd like to continue in their honor. They produced lovely rugs with flowers in the middle, I'd love to see one, I believe they are all gone from the family.

Living here in the Sonoran Desert is amazing. One of my favorite things is to watch the Quail families, first the parents, then 5-8 babies appear on the scene. They scurry in long lines along the base of our fence, trying to stay out of harms way. My first rug, measuring 19x25 will capture this memory. Pay no mind to the narrow border penned at the bottom, I've added the additional needed inch where you may see a zig-zag stitching line. Darned freezer paper was only 18" wide and I was too lazy to tape on ONE INCH. The background is Belgium Linen. I'm off to place my wool order,Wendy from The Red Saltbox has been a huge help in wool selection. My order should go out early in the week.

My wonderful dh made Sour Dough English Muffins from scratch this morning. My, the house smells good as he cooks them in the electric skillet like pancakes. I was out planting flowers and he brought me a toasted sample complete with strawberry preserves. What a man.
I'm off to swim in the pool and generally just kick-back this afternoon. It's to get to 85 today, the cacti are starting to blossom and everyone is sniffling because of the Palo Verde trees.

Enjoy your day!

The $85 mistake

Looks innocent enough, right? I live on an outside corner, I was in no vehicular danger. Our driveway is the largest flattest surface to get the new pool cover laid out and cut.

The pool is 10' x 36', with an irregular shape.

10:00am and pretty toasty already, in the 80's.

Yes, I am a quilter. Actually wore clothes to HIGH SCHOOL that I had sewn (was that brave, or what?). Created Halloween costumes, made parade banners, and upholstered vinyl chairs with cording.

I am now humbled. Dang. D'oh. What a dolt.

We cut off the excess, and cut a new corner from what we had left. It works fine. We should be swimming next week (after we finish it's final cleaning).

Please laugh with me, it's hard to be me.

Friday Flashback - "Music, Music, Music!"

Yes, I know. "WOW, a blog entry!" I said it too.

My father was a drummer. While he was in the Air Force during the Korean War, he was the entertainment, or so the story goes. He willed his drum set to the Salvation Army Band. His love for music transferred directly to me, probably in utero. Big Band was his favorite, only logical, I suppose. I still have many of his old 33-1/3 records, very brittle and very heavy. I bought one of those retro radio/phonograph/cassette players and play them once in awhile. I can smell my father's Old Spice when I sit and listen.

A few crusty music memories of my own exist, of about age 6. Spending time in my bedroom listening to my little record player. Similar to the one pictured above, I had a speed selector that would play each type, 16, 33-1/3, 45, 78 (was there a 16, that looks weird!). At 6 years tho, my choice of records was limited to children's records.

My 2 favorite records were vinyl, one was yellow, the other red. I also had one other very special record. It was a storybook record whereas each side had 2 stories. If you played the story and the needle went into one groove track, you'd get one story, the other grove track had a second story. You never would know which one you'd hear. One of the stories was "The Lion and the Bumbershoot," the other title is lost in the abyss.

My sister, 10 years my senior, would sit for hours and play her 45's over and over to pen the lyrics. I know most of the words to those songs too, brainwashed at an impressionable age. "Kathy's Clown" comes to mind.

I went on to learn to play the flute, soprano sax, piano, flirted with trumpet, and my favorite, the piccolo. Learning to play the piccolo part for "The Stars and Stripes" march to play in Detroit's Hudson's Thanksgiving Parade was my biggest challenge. Marching Band and Orchestra were the highlights of my high school years. My biggest accomplishment was of being selected to play in the Children's Orchestra, I guess around the age of 12 or so.

Music is still everpresent. I "plug-in" at work when I'm stressed and need to get major work done. It's my soother, my background, my constant.

I'm always singing a tune in my head, tho the music phrases seem to be shorter these days...and dh questions my selection of words sometimes. Who cares! Sounds good to me!

I last played my flute in 1976 when I solo'd for a wedding, but I think I could still "finger" the piccolo march part. Some things, like riding a bike too, you just don't forget. The flute is long gone, gifted to a budding musician.

Make a cuppa, and lay with me on the floor. Listen to "Moonlight Serenade" or choose something like, "You are My Sunshine". Pick out an early Ella or Frank or Clooney. Maybe a Dorsey or Goodman is your favorite? They're all there.

Psst...It's good to me back. Won't you post your Friday Flashback too?

We Interupt this hiatus...

Please, if don't get one other thing accomplished, please go vote in your primary. Whether it's Super Tuesday, or some other day...let's all get out there and make this our best one yet. Yes, your vote DOES count. It means you care.

Sorry for the long silence.

Dh is sick. *achoo*

I am sick. *snork, hack, lungus interuptus*

Dd#2 is sick. *cookie-tossing flu-like-no-other*
(Okay, she is thousands of miles away, but I'm still counting it!)

Will be back sooner than later!

"Are We There Yet?"

Tonya's Winter Free Piecing class is coming right along. More of us are popping in daily as we finish tucking away Christmas things.

I embroidered, layered, quilted and bound the Christmas sign yesterday. That's quite an accomplishment for me. I'm kinda slow. (Oh hush you, you in the back row snickering!)

Oh Hey! WAIT! I also cooked 2 meals yesterday. How unusual is that? My Dh usually does most of the cooking, yeah, I know, I'm totally spoiled. I do try to do some cooking on the weekends these days. During the week, I'm gone to work 6:20am - 6:00pm, he works 4:00am - 8:30am (and sometimes until noon). He simply just has more time. I wish.

Here's my dilema. I need one more sign representing California. These signs represent states that Dh and I have lived in together..well, sort of. I need a city name in the state of California that represents Christmas. "Angels Camp" does not work for us. I may be forced to make one up if I don't get some help! OK, I'm BEGGING. What can you think of...or make up for that matter?

Arizona...It's not just about the desert!

We moved here in April and quickly set about finding jobs. We didn't do much exploring, preferring to leave it "for when company visits." Now that we have j-o-b-s there isn't any time for company to come to visit! Who has vacation time? Sound familiar?

So we have been here 9 months and finally have our bearings. We're having fun getting to know our area, it's pretty foreign to us midwestern big-city "kids." Desert, washes, open spaces, and even mountains. All for us to discover and enjoy. We'll have to "do" the Grand Canyon when we have TIME!

Saturday, we spent most of the day visiting Mt. Lemmon, which is part of the Catalina Mountains. We should have visited sooner, it was lovely. 8000 feet in elevation, and we got to visit the snow!! I know many of you think that's a dirty word, but my Dh promised that once he took me away from the snow that we could at least "visit" it. That was enough coaxing, I've had enough snow memories to last my lifetime.

Once home, this was our last gift of the day. This is a shot just off our patio. It's clickable if you'd like.

A great day to explore, it was in the 30's and really windy up there, 70 at home. A nice place to visit, but wear layers!

Hopefully today will be full of sewing and I'll have something to show of my efforts soon.

Resolutions and The Orange Lion

My dd#2 said I had to make a resolution before the conclusion of 2007. I couldn't think of one. single.thing. I'm pretty OK dokey these days, albeit a little fluffy. When wasn't I? That's a work-in-progress, and that's OK too. Wait, I take that back. I'm not OK. I'm fantastic. I'm happy, healthy, and have someone(s) who loves me.

One of the top 2008 resolutions made by folks was to "get their finances in order". How can I help you ask? OK, so maybe you didn't, but I'm just sayin'...

Here's something successful that is working for me. Since 2001 in fact. A shamless plug? You betcha. Wish I got something out of it. Oh yeah, I will...YOU might get happy too? *vbg*

And btw, how much interest are you getting on your regular "passbook" savings account at your local bank? If you're lucky, maybe 1%?

In 2001 I decided to save some money. Until that time, that was a strange thing for me. I hadn't had a savings account since childhood. This account I was contemplating was for "travel". My first trip was to Brazil, went, had a wonderful time, have the pictures.

I had been hearing about "an internet savings account" called Ing. Some bank in the east..or west..or maybe only on paper, was touting a huge interest rate for an internet banking savings account.

So I noodled and nosed around a bit and decided I had a little extra to put into this interesting looking account, what did I have to loose? Better than spending my $10 on a lottery ticket, imho.

Fast forward to today. I make 4.1% interest on my little savings account. I still feel like a child at Christmas, "They're giving me MONEY!" They deduct a monthly amount (which you can change, postpone or stop AT ANY TIME) from my checking account and deposit it into my ing savings account. AT ANY TIME I want money transferred back to my checking account, it's easy as a few clicks. Within 3 days, the money is back into my checking for my use. Yeah, that's a delay, but I'll tell you what..if I needed the money that bad, I would have found a quicker way to come up with the cash, lol. Oh, and get this, there are NO service fees, or monthly use fees, or transaction fees. period. I've put money in, taken it out, added my dh to my account, all the things you could do at a walk-up bank.

So here's my point. What do you have to loose? Is there $10 a month that you could part with to save for a rainy day? Yeah, they even do $10/month. And the best part? No one calls, you don't have to get dressed to go to the bank, and only you and your mouse know what you're up to! And won't YOU be the clever one?! Could this be your new Christmas Account? Or your new LONGARM account? (Whew, got your attention there, didn't I?)

Go ahead, save for a rainy day, I double-dog-dare you!