Right Now I Am...

A child of God * a Texan living in New Mexico * craving watermelon * trying to help my son with his college Algebra and not succeeding * teaching my teenage daughter how to drive * a wife * a homebody * a photographer * a cowboy's sweetheart * a bookworm * hooked on the twinkle in DH's eyes * 30# lighter than I was last year * a firm believer in the power of prayer * needing to scrub my kitchen floor * saddened by the state of the world * trying to spend less money * a lifetime learner * wishing my dirt road was longer * a shower singer * planning a garden * a quilter * spending more time on my knees * in love * loved * a reader * itching to plant something * praying for rain * uncoordinated * missing my friend Jacque * often laughing until I cry * thankful for good health * touched by notes from friends in the mailbox * a daughter * celebrating my gray hair (I earned it) * learning to walk more closely with the Lord * born without any fashion sense whatsoever * a believer in dreams * a list maker * happy * anticipating our next date night at the bookstore * soothed by the sound of rain on the tin roof * an American * a porch sitter * moved by music * comfortable in my own skin * a mama * addicted to green chilies * fascinated by God's hand in the everyday moments *still giddy about my DH * giving thanks for this lifestyle * learning how to remodel a 100 yr old house, one project at a time * low maintenance * getting to know new friends * a writer * easily brought to laughter * a registered Republican voter * treasuring old friends * a teacher * aspiring to be more organized * unable to bypass a used bookstore without stopping to browse * a good cook * a procrastinator * beginning to experience creaky bones * a scrapbooker * an optimist * wearing reading glasses * listening to my daughter practice the Peanuts Theme on the piano *enjoying my new sewing machine * missing the mountains * grumbling about my next trip to town * a Texas Aggie (Whoop!) * a friend * happily married for 21 years * softhearted * 45 * blessed * a work in progress.



Ok I'll stop now. DD has informed me that I can only be so many things.

No Giles Allond

Just keep reading.... explanation to follow:

These past few weeks I have been working on scrapbooks. Yes, I know I just got a new sewing machine and I should be hibernating behind it, but I had this scrapping project out before I came home with my machine and I am a woman on a mission. I'm trying to get all of my Christmas pictures scrapped and into 3 Christmas albums. Thus far, I have completed 32 pages in 2009. I've got about 5 years left to scrap and I hope to get that finished by Sunday. The scrapbook group I am a part of has issued a mission to Use Your Stash of scrapping supplies and I am trying my best to do my part. I seriosly doubt I'll make much of a dent in my collection, but I'm hoping to get lots of pictures out of photo boxes and into albums in my attempt.

I will be really tired of Christmas by the time these are all finished!

So, since I have had piles of photos and photo albums lying around, the kids have taken to reminiscing. This is one of our favorite things to do, and in doing so, the countless stories of their childhood inevitably surface and soon we are all gathered around laughing until our sides ache. This is one of the reasons I scrapbook - I want to get these stories down in writing so that when we are old and gray and feeble (keep those wisecracks to yourself please!) we can look back and remember the days of their youth - and ours!

So eventually we come to this picture and we all fall into fits of laughter:

This was taken the day after Christmas, 1996. All the family was gathered at Granny and Grandpa's in the mountains. At that time, there were 5 cousins and the boys decided that they needed to build a clubhouse so they worked tirelessly and this is what they came up with. The girls went out to see what they were up to and came back in to inform us that they had been banned from the premises so we went out to see what all the commotion was about and this is what we found. They look harmless, don't they?

The writing says: NO GILES ALLOND ESAP KARN - AND - CAILET AND E KILU.

Translation: No girls allowed except Karin, Caitlin, and Kila. LOL!

The 'ESAP' part was added after the girls complained.

I felt honored to be included in the exception although I didn't complain so I don't exactly know why I was included. The two older boys are especially close. We have spent many a week keeping the little blonde rascal, next to DS, through the years and there are more stories involving their escapades.

I haven't scrapped this picture yet, but I think it deserves to be enlarged and have a page all to itself.

So now I'm going to say what my kids expect me to say: They grow up much too quickly, but I'm glad that these pictures remain to remind us, and them, that they had a really cool childhood and one day they will thank me for being the crazy Mom who was always taking pictures!

Road Trips, Walkers, and Dentures

Early yesterday morning I decided to make an impromptu road trip to a neighboring town to pick up a pair of DH's boots he had in the repair shop. When I mentioned this to him, he gave me that look. You know, the one with twinkling, knowing eyes, that says, "...and what else do you have planned?" He knows me so well.

Well Ranch Wife started it all. Yeah. I'll blame the entire thing on her.

She phones the evening before to let me know that the Walmart had all of their fabric 50% off. Apparently they are closing the fabric department in many of their stores. I'm sure the big dogs have done all their studies that tell them that this is the thing to do, but it makes absolutely no sense to me. Walmart is the only place that carries fabric in that town. The Walmart in the town we shop in is also considering closing their fabric department. Anytime I've been in there, they are busy. A lot of people sew around here and people are actually in line when new bolts are brought out. Here's the strange part - when I wanted to load up on thread, I was told that the thread is not on sale. They are keeping the thread, but getting rid of all the yardage. Huh?! How does that make any sense? What good will the thread do without fabric?! Oh, and they're keeping the patterns too. Makes no sense to me, but then again, they didn't ask me and that's probably why I don't get paid the big bucks to make these types of executive decisions.

Now, Walmart isn't exactly known for it's fabulous fabric quality and I tend to buy really good quality fabric for quilts, but sometimes they have some good stuff and when I'm whipping up an apron or little valance or pillowcase, I have found some cute things.

So ,back to yesterday morning. After Ranch Wife's phone call I suggested, or maybe she suggested, I don't know, these sorts of things tend to get muddled in my little mixed up brain. Anyhow, someone suggested we make a road trip. So at 6:45 I call Cottonpicker and ask if she's up for one of our famous, or infamous, road trips. She asks when we're leaving. I said, I'll be there in 20 minutes. What a gal! I tell you what, she threw on some clothes, ran a brush through her hair, grabbed that sweet little grand baby and met me at the gate with a wink and a smile! We proceeded to scoot on over to he next little town about an hour away and pick up Ranchwife who flounced right into the pickup, sporting her cute new 'do' and we were off.

The 3 Yee Haw Sisters ride again!

Stopped by the boot shop and made plans to stop back by and pick them up after our day of adventure and headed south. We drove up to the little quilt shop and were greeted by a sign that said, for rent. Ack! Three hands flew to three hearts. Three faces drained of their color and 3 gasps of disbelief filled the air. Then our eyes quickly darted to the next window, a window filled with colorful bolts of ...fabric! A cheer went up! The space for rent was only the tiny storefront next door. We all sighed a big sigh of relief.

But wait! The store was closed. It was only a tad after 9 and the store did not open until 10. We walked up to the door and peered inside. We must have looked quite desperate, or pathetic, or both! A figure approached the front of the store from inside and swung open the door, greeting us and inviting us in. They had just finished a Bible Study and she was just tending to some store business and graciously invited us in. Darling girl!

3 hours later, dear grand baby had taken a nap, been fed, changed, Ranchwife and Cottonpicker had completed their purchases; and after much fretting, and actually breaking out into a cold sweat, a swoon or two from lightheadedness, much discussion with my posse, and a major case of guilt, I left with a new baby! I don't often make investments like this or spend money on myself, but Ranchwife soothed my fears with her wisdom,

"Look. It's an investment. It has a 25 year warranty. You won't be needing another thing until you need a walker and dentures!"

Well, if you put it like that...

What would I do without these gals?

See, here it is, all strapped in and ready for it's trip home!
We then proceeded to backtrack towards home and grab a bite to eat at the Java Cafe. Ranchwife's DD met us for a bit while we devoured our sandwiches and then proceeded to wisk her mother away to set up a baby registry and knock off another visit at the doctor. Yes, it seems as if we have been abandoned by one of our own, but I suppose it's all for a good cause. I know it seems like you've been expecting forever, J, but Tadpole will be here before you know it and we can't wait to spoil him! It was good to see you again!

I've been in the market for a new machine for some time and dear, dear, dear DH wanted me to buy a machine with his Christmas bonus so I've been researching for quite some time. He earned some major brownie points on this one!

Now I just have to stop staring at it and get over my fear of actually using it, but first I must make a clean sweep through this house. I simply cannot sit down with a clear conscious and become lost in countless stitches and reams of fabric unless my house is clean. Think I'll whip up a cherry pie for DH as a small token of my appreciation too - one of many I might add!

So, if you happen to notice my absence in blogdom, take heart, I am only sitting in front of the sewing machine whipping out quilts and embroidered kitchen towels. I'll come up for air one of these days!


So here's to all the new creations looming in my future and an official open invitation for BYOT (bring your own thread) play dates and Ranchwife, since this was all your fault, why don't you hop on over here and play - I'll share.

Happy New Year Y'all!

Here's wishing all of my scrapping sisters, blogging buddies, quilting comrades, fabulous friends and fantastic family a happy, healthy, blessed New Year!


DH's birthday is on New Year's Eve, but he spent it wrestling with a bout of the flu so his celebration was put on hold for some much needed snoozing time under a flannel quilt. I spent it bleaching and Lysoling every surface in the house. I must have done 12 loads of laundry in hopes of keeping everyone else from getting sick. I have only seen him feel this badly once in 22 years. It takes a mighty big bug to knock him down and this one certainly did that. Poor guy didn't even get to enjoy any birthday cake and the fact that he didn't even open one gift was quite a disappointment to the 3 little cousins who were ready to celebrate.


For some reason unbeknownst to me, he still felt as if he needed to make a feed run to tend to some calves. I am married to a stubborn man.Running a 103.3 fever didn't stop him from making that feed run although he did concede to taking DS along to help. Sigh.


Thankfully, the next day he was feeling more like rejoining the human race and the celebration commenced. The kids let all of that cooped up energy loose and the hat-wearing, horn-tooting, popper-popping, candle-blowing, cake-eating, gift-unwrapping celebration was a huge success! Nothing like having a couple of little rascals around to increase the excitement!


They all pulled out yesterday, so I have yet to take a deep breath and take inventory of the coming year. I finally dismantled all of the Christmas decorations and tucked them safely away into their little corner of the shed today. Seems like I just put everything up! The house looks clean and empty and lonely now.


Both kids are out of the chute this afternoon for an evening of movies, jamming guitars, and dancing. DH and I plan to make a trip in later for a date night. More than likely, that will include a couple of hours perusing the aisles at Home Depot (probably picking out a new toilet - that's the kind of thing you get to do on date nights after 21 years of marriage.), some enjoyable conversation over a shared appetizer somewhere, and a shared coffee while browsing in the bookstore. We should do that more often, but we're such homebodies that neither of us like driving into town in the evening, even though we do enjoy our time together when we do.


I am hoping that the first few days of the New Year are not a sign of the days to come. It's been a bit hectic and I am worn to a frazzle and ready for it all to slow down. Tomorrow I hope to make some cinnamon rolls and bake some cookies and dive into some scrapbooking and take some pictures and take a nap.


I hope y'all will take some time to do something for yourselves as well. Happy New Year!