Poochie Love

Our Granddaughter spent some time with us last week and through the weekend. She brought her own little "dog" with her and was able to spend time with our, not so little dogs while she was here. It's so much fun to listen to her talk to all three...real and imagined poochies. I love to hear her with her Puppy and watch her tenderly take care of him as she cuddles him, feeds him and blows a whisper on her finger to let me know that Puppy is sleeping. That puppy sure sleeps a lot and is very hungry. He apparently loves being fed. Gravel is the metaphor for peaches, ham, chicken, peas, pancakes, cottage cheese, salad...you name it. She loves our dogs and always seeks them out. When she has to navigate around them (they do take up a lot of room) she always says, "Excuse me" to Cleo or Nadia whom she calls Narnia. She always exclaims to her Gams and Poppy, "Cleo and Narnia are so essited to see me!"
She is fortunate to have a real dog at home who came on the weekend. She worries that Maddie is missing her. Parents, G'parents and four poochies had a great weekend.
Best!

A New Baby In The Nursery

The newest to join the Nursery here...I think that this little baby is so adorable. She is small, so small, but can get the work done. I know I am nuts to be so thrilled about her, but damn, she is so cute. Room for only one person...little lights, one wiper for the windshield, and eyes to keep one going in the dark, air conditioning when it's hot, a place to put your water bottle, someone, just a little someone, to help with the work that needs to be done around here. She's tiny enough to go down the aisles of the greenhouses and just do her thing! She looks like a fantasmagoriphal (I know, made up) insect. She's just sweet to me and fun to drive. Indulge my craziness.
Best!

Mother's Day Project

I finished embroidering Amy A. Duerksen's name today. I will put it in the mail tomorrow and send it back to Anne.
I chose to use blue thread for Amy. I chose blue because it is the color of so many beautiful things in our world. There's the blue of the ocean, the beautiful milky blue of glacier melt rivers, the blue promise of a beautiful day with clear sky, the blue in the warming flames of a fire, the indescribable blueness of ice, the blue of slanting evening light, the blue of bird eggs and their message of life, and the blueness of so many flowers.
Blue also symbolizes tranquility, peacefulness, immortality, holiness and loyalty.
And there is the brave, but vulnerable little flower, the Forget Me Not in all of its tender blueness.
Thank you Amy. Thank you for your bravery, your loyalty, your dedication and your fidelity to the things you held dear. Forget Me Nots will bloom for you.

The Mother's Day Project

I joined the Mother's Day Project and received my materials late last week. Part of the process is to share one's thoughts and feelings while participating. I wanted to post something, but blogger was being quite impossible. I will attempt to complete that task today by copying an email I sent to Anne at treadingwater. If you haven't heard of the Mother's Day Project, I encourage you to check it out.

Dear Anne,
I received your letter today with the fabric and Amy A. Duerksen's name. I cannot put into words the feelings I had/have on opening up that envelope. It astounds me that such a small scrap of fabric, with an even smaller notation of a name, could have such power. I did learn a bit about Amy by googling her name. The picture of her showed a very young woman, a beautiful young woman, with such warmth and life. When I think about putting needle to this scrap, pulling thread up and down, I am reminded of why women have stitched for centuries. Certainly they stitched out of necessity, they stitched out of Joy and Sorrow, they stitched to brighten their lives, they may have even stitched out of vanity. They welcomed wee ones into the world, they kept their families warm and clothed, and they stitched to celebrate and mourn those they lost.
I cannot speak for others here, but I will stitch for Amy, not out of personal loss, but out of a belief that war is wrong, that these women (an men) deserve so much more. They deserve to live out their lives as they choose, to become mothers and/or fathers, to have the freedom to greet thousands of dawns, to dream and to have some of those dreams become reality. I will also stitch to celebrate her short life. I hope to honor her, and as I do so, I will think of her family, her friends-all those who loved her, and wish that this small gesture could lessen their pain.

Help

I can't access my post editor's toolbar, I can't download a picture. Is there anyone out there that can help me? I can't leave a comment because there are no words/letters for word verification. I really want to do this and I want to continue with the blog...but $##@@**&&^ it's not working.
Wherever you are and whoever you are, have a good weekend. If you are out there and can help...H-E-L-P.
Best!

Where Is It?

I can't find my camera...where is it? Oh, damn..what kind of dweeb am I that I just can't find that little photo device?
If there is anyone else out there who ever reads this teeny bog, I'm not asking you to find my camera, what I am asking is...for (well, maybe tell me where it is) is there a book that I can order about blogging? I know that there is blogger-help, but if I read it I forget what it says by the time I get back to my pitiful blog.
Blogging For Dummies...I qualify.
Best!

What To Say, What To Do?

There's nothing I can say, is there something I can do? Kansas, you are in my thoughts and prayers, as I am spoiled here....complaining to myself about laundry, cleaning, chores undone, rain when I wanted sunshine, pissing about things that don't matter.
I am ashamed of myself.

Oh, These Were The Days My Friend

Only a few shots of some of the patterns I dug up. Wow, was this the 70's or not? I've kept some, most have pieces missing, and many that would be suitable for today, are not suitable for a 65 year old bod. I'm feeling a bit nostalgic about that young thing I used to be.
Best!

Some Good Finds

Yesterday I couldn't get a picture on my blog. Today I can get the picture on there, but can't write anything. Any wonder I named my computer "Chance"? There's a chance he will and apparently a greater chance he won't.
Anyway...today I threw caution to the winds and climbed up into our attic. Our attic is not for the faint of heart. It is truly nasty and dark and the pull down ladder is not my cup of tea.
I rooted around with a flashlight and came across a box of old patterns. I can't wait to go through them. Will it ever be a trip down memory lane. Whoopie! I also dug some material out of a metal trunk. There are two pieces of lovely linen. I brought it all into the house and will wash what I can and see what potential there is for projects.
Years ago I used to sew all my clothes, the babies' clothes, curtains, etc. When we moved here in 1980 we had so much going on, me a full time teaching job, two young boys, eventually several hundred sheep, a few goats, chickens and my Jersey milk cow, Rosemary. This was on top of starting our nursery. Well, the farm's gone, the boys are off on their own, I'm retired...so there is time.
After I get a few chores done, I'll be grabbing a glass of wine and looking at all of those patterns. I know that the memories will come flooding back.
Best!

Nesting and Not Nesting

It's been an amazing Spring around here. We've had almost Summer weather and then in the last few days it's been blustery, very rainy and just downright stormy. Our bird population has just exploded. So many different birds are visiting, eating, finding mates and nesting. Just outside our patio door in a big seedling maple a pair of robins has built a nest. I am so excited! We've never, to my knowledge, had a nest this close to the house. I think they spent about two days building, shaping and tidying that nest, and now one or the other is sitting on it. The little gold finches, which I adore, are so busy consuming thistle seed. Song sparrows are out there too. Our quail have been been voraciously eating seed that falls to the ground and cleaning up seed from a big patch of weeds in back. I just love watching them. They remind me of drab, but energetic little old ladies with their bobbing topknots.
I got to thinking about how we humans tend to do our "nesting" in the winter and then when Spring comes along, we long to "un-nest" and make a break for the great outdoors, while the birds are so busy feathering their nests. Such contrast.
I hope that you are able to be out and about in some lovely weather this weekend.
Best!
a short p.s I've been trying to thank bwilliams on her blog...left a comment 4 times and it's not going through. If you read this, know that I send thanks!