Friday, August 26, 2011

Hello Ladies, another Monday morning here, I've decided today will be the start of my scheduled quilt time. I will devote 2 hours to Whitt's cowboy quilt first. He is a year old already, so I need to get it finished and sent off to Chicago before he grows up! It is a simple 10 inch block quilt with a variety of cute cowboy fabrics and a horsie applique. I'm framing each block in a beige lasso print. I think I'm happy with it now, I've ripped and replaced a couple of times already.
Hi, again! This is Friday already. it has been another busy week. Monday was my night at Mom's and on Tuesday she had an appointment in Bloomington to get her new hearing aide. Our 12th trip messing with this one between Mom putting one in the garbage disposal and the doctor breaking another one. We are beginning to doubt the value of hearing! This trip turned into a lengthy shopping trip, as Mom wanted to go to Kohls. Now you know my disgust with WalMart, well Kohls is a close second on my shopping meter. I love online shopping, no stress at all sitting in my living room, clicking on pretty things to purchase.
On Wednesday, Shawn and I took Mackenzie to Riley to meet with the transplant team co-ordinator and her kidney doctor. She is a gracious lady, calm and full of info we will need for our journey to a new kidney for Kenz. We can start the testing of donors now, she gave us the criteria list. Her surgeon will not accept anyone over 50, so some of our volunteers are automatically ruled out. But we are confident that a match will be found within the family soon. They would like to do the surgery just before the Holidays to allow a long recovery without missing much school. Keep her in your prayers, please.
We got some great news this week, Ken is sending Courtney home for the month of November! She has been suffering from a big case of homesickness since Mom and Kenz are both having health issues, so he decided to surprise her. She was ruled out as a donor because the blood types aren't a match, so she thought she wouldn't be coming back until 2012. He is such a good guy. He understands how close Court is to Kenz and knows she needs to be here for awhile. We can't wait!
Janelle has offered to host a FallDown Gagglefest in Sept. I do hope we can all get there! I miss my geese! Of course, I was the one who didn't make the last one. I'm putting the end of Sept on my calendar and praying nothing interferes with that weekend. My summer world consisted of going from our house to Mom's, Stephen King did our shopping and took care of himself, I didn't have our Sunday suppers with the kids or get away for short trips as we usually do. So I am ready for some good conversation and a little dip in the counseling/education world again and catching up on all the happenings with these ladies.
Actually, I am meeting some friends from school this evening at the Winery, our first get-together since spring. This is the group that takes Spring Break together and have always been my closest friends at work. I expect to hear all the stories about the first 3 weeks of school, horror and funnies! I purposely haven't gone into school yet. I don't trust myself not to set up business and never leave. The phone calls keep coming from parents, students and teachers seeking support and advice which I can deal with. But actually being there seems like too much of a challenge.
I want to report that the scheduled quilting time hasn't happened this week since Monday! I just haven't been home long enough to do it. I planned to sneak in a few minutes this morning to get a border on Whitt's quilt. Wish me luck!
It looks like a beautiful weekend in the Valley, as we pray for the East coast. Earth quakes and hurricanes striking so hard. Take care and enjoy the weekend. Talk to me. Love

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

SCHOOL STARTED TODAY...WITHOUT ME.

Hello Ladies,
I made it. Valley went to school this morning and I slept right through it! I may have some doubts and down moments, but at this moment, I feel confident that retiring was the correct decision. I am so happy to be able to help my mom through her recovery. I shudder to think I would have to return to my office instead. Several folks have texted, messaged and called to ask how I feel about not going back, and I have to honestly say, "I haven't given it a thought!" I'm finished with that part of my life; no regrets, no seconds thoughts and no looking back.
When Mom gets on her feet and we are no longer staying at night, I m going to quilt everyday. I plan to have a scheduled morning quilting hour or two. I have so many tops to finish, patterns to cut and quilts to quilt or have quilted, I know that scheduling time will ensure they get done. I do believe that choosing fabric is the big thrill for me, maybe I should just buy fabric and gift it to a real quilter! I suppose that might cause custody issues when they were finished though.
Stephen King's garden is done. The tomatoes have just about dried up on the vines. Guess there will be no juicing this fall. He has spent many long, hot hours out ther this summer and the results were delicious. I am happy he enjoys gardening, it fills lots of empty hours for him. I do wish he had another hobby though, maybe woodworking or something like it. TV seems to rot his brain, he continues to watch NBA games from the 80s and movies from the 30s. Not just watch but ENJOY! Makes me sad to see his little head shrinking. He does spend time reading, and I love that. But he tends to drop off after a few chapters and wants to share what he's reading with me. I have a rule DON'T READ TO ME AND I WON'T READ TO YOU. He isn't quite up on that one yet.
The kiddos are starting school tomorrow and none of them are excited about it at all. The boys and Madeleine haven't had enough playtime and Mackenzie isn't sure about her senior year. The transplant is likely to interfere with school this year at some point, but we don't know when. Not knowing is difficult for her. Mack is a good patient but would like to have more of a definite timeline. She plans on working on the yearbook from her bed, she hasn't talked about the rest of her classes! I know the kids will all settle into school in a matter of days. They are all good students and learn like eager beavers. Their friends are all at school and the little ones are social butterflies. Caleb will play basketball this year and I would be thrilled if the doctors allowed Maddie to play. She is a born athlete, but hasn't been healthy enough to play in the past, with the last surgery we hope her heart will be strong enough.  Gavin has done soccer and tennis, but 1st grade doesn't have basketball. It will be something to start all those school activities over again with these boys, their dad's kept us busy in the 80s. I really cannot believe my boys are in their forties, gee, where did all the time go?
Have a stack of ironing waiting for me, Girls. Talk to me, Love