Cutie Pies

Okay, I'm coming down off a grand-daugher high from the sleepover, ready to settle into quilting, selecting one of five new books to read, and looking forward to pajama day on Friday. And Channel 20 is having a Barney Miller Marathon on New Years day, so it looks like I'm all set. I'll tell you this, from the moment Jill's eyes open in the morning, her little mouth is going, talking and talking and talking. Erin still wanted to sleep, Jill wouldn't quit talking, and finally Erin was saying, "Jiiiillllll..... pleeeeeeeease." trying to get her to quiet down. It doesn't work. She sure wakes up happy and ready to go. If you're not a morning person, like Erin, it must be hard to understand. Erin definitely likes to ease into the morning; Jill just hits the ground running. Again, it was a fun sleepover. Is anyone else out there having Pajama Day? It's Grrrrrrreat!

Birthday party fun!

Bobby and Jill playing twister, and Mark helping Jill get out the new markers she got for her birthday. What a fun party.

Two Little Monkeys

Two Little Monkeys Were Jumping on our Bed. And luckily, they didn't fall off and bump their heads. They really had some spring in their jumps, didn't they!!! Jill decided to put on her Cinderella dress that they dress up in, and that didn't slow her down one bit.

Lonely little Christmas Flower

My Christmas cactus has only one little flower, but isn't it lovely. There's also a bud, so I believe another flower is on the way. This used to be a good sized plant until I overwatered and I managed to save a few cuttings. Most of the plant had severe root rot. So it's coming along. Merry Christmas, little Christmas Cactus.

Jill's Christmas Program

Jill was the little star. As Bobby says, she was the "star of the show. Absolutely! Isn't she a doll! I love those green star glasses.

Christmas at Julie's

We had a really great time at Julie's this week end, celebrating Christmas. As you can see, Julie found the perfect gift for Bobby. It's amazing. Even though she beat him both times that they opposed each other in fantasy football, he still continued to make fun of her picks. Can someone explain that to me? Don't you love her gift to him? The house looked beautiful and Christmassy, both inside and out. And in the photo on the couch, there seemed to be all kinds of room until Jit decided to squeeze right in. And I was warned that the bedroom would be cold, but it was nice and cozy. I was provided with lots of covers and comforters and quilts. We had Soooooooo much fun.

This Much I Know Is True

This much I know is true: I've apparently truly lost my mind. Yesterday I went hiking when the high temperature was 37 degrees. 37 degrees!!!

Did you hear that - 37!!!! Erin's school had a hike and marshmallow roast, and Bobby and I said sure, we'd come, sounds like fun. Actually, it was fun, and I didn't get cold until the last 15 minutes or so. Each child had an envelope with certain items to find while they were hiking, i.e. grass seeds, berries, etc., and after the hike they roasted marshmallows and had hot chocolate. On the way back to the car, however, Jill said her feet were so cold that they hurt. I've never known Erin to be that cold. She wouldn't even zip her coat, although she did put the hot pockets in her shoes on the way back to the car. Now that couldn't have been too comfortable. It was a fun afternoon.

Christmas decorations are up

The tree lights were an aggravation again this year, but I'm well satisfied with the results. Though from this picture, and especially the one of the mantel picture, it looks like one big fireball. Sort of like when we put the 80 candles on Daddy's birthday cake. But it doesn't look like that in real life.

Little story about Jill when I was playing hide & seek with her and Erin yesterday. I looked in Jill's closet to see if one of them was hiding in there, and in doing that, knocked the lengthwise hanging pole down that was holding Jill's dresses, jackets, etc. They fell off hangers, and it was a mess, and I couldn't figure how to get it back up. Jill, while turning her back and walking away, said, "You have a BIG problem." Making it quite clear it wasn't her problem and she wasn't sticking around to help. Earlier in the day when she was at our house, she was eating lunch. She really had eaten quite a bit. But she eyed the candy canes. She said, "I'm fu...(stopped in the middle of her word). Then changed it to, "I'm NOT full, but I'm though with my lunch. Can I have a candy cane?" Quickly realizing if she said she was full, she may not get that candy cane. She's a sharp one. Needless to say, she got the candy cane.

Erin said she had a good day at school, got her allergy shot with no problem, and we had a good time. But I hate it that Kim's sick. That's not a good way to get to spend time with Erin and Jill.

But they sure are sweet little things.

Twenty more days until Jill turns 4. Can you believe it?

A Rare Photo with Jill

First of all, it seemed strange not having Erin at this little luncheon, but of course, she was at school doing her own thing. And to get a picture with Jill, it went like this. She got to take of picture of Judy, then she took a picture of me, then it was my turn to take a picture of Jill and Judy together, then Judy's turn to take a picure of Jill and me together. She cooperated with the "take turn" scenario. Afterwards we went to the Daisy meeting, and we had a fun day.

This, That & Nothing

Well, I finished one border for my flower garden quilt, have sewn it onto the quilt two times, and am in the process of ripping it off for the second time. Can't get it on correctly. So I'm going to watch Oprah in a little while, rip off the border, and lay it aside for awhile. I know the problem now, but figure two times in one day is enough. I'll figure out another pasttime while Oprah talks to Sarah. I just have to watch this interview - Sarah's such a kick.

Took my walk today - but a short one. When I walk with Jeanie at Seneca's track we go 4 1/2 miles, but when I walk by myself I don't go that far. It's a little more boring to walk alone, even if I walk Bardstown Road, which can be quite interesting in itself.

Tomorrow evening I'm attending a Christmas Bazaar with Connie, supposed to be a really good one at the Olmstead, highly recommended to me, so I'm looking forward to going. And then Wednesday is the Thanksgiving lunch at Jill's school, and then we're attending at Daisy Scout get-together with Erin. Looking forward to both.

Last night we saw Amelia - she didn't make it. Sorry...if anyone reading this is going to see the movie, hope I didn't ruin the ending for you. Mostly I enjoyed being with Linda & Dub, having dinner with them. We had a good time. And Bobby and I are doing the Nielson T.V. survey this week. It's sort of a pain...okay...it's a real pain. But we said we'd do it, so when we watch t.v., we faithfully fill out our little booklet, what we watched, what station, for how long, etc. It lasts one week. We mail the diaries back in on Thursday. I've already reviewed my viewing habits, and it's exactly what I knew them to be - almost always the news shows and political shows, and mostly in the evening while I'm quilting or reading. Let's see, can't think of anything else to entertain you with. So....Adios.

Fifteen Days Until

Fifteen days until Christmas decorations go up. I might sneak a few up next week. That would be so unlike me, of course, to jump the gun like that. But I could maybe slip a little something into the upstairs bedroom and upstairs bathroom a little early. We'll see. I've already bought a few items on the list for Thanksgiving dinner. I always do the grocery list for that way ahead of time, too. Maybe I'll nose around in the attic today and see what's in there. Hope it's all Christmas decors and no dead squirrels that have made their way in, the little varmints. It's Friday 13th. Everyone watch out. I think there's an old saying that goes, "on Friday the 13th in November, look in your attic and pull out maybe one or two Christmas decorations."

Poor Bobby

Well, that Julie. Wasn't it Bobby who was surprised that Julie picked her fantasy football team using too much heart instead of with her head. This past week, it was Julie vs. Bobby again, and guess who the winner was. Julie! Bobby's been moping around the house all week, knowing Julie was beating her. I think he needs an anti-depressant this morning. Maybe next year Julie can teach him how to pick his players, using a little heart.

My Gallon of Paint

My gallon of paint didn't stretch far enough. I can't believe it. For years I've hated the blue color of the wall going up the steps, and I finally painted it, a pale pale green. And I also extended it to the ceiling in the upstairs hallway. I intended to do that little patch of wall in the downstairs hall across from the bathroom, and I can't believe I didn't have enough paint. Of course, that really is a lot of wall, especially considering it took two coats. Well, I'm going to look through our paint cabinet and see if there's something I can use for that little hallway wall, and if not, I guess I'll purchase a little more paint. But I have to say, looking upstairs is quite an improvement over that tacky blue that used to be on the wall. I think 12 years was long enough to live with a color I didn't like. Maybe in the spring I'll tackle the kitchen again. Maybe.

Strangers in My Living Room

Yikes! How did these people get in my house, and who are they!!!

Two Former Quilts

Both these quilts are twin size, and I decided to post them just because. These are two of my favorites that I quilted in the past. I just get the evergreen tree quilt out in the winter, and made it about ten years ago. I love the flannel backing on it - so cozy. This quilt is patchwork, not qpplique. The other one is one that I didn't piece - I bought the quilt top from some ladies set up outside a Walmart in Leitchfield, Ky when I was working for Nintendo. They were selling quilt tops, and I liked this one, and it's remained one of my favorites.

Tomorrow I intend to sandwich together the "doll quilt" with the batting and backing and start quilting on it, and I'm making good progress on the applique of the garden quilt. I've seen several other quilts I'd like to make, and I'd like to start hooking another rug. Gosh, so many projects, so little time, so little money. So much fun.

Just Wondering

I was just wondering - Do you think balloon boy is related to bubble boy?

Bobbys Fantasy Football League

Okay, I just can't resist. When Julie and Bobby got into the same fantasy football league, I can't tell you how many times I heard about Julie picking bad players for her team, how surprised Bobby was that Julie didn't do a better job, that she picked with her heart and not with her head. Well, this week it was Bobby vs. Julie, and you got it. Julie Won. Bobby e'mailed Julie this morning to congratulate her, but I hope she shows him no mercy. He told me last night that she might beat him, and I asked him, "and how's that going to make you feel after giving her such a hard time?" He put his thumb and index finger together, and said, "about this big." Come on Julie. Don't be a good sport. Rub it in big time.

These are three pictures from Halloween at the zoo. Jill in the stroller is taken when we're just entering...such enthusiasm! And Erin sure can strike a pose! That was earlier in the day before the actual Halloween at the Zoo started, when we were just seeing the animals. And of course, Erin was a dragon, as you can plainly see.

I'll play around with this and either stand her right side up and delete this paragraph, or...you may be reading this paragraph...time will tell.

Halloween at the Zoo

Halloween Parade

When I saw the American flag approaching in the parade, my first thoughts were that the parade was going to be a little more upscale this year. As you can see from the guy in white, I had been too quick with my assumptions. Anyway, Mark and I stood in the drizzle at Highland Avenue & Bardstown Road and enjoyed the parade, and it did seem to have more businesses involved this year. There was a good crowd- nothing to compete with the Zombie invasion, however. I love Bardstown Road. It's so...well, Bardstown Roadish. Sort of got that Derby feel all the time, but sometimes with a touch of zombie or Halloween or Christmas or Irish or whatever.

This afternoon we're going to the Halloween Party at the Zoo with Erin and Jill, Mark and Kim, so there's a chance we'll have pictures to post.

Quilt Progression

These are two pictures of six flower blocks that I have pieced together so far, and I may get the other six pieced onto it this weekend. Maybe...it's a slow process. The blocks are pieced together with nine different red fabrics cut on the diagonal, and a green fabric block that was used in the stems. So far, so good. And then I'll start appliqueing the flowers for the border. I'm beginning to think I'll live to see this quilt completed, and hopefully a few more. Each of these blocks is fourteen and a half by fourteen and a half. So plus the sashing and the border, it will be about 79 inches or so by 79 inches or so.

SATURDAY'S SLEEPOVER

Saturday night we had a sleepover. Erin took the picture of Jill sitting on the steps with the animals - good picture taking. And there is one each of them in their pj's, having a snack while watching a movie, and the last of Erin while they'd been playing in the basement. I was going to sleep downstair with them, and Bobby upstairs, but Jill requested Grampy stay in the room with them. He hated that, you can just imagine. And Sunday morning they witnessed me stomping a cricket to death. Erin asked what I was doing and I told her I was killing the cricket. She wanted to know, 'Why?' At their house insects get delivered safely to the outside. Not here, boy. I either stomp them or drown them in Raid. And I wasn't turning my back on that cricket while I went upstairs to find the Raid. Hopefully they've forgotten that little incident and I've not scarred them for life.

Another cute little story (I think???) Jill was working a puzzle on the floor; Erin was riding a little riding toy and wanted Jill to move the puzzle out of her way. Jill wouldn't move it. So here's the story I got from Erin. She came into the bathroom while I was brushing my teeth.

"Mimi...I asked Jill to move her puzzle out of the way for me. I was pretending my foot was broken and I needed to get through on my car and Jill wouldn't cooperate and I had to move her puzzle forcefully." So Erin and I had a little talk about moving Jill's things forcefully, and then I checked on Jill to see how she handled having her puzzle "forcefully" moved out of the way.

Anyway, as usual, they were lots of fun.

On another matter, I've joined a sit and sew group with four other ladies, taking turns going to each others' houses once a month and working on our quilts and it's really fun seeing the quilts other people are working on, and the ones they've made over the years. October is the third month for this group and they come here on the 30th. It's really enjoyable and I've already picked up some sewing and quilting tips.

Block Twelve

As you can see, I've also been working on another quilt, the one Erin and Jill helped combine the little colored dresses on. I've sewn the sleeves and bloomers on, but the dresses are still partly pinned. After I sew the dresses, I have to add the faces, cheeks, button eyes, hair ribbon, though they have no hair. Then the borders, and actually do the quilting. And on the applique quilt I'm ready to applique the border. While BBB has been stuck in his man cave, I've been quilting away. It's so dark in his man cave. Very depressing. Upstairs you can tell when the sun's out, or hear the rain. The windows are open with the breeze blowing in...brrrrr.... Oh well, to each his own.

Ike Anniversary

A year from tomorrow, the 14th, is when the remnants of hurricane ike went roaring through and we were without power for 8 1/2 days. I sure hope we don't have a repeat of that little event. I do wonder where that crazy woman is that Kim and I spoke to in Tyler Park, the one who thought we'd had a tornado and didn't know there had been damage throughout the city, state and across the country. I guess she's living contentedly in her little cave somewhere.

On another subject, Bobby and I bought out the city at yard sales yesterday. It's like Bobby said, sometimes we can go to 20 sales and not find a thing that interests us. Then yesterday, one sale after another had finds that we just couldn't let go. It was lots of fun. Lots of bargains. Then in the afternoon Mark, Kim, Erin and Jill came over. It's harder to find a time to have Erin and Jill over now that they have their school schedule and we miss having them over as often as we used to. Jill was her usual little chatter box self. They both seem to really enjoy playing the old maid card game. And I'd love for you to hear Kim tell about Erin yesterday at the Personal Opinion toy study she went to. Have you heard of Personal Opinion? They needed 5 and 6 year old girls for input about a toy, and would get to keep the toy plus $15.00. It would take an hour. Kim, of course, got to stay with her. Personal Opinion is a reputable group; I've answered their surveys and gone to their groups before, and Bobby did one a few weeks ago. But as it turned out Erin had to watch commercials, and apparently when asked about them, decided to become a little mute. It was so funny hearing Kim tell about it. She said Erin probably skewed their results big time. Funny, funny, funny. It's funny because Erin could probably repeat back verbatim every commercial she saw. But she still got her Polly Pockets toy and her $15.00. Good deal.

Erin and Jill helped me put together some dresses for a quilt I''m making. Now I can start sewing these dresses and then sew the dresses onto the quilt blocks.

Merry Ike Anniversary, Everybody.

Julie Queen of Golf

I tell you...that sister of mine. On Friday, she got another hole in one. Congratulations, Julie. She used to be the Golf Goddess, but I hear her friends are now crowning her the Queen of Golf. She now has holes in one on nos. 6 and 8 on the course. You know, Brother Ben aspires to be king of the universe (god help us all). I'll have to let him know Julie already has two titles, goddess and queen. Now I'm pulling for her to beat the guys in the fantasy football league. Go, Sis.

Painted Bathroom

Ta da....I've now painted that pesky bathroom. The two photos with white wall are before, and the lovely green shade is after. Mark's blog about having only two months to make his Halloween costume inspired me. I realized it would be time to decorate for Christmas before I knew it and that I wouldn't allow myself to put a Christmas decoration in the bathroom before it was painted. Of course, painting called for new towels, new shower curtain, new towel bars, and digging out different curtains from a trunk upstairs. I feel a sense of accomplishment. Maybe because I procrastinated for eight months.

Keeping A Sense of Humor

Yep, you have to laugh when your children are smart alecs. They don't leave you any choice. Yesterday I was having a tiny tiny little bit of trouble backing out of the drive, and of course, Bobby and Brian happened to be in the living room, with Brian looking out the window. Bobby tells me that a certain someone told him that they shouldn't let old people drive. And you all thought Brian was nice.

Then last night Bobby and I got to watch Erin and Jill for awhile, put in a DVDfor them to watch, and couldn't for anything get the sound working. (there did happen to be a little mute button pressed on the remote that we didn't know about, but whatever.) We finally got some music going that we thought went with the movie, and were so proud of ourselves, when Jill and Erin were rolling hysterically on the couch, saying that's the CD, take the CD out, that's not the movie. We entertained them far more than that movie ever will.

Mark suggested we have them in bed by 8:30, maybe 9:00 since it wasn't a school night, and since Grandpa and Mimi were there. Well, we finally had them in bed by 9:45. They sure are good at stalling us, claiming they can't find the books they want to read, picking out the ones with lots of reading in them, Jill insisting on certain toothpaste that we never did find, and I finally told her she could use one of the toothpastes on the counter or brush without toothpaste (she chose without toothpaste). It will be my luck she'll have a cavity tomorrow morning. or rather Mark and Kim's luck. I let Jill have a chocolate chip cookie that she told me Mommy and Daddy let her have - Mark told me Jill would probably tell us she was allowed to have a pint of ice cream, too but that didn't make it so. But it turns out the chocolate chip cookie was allowed.
Erin couldn't find the green blankie she needs to sleep with every night, so the hunt was on. Never found it, but we found something else that worked. We thought we could have lights out before Mark and Kim came home, but they got to kiss Erin good night...or we could have told them she'd been sleeping for hours.

It was a very entertaining Friday evening and a fun Friday, smart alec Brian and all.

Quilt Block 11 and Small Talk

I completed this block 11 a few weeks ago, and also redid block one, some of it for the third time. And I am now happy with block one. I'm working on block twelve, and also have repair work to do to block two, then will start the border. I've also started another quilt, a rather time consuming project, which has little dolls on it wearing dresses, aprons and pinafores, with little sleeves and bloomers which I actually have to sew little folds into to make them a little puffy...a little time consuming, but fun. The little dresses get cut in half and re-matched to make them more colorful, so I'm going to wait until Erin and Jill are here for their help, thinking it's something they might enjoy doing since it's going to be a quilt they can use when they're having a sleepover here.

On another topic, two churches here in Louisville are merging - Shively Heights Baptist Church and St. Paul Missionary Baptist. One is predominantly white, the other black, and this made national news and was on Good Morning America this morning. I had to chuckle when the anchor guy announced it Shivly...with a short i...in Louisville, KY.

Bobby and I had dinner with Jean and Frank last night. We ate at Cheddars and had a chance to catch up a little and had a very pleasant evening.

Friday we went to the fair with Mark, Kim, Erin, Jill and Pam. First of all, Mark and Kim picked us up at the house, and they were on time. That really threw us off, we rushed out the door, and we went off without our camera, without a cell phone, I didn't have a chance to use the restroom, we neglected to turn off the television, we left the iron plugged in, the tub overflowed...well, I'm stretching the truth a little, but we really did go off without the camera. I mean, who knew they'd show up at 3:30. Really. So that's why I don't have any fair pictures. And yes, I know I'm being a smart alec.
We had so much fun at the fair. On the way there I asked Jill if she was going to ride the ferris wheel, and boy, in a loud determined voice she let the entire car know that "no, she didn't like ferris wheels." She did, however, ask me to go down this large slide with her, where you use this burlap bag to sit on. So we went down, Jill on my lap, and if you could have heard her scream..."Aaaaaaaaahhh"at the top of her lungs going down. I couldn't see her face to see if was fear or delight. I was told it was sooo cute, she was smiling big time. And Erin seemed to like just about everything. She loves to go round and round, going fast. She came down the slide by herself right behind Jill and me. And Erin got such a kick out of a little bunny that was bucking and kicking in it's cage..she just giggled while she watched it...so cute.

The concert at Willow Park has Blues music tonight, so we're opting out. But next week is Salsa music - can't miss that one.

celetrating Erin's birthday

On the afternoon of Erin's birthday, The Tablers came to our house because their air was out. So Erin opened a few birthday gifts at our house. You can see her holding up a skirt and a dress. The other photos are at the Spaghetti Factory later in the evening. The little doll is her new Groovey Girl Doll. And everyone in the party room sung happy birthday to her, and she ambitiously blew out her candle, as you can see. What a doll. What an angel. What a sweetie pie.

Erin, Jill and Kim spent the night because their air wasn't going to be repaired until the next morning, so Mark gave Judy a ride home, and he went on home himself. Mark claimed sleeping without air reminded him of the old days when he was a kid.

The next morning, Jill asked, "Mimi, will you fix me some pancakes?" Needless to say, I had those pancakes going in a flash. Afterall, this is the same little girl who says you get the best turkey sandwiches at Mimi's house.

So we enjoyed the birthday celebration that stretched into a sleepover. What fun.