Quilts of Valor

Before my surgery last month I completed a quilt to enter into the 'second tour' quilt of valor contest, that was being held locally.  After seeing the other entries I knew I didn't stand a chance.  There were 4 winnings available and I was completely surprised when my quilt came in 3rd.  I won 25 yards of patriotic material....plenty to make a few more quilts for our local veterans.  It will be a while before I can quilt again but when I can, I plan to quilt a least a couple more.

Here's my entry

New Creative Activities

Haven't been into my blog for over a year, or posted in 2 so thought I would try to put an update together.  I haven't quit doing cards or Close To My Heart scrapbooking but my interests have turned to "scrapping with materiel" instead of paper.  Some of my latest creations.  I bought a longarm quilting machine from a friend and fellow quilter, another friend helped me get started with my own 'design' and I just started from there.  I've got about 6 more quilt ideas lined up and have started on one.  I'll have to pause it for awhile so I can get my 'Christmas' stuff done first.  Maybe next year I'll have more to show....keep checking back for updates.

This month ' November 2013'

Rufus walked the 5K on the Bona Dea Trail on Saturday with Brad.  It was for the Choices clinic to raise funds for a new Ultra Sound. 

He will be 11 months old next week (18th) and we haven't weighed him this month but we're pretty sure he's over 90 lbs and may be over 100 by the time we get him to the vet :)  He's a great traveler but we're still working on getting him socialized.  He gets a bit nervous in large crowds and does NOT like it when someone gets down on his level or stares at him.  If you'll notice his correction collar is the heavy-duty kind with rounded prongs that put pressure on numerous areas at once to 'get his attention'. This is because a couple of weeks ago when I took him for a walk he decide to run to the fence on the other side of the field and bark at the cows....unfortunately for me I had a good hold on the leash and not such a good hold on the ground, which is where I ended up.  Needless to say, I was not a happy camper.  Don't think I'll be letting him get the best of me like that again.  Oh!  and he also hates it when someone talks baby talk to him :)  can't imagine why.

Last week (Nov 2nd) we went out and bought this baby, a 62 Falcon, pretty good shape for a 50+ year old car :)  Can't wait to get the few minor things fixed so we can take it out on the road.  Anyone know where we can get some spare parts?

10 months old

It's hard for me to believe that the little ball of fluff we brought home is already over 85 lbs and is just beautiful....well, handsome :) 








Jocelyn has inspired me to update my blog...since it's been over a year.  :) so much happens and so much time goes by.  Seems like it just flies from one year to the next.  Last year in March, Brad hired a team of people to come out and 'fix' my flower beds, pulling up the weeds and stuff...this year the kids (grown now but still kids to me) put in about 7 hours of hard labor, pulling the grass and weeds out.  I just never seem to have time to keep them from becoming overgrown.  I am so thankful for Zachery and Jocelyn.  I really do appreciate all the hard work they put in.  Right now it's in full bloom and I don't even have a picture to share.  The storms that have been coming through keep knocking everything over.

But I do have a picture of our latest addition :)  Rufus is Brad's puppy but, I'm the one that takes all the pictures.  

The first picture is right after we got him, 8 weeks old, and the 2nd one is now and he's about 6 months old.  He's a very handsome fellow :)  long silky hair with lots of wave to it, He's a pretty good dog...doesn't always come when he's called but most of the time.

We also had some work done in the house, Joe Holmes built us some shelves to match the ones that were already here so now we have a 'reading' corner...if we can just sell the extra furniture we have so we can clear out that space...(call if you're interested :)  I guess I should have posted the way it looks now (it's got books on the shelves and the sectional that we are selling right in front of it...maybe soon.

Well, I know it's been a year but, it's my bed-time :) so maybe I'll post again next month.  Somebody nudge me

Can't believe I haven't put anything on here since August. :) Time has a way of disappearing sometimes. We had a wonderful Christmas and have been very blessed this year.

Brad's parents came out to visit last month and we took them to see some of Arkansas countryside in Spring. We were thankful there were no bad storm while they were here. I also got to celebrate another birthday, while they were here.

This is Zachery, Dorothy, Sherrill and Jocelyn at Mt Magazine. The other is Jocelyn and Zachery when we ate lunch. And the 1st one....the pictures are not going in where I want them...is of my birthday present. Brad hired a landscaping crew to come out and pull all the weeds and grass out of the flower beds, trim the shrubs and put down mulch. It looked and looks gorgeous. Best birthday present you could want :) I'll wait until next week (or month) to post more. Gotta go dig in the dirt.

Since Brad posted it already, figured I'd update things here too. Since his new job requires him to drive an extra 12 or so miles a day and since is truck only gets about 12 miles to the gallon, we figured it was time for him to get something that got better gas mileage. He was looking at some small cars that got between 25-30 mpg and I suggested if he got something....he might as well get something with some style :) so here is Brad's new ride, at my suggestion. (He's telling everyone it is NOT a mid-life crisis)

It's been awhile. A trip to Utah where we went from 100 degrees here to 75 there, with temps at night in the 40's. :) Still skiing in the mountains while boating on the lakes. Had a wonderful time. Now it's back to the 100+ days where even a breeze is still just hot air, the dogs won't even come outside to greet us, the plants can't get enough water.... it's hot.