Creative Caregiver

Buttons, Buttons!

2011-01-27T21:53:00.000-05:00

Look at the treasure trove of button goodies a friend gave me! Talk about making my day!

Look at this beauty...

...and the bright colors!

and the sweet, classic, little black button...

For these, and all the other button goodies, I thank you, dear friend!

Meal planning

2011-01-20T22:21:00.000-05:00

I'm learning that in order to eat healthy meals, there needs to be some meal planning and grocery shopping in advance. I have found it very helpful to have the fresh fixings for salads washed, cut up, and ready to eat. See how pretty!

You know you have gained weight when:

...you insist on taking pictures, instead of being in the pictures.

Fleece Cape

2011-01-19T23:36:00.000-05:00

Hancock Fabrics had fleece on sale after Christmas. My friend and I decided to make capes!

She even had the perfect button!

Temptation time last night was not a problem. In trying to follow a 1500 calorie plan, I still needed to eat some veggies at the end of the day, which I did. A salad about 8:00 got me through the evening.

You know you have gained weight when:

...the top of your pantyhose keeps rolling down to your crotch.

Buttons!

2011-01-18T21:32:00.001-05:00

After getting my hair trimmed today I wandered into an antique store. Look what I found!

Once, when taking a quilting class, the teacher asked us what made us "stop" and "pause?" She said she paused for clothes hanging on a clothesline. My all time "Stop the Car!" moments are for fabric stores. But now I find myself stopping for buttons...large buttons, old buttons, tiny buttons, geometric buttons, variegated buttons...I now have several jars/canisters of buttons proudly displayed on the mantle.Do I use them? Some. But displayed in jars they look like pretty, hard rock candy.

Did I survive last night without eating a nighttime snack? Sorta/kinda. I ate Weight Watchers Strawberry yogurt. It was very good and was a great substitute for my usual chips or popcorn. At least I made a better choice when the snacking temptation attacked.

And finally:

You know you have gained weight when:

...you begin shopping for clothes in sections that have new names (Womens, Plus Size (like we don’t realize the word “plus” means “added to”), Full Figured, XL, 1X, 2X, 3X

2011-01-17T13:32:00.000-05:00

JANUARY 2011

While everyone else made their new year's resolutions on January 1, I am just getting around to it. The most glaring resolution has to be the one to lose weight. I'm confused. Where in the world did the past 10 years go? And how did all this weight come to rest on my hips and on places that shouldn't sport extra padding? After all, I'm a small-boned person!

I like privacy. I like to conquer things on my own. In fact, don't tell me I can't do something, because then I have to prove that I CAN do it. But I'll admit, weight loss has stumped me so far. While the desire to lose weight and get healthy has been in my thoughts, my hands and mouth have betrayed me. Like late night munching to gear down from the day. That's a rare quiet time each day just for myself. So while I will be exploring other bad habits that have "plus-sized" me, I'll address bad habit number one: late night snacking. Today is as good a day as any to start...no, today is the BEST day to start...

I have started a list of things I've learned when I gained weight. I will be adding to the list in future blogs:

You know you have gained weight when:

...you prefer shopping for home goods instead of clothes.

I have also resolved to get back to blogging and sharing sewing, quilting, and craft activites. Maybe these activities can serve as substitutions for food in the late night hours. At least this late night owl is going to try.

(Note of interest: as I returned to my blog to create a new entry, I realized my last entry, March 2010 was about...food!)

Todays craft therapy: red felt bird pin

You can find this pin listed in my etsy.com store at http://www.etsy.com/shop/rganttdesigns

Instructions: (for personal use): Cut 2 bird bodies and one wing out of felt. I like to add Deco Bond interfacing inside each piece for stability.

With embroidery floss and a running stitch, sew wing onto top bird body, and sew on a button for the eye. Sew front and back body together, enclosing yarn and ribbon for the tail. Add vintage buttons near tail.

Enjoy!

Another new year's resolution is to explore how to improve the design of this blog site. Any suggestions are welcome!

Purpose of food

2010-03-08T11:31:00.003-05:00

When somebody dies, people immediately start bringing food. Funny. 'Cause that's when you could care less if you eat. Guess that's the purpose of food brought in. Because people know you don't care about eating, about cooking, about doing everyday things. That something as simple as putting food into your mouth seems monumental.

That's why the above meal of steak, mashed potatoes, pasta salad, fresh greens salad, strawberry salad and honey wheat bread was just one of many love gifts. It activated the salivary glands which prompted eating. And isn't it a beautiful meal?

People have been so good to bring food...that yummy potato salad made with real Duke's mayonaise, m & m cookies, chocolate pound cake, chicken pie meal, roast beef meal, Hickory Log meal, Kentucky Fried Chicken meal, homemade soup, other meals and so many desserts...The kindness of friends have been many and varied. Each and every food that has entered into this house has been accepted with love and appreciation.

Good friends, good food, great acts of kindness. Thank you, my friends.

Christening gown

2010-03-04T11:07:00.003-05:00

I, also, planned to enter the Alabama Studio Style Challenge, but near the end of the competition deadline my time was spent in the hospital with Daddy, then dealing with his death. But the hours spend in a chair by his side in the hospital for a week gave me plenty of time to do handwork.

This christening gown was based on Burda pattern #9804. I eliminated the collar and pleats, shortened the top of the set-in sleeve, and added eyelet embroidery to the bodice and hem. The scallops on the bottom of the dress were inspired by the scalloped doily from Natalie Chanin's book Alabama Studio Style. Check our her website http://www.alabamachanin.com.

Plans are to continue adding eyelet embroidery to the skirt of the gown halfway up, then tapering off, similar to the gore skirt shown on page 100 of Alabama Studio Style.

This is a sample of the eyelet embroidered covered buttons I plan to use for the back of the dress.

Since we only have grandpuppies right now, maybe I'll have time to finish this before the grandbabies start coming!

Alabama Chanin Contest

2010-03-04T11:03:00.002-05:00

This is the dress my daughter, Amber designed for the Alabama Chanin contest sponsored by Burdastyle pattern company. Isn't it beautiful?! Such intricate work, interesting choice of colors, and very stylish. She's always wanted to attend a workshop by Natalie Chanin. Maybe this dress will win her that option!

Daddy

2010-02-27T23:42:00.002-05:00

On Tuesday, February 23, my daddy, Howard Houston Josey passed away. In my mind I knew the day would come when he would die, but in my heart, it is too soon to be real. I look at this picture from his 80th birthday party in December and am thankful he was nearby and learned to be content at Fair Haven Home.

This past week he was placed in the hospital with severe vomiting and diarrhea, then renal failure and then a "silent heart attack." Because he was moved to ICU for a few days and his situation was serious, his family was able to visit him one last time. On Monday, February 22 he was considered stable and discharged back to Fair Haven. He had been asking to come back to "his bed" and "Mack's place" (the nursing home). He returned to his room right before supper on Monday, and I got to feed him chicken and dumplings one last time. I ended our visit like I always did...asking if he needed anything, telling him I hoped he could rest well, and telling him I loved him. He was able to respond with his usual "lub-ee" (love you).

At 6:15 Tuesday morning the nurses gave him medicine and checked his vitals. They changed him at 7:00. When they brought his breakfast tray at 7:30 he had passed away.

Death can be expected, but never easily received. Time has been my enemy. I have looked at my watch countless times, thinking it is time to go feed him. But I also know time will eventually bring healing.

Tonight, his death has stirred emotions of gratitude for me. I am grateful I have a supportive husband who took care of Alison and things at home so I could spend time at the hospital or nursing home. I am grateful for supportive daughters and son-in-laws. I am grateful for dear friends who have kept a watchful eye on me, ready to fill in at Daddy's meal times these past few months so I could have a break. I am grateful for a nursing home staff who treats their residents as family instead of patients. I am grateful I was able to learn how to anticipate his needs, sometimes just by a hand motion or a few words. But most of all I am grateful I was able to reestablish a good relationship with Daddy. I now have good memories that will give me comfort in the days ahead.

Family Christmas card

2010-01-02T15:57:00.002-05:00

Merry Christmas from the Gantt Family!

Birthday girl!

2009-11-21T01:03:00.006-05:00

HAPPY 21ST BIRTHDAY, ALISON!

We surprised Alison with a party at church for her 21st birthday.

We used a western theme, since she LOVES country music...

The menu included tortilla chips and rotel cheese dip, party mix, hot wings and Tex and Tiny's delicious chocolate cake!We were glad Ashley and Brandon could make it to the party!
14 years ago we weren't sure Alison would ever make it to age 21 due to a malignant brain tumor. But God spared her and now she's a beautiful young lady. "You've come a long way, baby!"

Halloween weinie dog rooster!

2009-11-11T13:42:00.003-05:00

Halloween costumes are fun. Especially costumes for pets! This was the first time we've ever dressed a dog for a holiday. Alison found this cute rooster costume at Targets. How cute is Levi?His neighbor, Jake wasn't so sure!

But Daddy and the other residents at the nursing home enjoyed seeing him. We never knew what joy a pet could bring to our family!

Sinus Season

2009-10-29T01:40:00.008-04:00

When the sinus headache and drainage started I knew it was time to address the situation pronto!

I went through the process of showing my license and signing a paper in order to get a pseudoephedrine product...

Then I remembered the Russian tea recipe in my old cookbook that we were given when we were first married... Isn't the cover pretty?

There it is...very simple recipe, but oh, so good!

The recipe yields a lot. The pretty orange color from the Tang doesn't show up very well...

I went to 2 stores trying to find plain, decaffeinated instant tea. Nope. Nada. The only thing available in decaf had aspartame, which I do not use. When I asked the sales clerk to help me look, she said, "you know they use formaldehyde to decaffeinate the tea, don't you?" Oh well. I bought the regular instant tea. Maybe that's why I'm awake writing this blog at 2 in the morning!

Since I don't drink coffee, the Russian tea gives me an excuse to use my Campbell "Mom" mug. Thanks Lance!

Scarf project

2009-09-04T10:44:00.006-04:00

It's amazing what you can get done while in a hospital! My Daddy had a second stroke. Fortunately, I learned a long time ago to keep a craft bag packed at all times. So look what you can get done in a week's time between doctors and nurses popping into your room!

I chose the yarn because of the colors. Beautiful!

Julie and Julia movie

2009-08-30T15:09:00.002-04:00

After watching and thoroughly enjoying the movie “Julie and Julia”, I have been inspired to:

· rediscover the “joy for life” I once had (as inspired by Meryl Streep’s portrayal of an exuberant Julia Child)
· establish consistency in my blogging (as inspired by Amy Adam’s character)
· enjoy food (as inspired by the delicious food pictured in the movie)
· travel outside my little community (inspired by the Paris setting)
· pinpoint my interests (inspired by watching Julia Child taking hatmaking classes that she hated as opposed to cooking classes which she adored)

Stay tuned for the “new” me...

Vacation craft treat!

2009-08-29T22:41:00.006-04:00

While at the beach on vacation, I found this yummy yarn at Island Knits at Pawley's Island, S.C. I was attracted to the variegated colors. Dilemma: what to make?

I bought 2 skeins of yarn, so I decided to make a scarf. After trying stockinette stitch and garter stitch, I decided cables would showcase the colors better. So I looked in this old knitting and crochet book for a cable pattern...

Voila! This gave me the basic idea of what to do.

Hmm...looking pretty...

Even better! Amber thinks it looks very "Gap-ish"!

Dulcimer picture

2009-08-12T12:52:00.003-04:00

All together now: "Oh...those golden slippers..........."

Dulcimers

2009-08-12T00:04:00.002-04:00

I almost made it. I almost got Tuesday's blog posted before midnight...then the doggone internet wouldn't connect! What frustration!

But the good news is... I enjoyed a creative outlet tonight! I attended a dulcimer workship with a friend. I have a hammer dulcimer (which I haven't touched or even gotten out of it's case in quite a while,) but my friend has the regular dulcimer which we played at the session tonight. I'll post pictures later tomorrow (or I guess..."today"...)

More Caregiving, Less Creativity

2009-08-10T23:42:00.010-04:00

OK, here's the deal. I've lost a brother, and now my Daddy is in a nursing facility due to a stroke. The transition has been tough, and I have petitioned to be his guardian. The court date is soon. In the meantime, I have been going to the facility at lunch and supper in order to ensure Daddy is able to eat his food. Problems include maculardegeneration loss of sight, dementia and stroke. I go to make sure the raised eating utensils arrive on the tray and that a suction plate or sectional plate is sent. Finally, that routine has been established and he is doing better.

SO... the creativity has been curbed for quite some time, now. I realize I need to create for my mental wellbeing.

SO... with that in mind, I am committing to creativing SOMETHING each day, large or small. Here's today's project:

Take one room-darkening curtain bought on sale at Lowe's,

Add a one and a half inch brown satin ribbon,

Add a second ribbon,

And you have coordinating curtains for the bedroom. Voila!

Now to find and commit to a project tomorrow...

The death of a brother

2009-07-27T23:48:00.004-04:00

On June 7, my 57 year old brother died unexpectantly. I am still in shock, but I am moving through the motions of life. My heart aches for my sister-in-law. How do you comfort someone who has now lost 2 husbands tragically?

What a man, what a loss...

New top

2009-05-06T22:48:00.003-04:00

What a treat! I helped a friend make a large tote bag and the bird pins shown on the blog earlier, and look what she made for me! This cute little top with fish print on the neckline.

As a crafter, you appreciate the time someone else puts into something made just for you. Thank you, Patti!

Prom dress

2009-05-02T22:03:00.002-04:00

I had a request to add straps to a friend's prom dress. Waechler's in Asheville had the perfect color ribbon! I thought it turned out well.

Beautiful!

Doggie Emergency!

2009-04-30T23:37:00.002-04:00

This is as much as we were able to read of our church newsletter. Guess who?!

Little Levi is quick and a little sneak! Being a weinie dog, he is not very tall, but since he is l-o-n-g, when he jumps up his little head can just reach over the seat cushion on the couch. So... his latest accomplishment has been to "snatch" anything his little teeth can reach. Hence, the tattered newsletter.

Then, tonight while I was at a meeting I got a concerned phone call from Alison that Levi acted like he had swallowed something that got stuck. I raced home from my meeting ( I had already decided if I saw a blue light in my rearview mirror the policeman would just have to follow me home!). I had Alison hold Levi while I checked in his mouth. 3 times. Couldn't see anything, but he would still twist his head, swirl his tongue around crazily, and I couldn't figure out if he had swallowed something or was having a seizure! I have already phoned our neighbors, who also have dogs, to come over. By the time they arrived I had checked Levi's mouth again, lifting his lips off the back portion of his teeth and found it...
...a piece of an electrical plastic tie that had held his new collar onto the packaging. His new, sharp back teeth pierced the square portion of the tie and was stuck on the tooth, with the 1/2 piece sticking out toward the back of his mouth on the side. It pulled right off, but it sure scared us to pieces!

Thank goodness for Alison calling me home, for the neighbors' quick response, and for the fact that he didn't swallow the thing! It really is like having a new baby/toddler in the house!

By the way, before the night was over, he pulled a 3 ring craft binder off the shelf and chewed through about 8 pages in 10 seconds. What a day!

Felt bird pins

2009-04-25T20:19:00.006-04:00

Taking a break from making over Alison's bedroom, a friend and I made these bird pins last night.

Aren't they cute?!

The idea for these pins came from the magazine "Haute Handbags" Spring 2009. They were listed in the magazine as a pouch. We decided to make them into pins.

Room Makeovers

2009-04-23T23:19:00.008-04:00

Since Alison's sister, Amber got married last May and moved to Wilmington, THE PLAN has been to move Alison into Amber's old bedroom, which is larger. 11 months later THE PLAN has now been put into action!

Original plan: While Alison is out of town visiting her sisters during spring break, we will move Alison's things into the spare bedroom, then move items stored in Amber's room into Alison's old room. It sounds relatively easy. NOT! When items were removed from Alison's room, the carpet was stretched out, dirty, and the walls were dark green and dingy (see picture above).

Plan B: Before moving items from Amber's room into Alison's old room, Bobby and I removed the wallpaper border, painted her room and trimwork, pulled up the carpet and padding, cleaned the hardwood floor, put down shoe molding, sanded and painted an old iron twin bed we had under the house, cleaned the windows, and voila! A new, clean room!

This is the hardwood floor after removing the carpet padding:

This is the hardwood floor after cleaning!

The newly painted iron bed with a new mattress...

Since this one room took a week to complete, Alison returned from spring break and her new room was not ready.

Plan B: Let Alison sleep in the new (old) room until the new (new) room is ready!

Stay tuned for decorating updates!

Easter baby bib

2009-04-09T15:08:00.002-04:00

Isn't this just the cutest thing?! My crafty neighbor made this out of a towel. She is really great about thinking outside the box. I would have never thought to use cabbage print with it. How clever!

I find myself too "same-old, same-old". The fabric I would have chosen would probably be some green and pink dotted fabric, or stripes, or plaid.

Beautiful job, Patti!

Flowers for the Caregiver!

2009-04-07T10:02:00.005-04:00

Aren't they beautiful? They're actually beautiful for two reasons. One, the spring colors are gorgeous. Two, they were a gift from Alison. This is the first time she has ordered something on her own, and she did it as a thank you for the help I give her (it may have been prompted by the all nighter I pulled helping her get a paper finished...). Regardless, I was touched by the gesture.

There are many days, as a caregiver, I feel taken for granted. I catch the brunt of her frustration, while her daddy received the hugs and kisses. I give my time to take her shopping all day, and she brings her daddy a treat. But that's just how it is, and has been, ever since her surgery for the brain tumor 13 years ago. Thankfully, there was a psychologist on staff in pediatric rehab, who explained that the caregiver always catches everything, because the patient knows that is the one person who will never leave them, no matter what.

Anyway, is sure was a nice gesture...and one that I have enjoyed for many days! Thank you, Alison.

Dogs on the beach!

2009-03-24T22:49:00.007-04:00

While in Wilmington Bobby and Lance took the dogs, Madison, Jinx and Levi to the beach! Dogs and vehicles are allowed at Carolina Beach.

Madison liked it!
Levi wasn't so sure...

And Jinx was already used to it. It was an interesting trip!

Doggie cousins

2009-03-20T14:36:00.004-04:00

Last weekend as we celebrated Amber's birthday in Wilmington, all of our dogs met for the first time.

There was Madison, from Asheboro...

Jinx from Wilmington...

And Levi from Forest City.
At first the larger dogs were a little overwhelming to Levi, so they were put in the bedroom with a baby gate to separate them.

But Levi thought he was a big as the other dogs and slipped right through to play with them.

Amber came up with the term "cuncle". Depending on whether Levi was mine and Bobby's dog, or Alison's dog, he would either be the other dogs' uncle or cousin. So he was called "cuncle".

And a good time was had by all!

Cardi Party!

2009-03-19T00:08:00.009-04:00

We went to Wilmington to celebrate Amber's birthday this past weekend. She had seen an article about a cardi-party on the Anthropologie website. Their employees took old cardigans and jazzed them up to create a new cardigan. So that is what she wanted to do for her birthday. Here are some pictures of the process...
And the finished products!

The "new" cardigans are so cool! We had a great time creating together. More pictures from the weekend will be coming soon!

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

2009-03-11T23:47:00.011-04:00

Ok. It's about 8:00 at night, and the precious little pup turns into Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (or as Bobby says, "Devil dog".) Guess the playful pup comes out at that time, because Levi races around the room as if he has taken speed. He nips and bites everything in sight (including us, if he can). We're really trying to teach "no bite". He obeys well until the devil hour each night.

But who would think this little fellow could be rowdy?

After all, he's lying still, isn't he?

What a little con artist.
What a sweet baby! We love you, Levi!

The "Ex"

2009-03-10T09:43:00.003-04:00

I am a visual person. So when I visited friends this weekend and saw this unique knife holder, I cracked up. Apparently it is named "The Ex". Makes a statement, don't you think?

Snow!

2009-03-09T16:23:00.005-04:00

With temperatures in the seventies today, I look back at last Monday. It began around 7:30 pm. Just a few flakes mixed in with the heavy rain. Then the flakes took over, and by 11:30 we had this beautiful winter wonderland dancing outside.

In my pajamas bundled up against the cold, I admired God's handiwork right outside my door.
The morning brought new adventures...Levi's first time in the snow.
Trees were adorned with gowns of white...

...with lace accents. Oh, beautiful snow!

Levi the puppy

2009-03-07T11:36:00.004-05:00

Levi likes his new toys!But sometimes he just likes to sit at your feet.
He has his very own placemat!

Having a puppy in the house is like having a new baby! We're crate training him. He loves to go outside, and does well about pottying outdoors, but he still has some accidents inside. Yesterday we played with him outside a lot. He loves to eat grass, leaves, etc. Must have eaten too much fiber, because he got Bobby up at 2:30 to go potty! But at least he let us know he needed to go out.
Isn't he cute?!!

Puppy in the house!

2009-02-27T23:46:00.005-05:00

They say as you get older you need to do something you've never done before. Well, we're doing it! For the first time ever, we have a dog in the house. We picked up little Levi this afternoon. He's a miniature chocolate/tan dachshund and 1/2 Shaded English Cream and is 8 weeks old. All evening he has been very cuddly and cute. Hope he sleeps all night!

We're going to be crate training him. So far today we've had 3 accidents inside and one success outside! But Levi seems very smart and eager to please. He already has Alison wrapped around his little finger (and me, too!). We're having to watch our step because he wants to be right with you, and he's so tiny we're afraid we'll step on him!

I'm sure there will be many pictures in the following days of our new little doggie Gantt family member!

Scrabble and Glass tile pendants

2009-02-18T22:13:00.003-05:00

Just what I need. Another new craft. But this one looks really exciting!

I've ordered a kit and tutorials to learn how to make pendants using scrabble tiles or glass tiles. The sky's the limit on the designs you can put on them, so I am very excited.

Did I tell you I'm excited? We'll see how they turn out. Stay tuned!

Learning more about blogging

2009-02-12T11:35:00.002-05:00

I'm trying to claim a blog on technorati.com. I got this info from etsy.com, under Etsy's Guide to Blogging. We'll see if this works!

Technorati Profile

Barbie doll clothes

2009-02-09T20:34:00.011-05:00

Grandma Jones' sewing was exquisite. Look at some of the Barbie doll clothes she made for me one Christmas...
decorative stitching on the hem...
ruffles sewn on with tiny stitches...
Even the armholes were sewn with tiny stitches (have you ever tried to sew around a Barbie dress armhole?!)...

She even remembered to sew for Ken. He got Donald Duck pajamas and robe!

Every part of the dresses had intricate details like this lace inset...

Lace hem... even the petticoat underneath had lace trim.

All snaps and buttons were sewn on by hand...

And all seams were finished off. No raw edges for Grandma!

As an adult, I like to study the details of her handiwork. As a child that Christmas, receiving a doll suitcase filled with Barbie doll clothes, all I could think was... "How did Grandma (who lived in Texas) know I was getting Barbie dolls for Christmas?!!!

Grandma Jones: The Ultimate Recycler

2009-02-07T09:49:00.005-05:00

My Grandma and Grandpa Jones lived during the depression and raised 6 children. Grandma became the ultimate recycler. They say she made furniture out of orange crates. When she died, her house was filled with boxes; but all contents were organized and carefully detailed on the outside of the box. There was literally a path between the boxes all through the house. I remember visiting and seeing nails framing the kitchen window. On the nails were the plastic tear off pieces from milk jugs, rubber bands, twist ties, etc. When I asked her why she had those, she said, "You never know when some kid at vacation bible school may need them!" When she died there were carefully folded brown paper bags in her deposit box. The banker said that was a sign she lived during the depression, and that a lot of depression survivors did the same thing.

She was the ultimate seamstress. When the clothes were worn out, she removed all the buttons, snaps and hooks. I am lucky to have a showbox full of her recycled treasures:
Decorative snaps: since she lived in Texas, there were plenty of snaps removed from cowboy shirts (notice the horseshoe and star design above)
Isn't it interesting that before they made child resistant lids, they warned you the lid was NOT child resistant!
The containers themselves are an interesting find: pill bottles, baby food jars, and an assortment of other bottles I can not identify.
She was precise in her storage as well as her stitching. (See the size of the snaps written on a piece of paper inside the jar?)

I always wanted to be like Grandma Jones because in my mind she could do ANYTHING...sew, crochet, knit, tat, make furniture... Had she lived longer I think we could have had a great time crafting together! Thanks for your craft legacy, grandma!

Recycling

2009-02-03T15:18:00.005-05:00

I hate to throw anything away. There's got to be a way to re-use it! Take this old sheet, for example. We received it as a wedding gift 31 years ago. The tatted edging is handmade. It keeps coming off in different spots, so it was time to snip it off...

And save it! It will find a new home on something else!

Magazine holder tutorial

2009-01-22T09:47:00.019-05:00

Here's the magazine holder tutorial as promised:

Materials:
Metal magazine holder
Fabric
Mod Podge
Foam brush
Duct tape
Paper towels

Start with a clean metal magazine holder.

You will be covering the front of the magazine holder, in this case, where the label would normally be.
Put duct tape behind the label holder (to avoid glue drips).

Measure height and width of the front piece to the exact measurement of your panel (there will be no overlapping over the edges).

Cut a strip of fabric the width and height of your panel. If using a rotary cutter and mat, cut a strip of fabric the width of your panel, then cut the long strip into rectangles the length of your panel.(If using a fabric with a distinct pattern, be sure to cut your panel accordingly so designs won’t be upside down or sideways!)

If you want to use a specific design from the fabric, you can “fussy cut” that design by making a plastic template the height and width of your front panel. Draw lines to mark the center of your template both vertically and horizontally. Place the template over your design, center, and trace with a pen. Cut around the drawn fabric panel.

Spread Mod Podge on the front panel with a foam brush, making sure to cover the entire front surface area.

Place cut fabric piece onto the glue area and smooth out any air bubbles. Coat the fabric with a top layer of Mod Podge, making sure to seal all sides of the fabric to the metal.

Wipe away any excess glue around all the edges.

Smooth the edges by gently pressing down with your finger, again going all the way around. As you smooth the edges with your finger, take care not to take away the glue. You are simply pressing edges down for a smooth finish.

Take the duct tape off the back of the panel. Wipe any excess glue that seeped through the label holes.

Although the mod podge will dry in about 20 minutes, I like to let it dry overnight for a secure finish.

Enjoy your new magazine holder!

Fun at the Movies

2009-01-17T22:58:00.004-05:00

I had the best time tonight! Some gals and I went to see the movie "Mall Cop". We thought it was absolutely hilarious. The theater was packed. Some initial reviews in magazines have not been favorable. (But that usually means I'll like it!). Kevin James gives a delighful and heartwarming performance. Although the story is not very realistic, the resulting belly laughs were therapeutic!

Energy saving idea

2009-01-14T22:59:00.002-05:00

Well, I didn't get the tutorial written today because extremely cold weather is a comin'! So instead, I caulked around our old storm windows. It's only a quick fix, because the windows really need replacing, but until that time, caulking will have to do.

Another thing I'm going to do is make draft stoppers. These are long tubes of cloth, semi weighted to put at the bottom of windows and doors to keep out cold air drafts. I'll take pictures when I get some finished. I've looked at some on etsy.com and craftsters.org to get some ideas. Stay tuned!

Cool magazine holders

2009-01-13T23:17:00.003-05:00

I love magazines. When one arrives in the mailbox I feel like I've got company (quiet company!). But storage eventually becomes a problem. Here's one of my newest remedies I'm trying...
Fabric covered metal magazine holders! A dear friend gave me some of these old metal holders and I'm experimenting. So far I love them!

I'll try to do a tutorial tomorrow so you can try it, too!

A new smile

2009-01-09T23:56:00.003-05:00

Although there is still some swelling to go down, and the "indention" (which we're calling a dimple) loosens up, we're seeing some good results from Alison's surgery.

The initial surgery to remove the malignant brain tumor 13 years ago left her face sagging on the left side. This surgery was to lift everything up. We call it the surgery to give Alison her smile back.

We are so thankful for friends and family who have been so supportive throughout this process. Thank you, all!

Surgery Checkup

2009-01-08T00:04:00.004-05:00

Alison got a good report from the Dr. today, and received another frequency specific microcurrents treatment. The swelling has really gone down, and we can see good results already. The side of her mouth is stitched up on the inside, to hold it up. She is concerned that she has a "dent", but we were assured it would soften in a few months. She was excited that she can wear lip gloss again. (Oh the lip gloss, and other makeup was packed for the trip in case she was able to wear it to the mall!)

A visit to the Dr. can never be a trip there and back. Alison and I have been at home since the December surgery, except for Dr. visits, so we were ready to get out into the world. We enjoyed shopping at South Park. There were not an abundance of sales, but we found a few goodies. My favorite part was visiting the new Barnes and Noble. As Alison said, "it has an upstairs!" Very nice. My gift certificate helped pay for 2 interesting books: "A is for Aprons" and "Felt, Fabric and Fiber Jewelry".

Love, love, love crafting books!

My Quilting Journey

2009-01-06T19:10:00.011-05:00

Once upon a time I lived in Kentucky with my new husband while he attended seminary. At the little country church he pastored, one of the young ladies there was majoring in home economics in college. As one of her projects she made a Lone Star quilt (or Star of Bethlehem).

I was so fascinated with her quilt I decided I would give it a try. This was the book the young lady suggested, that I still use today ("The Standard Book of Quiltmaking and Collecting" by Marguerite Ickis).

So I read the book, picked out the fabric, hand pieced and hand quilted the entire quilt. Years later I was told it was one of the hardest quilt designs to do because of the points that had to be matched. Oh, well. I guess if you don't know any better, it's amazing what you can accidentally do!

Lessons I learned from making my first quilt:

Inspiration is everything
If you want to do something bad enough, you'll do it
Quilting requires a lot of patience and "stick-to-it-ness"
Never let sunlight shine on your quilt for very long (see above)
Quilting is not just for old ladies (our young friend was in college, I was 21)
Quilting is addictive
One quilt is never enough
Everybody in your family has to have a handquilted quilt

My shop on etsy.com!

2009-01-04T00:28:00.004-05:00

I seem to do my best work around midnight!

I have wanted to put some handmade items on the website etsy.com, and I have started the process! Check out my items at www.rganttdesigns.etsy.com. This is a website strictly for people to sell their handmade items, vintage items, or craft supplies. Amber already has a shop there (www.designsbyber.etsy.com). We'll see if we can sell some of our creations during this economic crisis!

Scarf

2009-01-02T23:35:00.005-05:00

Well, I chose a project. I knitted this scarf out of some beautiful yarn I found in Asheville. I blocked it, but it still wants to roll up. Any suggestions out there?

Christmas Eve, while my husband was gone to his family gathering, and I was home with Alison, I crocheted him a black scarf. Alison didn't want any lights on, so I crocheted by the light of the Christmas tree. I had to put a yellow pillow under my work so I could see what I was doing. It hasn't fallen apart, yet!

Ashley and Amber have gone back home, now. It sure was nice having them here. What a treat to have Amber for 2 weeks! She was so helpful with Alison and kept everyone's spirits up. Thank you both for your support, girls!

And now it's a new year. Some of my goals are:

help Alison get 3 more classes under her belt this semester

keep the house cleaner

get rid of some physical clutter in the house

let go of some emotional clutter

sell items on etsy.co, (I'm registered there now! I'm working on uploading pictures. It will be http://rganttdesigns.etsy.com/

read more, watch tv less

be more supportive of my husband

lose weight

find ways to be more frugal

eat healthier

spend more time with friends

Happy New Year!

New projects

2008-12-30T23:32:00.006-05:00

Alison is doing much better. Amber has been "shopping" in my sewing room. I've been saving tee-shirt remnants, and some remnants a lady gave me. Look at what she has created in the past few days...

How cute are they?! She will make baby quilts to sell. I admire her spunk to get right in there and get things done. I feel like I'm still recuperating from my week of finishing up quilt orders before Christmas.

She has inspired me to do something new and creative. We'll see what I can come up with!

Christmas surgery update

2008-12-27T19:30:00.007-05:00

Well, this will be a Christmas to remember (or forget!). Alison had surgery for the left side of her face December 22. In pre-op we had fun with the beautiful surgery hats.

Alison was more nervous this time than any of her other surgeries. I guess when you have been there and done that, you know what's coming and dread it a little more.

I find myself getting into Mama Bear mode at times like this. Anesthesia came in and started talking about semi-awake intubation. I said absolutely not. She was not to know anything. They were concerned about her mouth not opening very wide, and I assured then she had several other surgeries and it had never been a problem. They could not get an IV started, so I suggested they give her something to relax, then start the IV in the operating room (which they have done before).

They normally let me come to the recovery room with her when she starts to wake up, but they did not do that this time, so I was chomping at the bit. Finally, when she was in a room, the nurse called and said she was calling for her mama (I knew she would be! If they would have just let me go back she would have calmed down faster). I try to make sure those working with her understand some of her situation...like not being able to hear well because the hearing aids would be out, she's an extremely hard stick (but they always assure me they can get an IV in). Then when they can't, I tell them they need to go to plan B.
They have a new tracking system so you can see when they are in 1) pre-op, 2) in the operating room and 3) in the recovery room.

We've been back to the Dr. twice for frequency specific microcurrent treatments for her face. Yesterday was traumatic for her. Her lips were sticking together. The Dr. cleaned and forced her lips apart, then scrubbed the incision on her head where the staples were. She was screaming and crying, I was holding her hands, trying to answer questions. "Burt's Bees would be good on her lips." (That's what that is on her lips...Burt's bees). "She needs to get in the shower every day" (She HAS been in the shower). "She needs to be up and moving around or the swelling won't go down". (Both eyes were totally swollen shut Christmas Day, so we were leading her just to get to the bathroom). I had placed a gauze under the actipatches on her face to catch yellow leakage, which we thought was from the ointment for a place on her cheek where she had a reaction from some tape. "The actipatch can't work with that gauze underneath it". Then when all the tape, gauze and actipatches were taken off, it was obvious that the one piece of tape that had been left on her face to help hold it up was causing a reaction, too. The oozing was from her face, not the ointment. (I had shown the place to the nurse Wednesday is why we put the ointment on it). I felt like I was defending anything that had been done for her at home. I came home yesterday and cried, feeling like a horrible mother. (If you're reading this Cheryl, please know I appreciated your gentleness and care for her!).

They sent her home from the hospital taking maximum doses of Ibuprofen. That did not take care of the pain and they had to call in some medicine, which has helped get her over the hump. Today has been her best day so far. The swelling is going down. Amber says Alison has a Chinese eyes right now with Angelina Jolie lips!

We're grateful Alison had the best Dr. for all her surgeries. We're thankful for nurses who give that extra ounce of care. We're so blessed with friends that have prayed for Alison and sent cards and text messages with support.

This Christmas season, as we celebrate the birth of Christ and rejoice in the miracle of his birth, life and resurrection, we give thanks for 13 years of miracles for Alison.

To anyone who has ever shown kindness to our child, this mother and father hold you dear in our hearts.

Marking off Christmas orders

2008-12-18T23:21:00.005-05:00

Well, I've finished 2 pocketbooks...

and a quilt in memory of a precious 2 year old that was accidentally run over.

At this stage of the game, I'm pushing on with sheer adrenaline from Sunkist!

Now, it's on to 3 lap quilts!

The gift of pimento cheese

2008-12-17T23:50:00.002-05:00

Look at one of our Christmas gifts: homemade pimento cheese! And in a cute little dish!

For whatever reason, since I have been sick, I have not wanted to eat sweets (that's highly unusual!). So this little dish really tasted good to me.

One thoughtful lady at church brought some homemade potato soup (Paula Deen's recipe). Man, is it ever tasty! With my stomach flipping out because of the antibiotics, eating has become a quiz show: will it taste good? will it settle? will I regret eating this?!?

At least I think the worst of it is over. Finally!

The girls are coming home Friday. I want to get my quilt orders finished so we can spend time together. So that means... I'd better get back to work!

Out of commission

2008-12-15T22:37:00.002-05:00

It's nice to be missed! A friend actually called me today because I had not blogged since December 4. Thanks, Ha-He! Basically there are three reasons:

1 Final exams
2 Christmas orders to fill
3 Illness

Alison did well finishing all her classes. We're glad to be finished for the semester!

I still have Christmas orders to fill. I am way behind due to number 3, illness.
Wham! Out of the clear blue last Monday night I had fever, chills and achiness. Felt so bad I thought I'd better go ahead to the Dr. on Tues. Started an antibiotic. Each day I felt worse, not better. Same story. Fever, chills and achiness. No appetite. Went back to the Dr. on Friday. They changed my antibiotic. And, they did a flu test. (Have you ever had one of those? They stick that long q-tip up your nostril until they halt just short of your brain. At least it feels that way) FINALLY, today I have no fever. Feel better, but just totally drained.

Alison's surgery is next Monday, December 22. So we take her to Charlotte tomorrow for 2 pre-op appointments. So there goes tomorrow's sewing.

Well, I've done it in the past, I can do it again. Mrs. Santa has stayed up many nights finishing projects. She made a whole wardrobe of Cabbage Patch clothes one year, a diaper bag, and a strap-on carrier. But she's getting older and slower, now!

That said, I'm going to bed.

When God's Will is Like a White Peacock

2008-12-04T09:51:00.007-05:00

Previously, I've mentioned that Amber is searching for a job. There seems to be nothing available in her field, art and design, and textile technology. And now there are hiring freezes in the job market. So she has checked out other job possibilities, and interviewed with Verizon about a customer service job. She did well on the test, interviewed well, and now has received a letter that they will pursue other candidates.

God's will for our lives is revealed in many ways, more than likely not in our time frame, and not in the way we might expect.

When I closed a sewing business making country jumpers and collars, I prayed, "God, if you want me to work at another job soon you'll have to let them knock at my back door!"

Don't ever tease with God unless you want to be teased back. God has a sense of humor! Shortly after that prayer a neighbor knocked (yes, on my back door), and asked if I would work at the high school that summer as one of the teachers for their Jump Start program (a program that helps students who may be a little behind get a "jump start" on the next school year).

Just like the peacock in the picture above is not the colorful peacock we normally see, God, knowing what's best for us, may reveal his will in totally unexpected ways. Like a neighbor knocking on your back door.

So here's God's promise about our futures:

Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Quilt orders

2008-12-03T22:06:00.010-05:00

Now that the house is decorated for Christmas, the race is on to get quilt orders finished! Here are some in progress:

Ready to be quilted:

Almost ready to be put together:

Vintage dresses carefully taken apart:

Pictures printed onto fabric:
Never a dull moment!

Decorating for Christmas

2008-11-30T22:20:00.014-05:00

Every other year we alternate between putting up a live tree and putting up a pre-lit tree. This is the year of the live tree. Since Bobby no longer has his little gray truck (which died a dignified death), we were left with the van to get the tree home. No rack on top. So what do you do? You put down the back seat, spread an old sheet in the back, and lay your new live tree on top. (Thank goodness the tree was wrapped in netting for the trip home!)

Since Amber was not here this year to wear the reindeer antlers, I wore the antlers and Alison wore the pink Santa hat. (You gotta wear the antlers and hat when decorating! It's tradition!)
Then, you start making party mix in the electric frypan so the house smells delicious! The next step is to order pizza for supper.

The tree is top priority. Get the lights on, then the ornaments, then the ribbons and bows.

Then you move on to the other parts of the house. Like the fireplace decorated with the white ceramic madonna and child...

...and the nativity set that the girls all want (I guess when Bobby and I die the Holy Family will be split 3 ways! And what's funny - it's just an inexpensive set from "Christmas Around the World" that I bought years ago.)

This year we put a tree on the back porch...

...so that Bobby could have his very own Christmas tree...

...with his very own ornaments (M & M's, Krispy Creme, the Pillsbury Doughboy, Tarheel ornaments, smores ornaments...)!

This year we added 2 small trees by the front door (Garden Ridge..half price!), and new bows on all the wreaths.

A good and productive weekend. Now there's time to enjoy the season!

Christmas Shopping

2008-11-26T22:11:00.012-05:00

Today hubby and I went to Winston Salem Christmas shopping. This was the beginning of our day:

And this is the end of our day.

He's a good sport about shopping. If things take too long, he can always lay his seat back in the van and take a little nap (which he did)!

One of our main missions was to visit the Master's Loft christian bookstore. They are always so helpful and kind. We found some really neat books!

I think it's beneficial for husbands to go shopping with their wives every once in a while. It helps them appreciate "the hunt" and "frugal shopping" we do (even if it takes forever and kills you in the process)!

I'm thankful for many things, but today I am especially thankful for my good husband.

Radio Play

2008-11-25T22:10:00.003-05:00

I'll admit it. I'm spoiled. I'm a visual learner. I enjoy looking at pictures, whether they are in a magazine or on a movie screen.

Tonight was a new experience, but one many older folks could relate to. The radio play "It's a Wonderful Life" was presented at our local community college. We "watched" actors "present" Frank Capra's story as if they were on live radio. Four people did the acting and all the sound effects. It was obvious they were very talented. My favorite was the actress who could do a little girl's voice ("Teacher said, everytime a bell rings an angel gets his wings") and then immediately be able to do the sultery voice of Viola. I found myself closing my eyes periodically so I could focus on the story instead of letting my eyes drift around the theatre. Thank you, friend, for the tickets to an enjoyable evening with my fellow!

On a final note, my frustration of the day involved a sewing machine. Amber has borrowed my spare sewing machine since hers crashed, and today it did not want to sew a zigzag stitch. We conversed on the phone several times and finally concluded Plan B was needed. At least she is creative enough to know other ways to do things!

Mixed up Messy day

2008-11-24T23:08:00.002-05:00

Ok. Here's today's events.

It rained, it was cold.

I spend an hour at Verizon. No, they can not put ringtones from your old phone on your new phone. (Bummer. Now I can't find the Six Flags song anymore!)

Went to the Doctor. I have a bladder infection. (At least I got medicine before everybody is off for Thanksgiving!)

Got half of a computer on-line assignment done with Alison.

Fixed supper from items bought through the Angel Ministries. (Not bad!)

Served refreshments at church for people coming to hear the VanderWals tonight. Not a very large crowd, but man, the ones who did not come sure missed a HUGE blessing! Harry and Echo can make you feel like you are right there ministering with them. And we can! (I've sent some old glasses to them before. Check out their website, www.thelukecommission.org for ways you can help!)

Watched "Heroes". I thought tonight's show was a little better than some in the past weeks.

And now I'm going to bed. Tomorrow, more homework, and more sewing!!!

The Luke Commission

2008-11-23T23:56:00.010-05:00

There are times when you hear about something and think, "Well, that would be impossible!"

Harry and Echo VanderWal are doing the impossible through the guidance of God. This couple and their 4 boys (3 are triplets), spend a large portion of each year in Swaziland, Africa.

This country has been ravaged by Aids. It is becoming a country of orphans, due to the death of so many young people between ages 17 and 30. Average life expectancy there is 32. 32!! Grandparents are raising small children, or else the children have no one to care for them.

Enter the VanderWals. They both majored in medicine in college. They both felt the call to missions. They take a mobile medical clinic with them to the Swaziland people. The travel is trecherous and rough, the hours are long, but they exude love and confidence when sharing their story.

Their ministry ranges from testing for HIV, distributing medicine, finding the closest match of eyeglasses to people who haven't seen clearly in years; giving out Bibles, clothing, and shoeboxes filled with items for the children, showing the Jesus film, and telling the people about the Hope they can find through Jesus Christ.

The VanderWals spoke at our church tonight. Harry sang, Echo played the piano, the boys sang and recited scripture, and then they answered questions. They will be there again tomorrow night at 7:00 (Florence Baptist Church, Forest City, NC; in case someone reading this would like to attend).

The most moving moment for me tonight was when Echo read Psalm 23. After hearing their stories, I could visualize them reading this scripture for the Aids patients as they die. It made me appreciate this scripture passage in a new way.

It's hard to convey what you personally see and hear. I would challenge you to look at their website at www.thelukecommission.org.

Shopping

2008-11-23T00:13:00.010-05:00

Today was shopping day. The plan was for Alison and me (plus 2 others) to go to the Christmas show in Charlotte. 2 dropped out and then there was Alison and me.

So we left home about 11:00 and headed for Charlotte. But we stopped in Gastonia on the way to get a few Christmas gifts at the mall. THEN we headed to Charlotte for the Christmas Show. I took it as a good sign that I was able to enter the first entrance road (last year we had to go past the Merchandise Mart about a half a mile to park, then walk back to the show). Well, the good sign still turned out to be a good hike. A school across from the Christmas Show was letting cars park there (for the same amount as the show...$5.00) as a school fund-raiser. So we be-bopped in, thinking we had a real deal and was helping others at the same time. Several grassy areas later, we finally got to park. And walk.
Then we entered the Christmas Show with about a zillion other people. It was shoulder to shoulder movement most of the time. Not fun. After we checked out the doll shop and Frame House Gallery (peering over people's heads as we passed booth after booth), Alison and I decided we would just like to buy the cinnamon pecans and get out of there. (We got Bobby his very own bag of pecans, and some apple streudel!) Then we would go to Concord Mills Outlets.

The other zillion people were at Concord Mills Outlet. I exited to the right, first, to go to Garden Ridge because of some sale items I had seen on TV. After I couldn't find what I was looking for, I ran down a clerk and asked my questions. No,they did not have one single roll of outdoor ribbon (which is what I went there for, of course). But I finally found some small Christmas trees to put on either side of the front door at a ridiculously low price. Then Alison needed a Mountain Dew. Well, you have to find a fast food place that serves Mountain Dew, not Coke. Since she was familiar with the designated Dew servers, we crossed over the mall boulevard to get to Kentucky Fried Chicken for a Mountain Dew. Wrong move. As we turned into the KFC road, there were 4 fire engines there, in front of the hotels. Luckily, we were able to squeeze in and go through the drive-through and get the needed Dew.

However, when exiting KFC to get back onto the mall boulevard, it took, oh, approximately 20 minutes to do that because now there was a fender bender on the road out of KFC. Of course there were a lot of idiots racing across roads, zigzagging their way to wherever it was they HAD to get to. Some nice gentleman finally let us out and we made our way down the mall boulevard. Way down the boulevard. I needed a sewing item from the SEW MUCH FUN store just past Concord Mills. But when it was time to get in the left lane to turn into that strip mall, I was not able to get in the left lane before the light. So I went to the next light, made a U-turn, and finally made it to the sewing store. Got the stuff, after promising Alison I would only get that one item and nothing else. To prove my sincerity I had to leave Alison in the car with the motor running.

Next step, find a parking place at the Outlets. I always try to park near Books a Million, just so I can remember the general area where I parked. So I did. Only I was almost to the service station at the end of the parking lot. But it was a straight shot to Books a Million!

Many stores later, (and me working Sudoku on benches and stools while Alison shopped), we left when the mall closed at 9:30 pm. Alison did not want Chick-fil-A again, so we opted to wait until Gastonia to go to Bojangles. When we arrived in Gastonia, we drove through a just-closed Bojangles. So we drove on to Shelby and found a McDonalds open. Our shopping trip ended when we got home around 11:15 pm. So you could say we put in a 12 hour day. Whew!

So who do you think bought the most:

Alison

or me?
The day was fun, tiring, and profitable. Our Christmas list is shorter, and we had a safe trip there, and there, and there, and back. Goodnight.

P.S. I found the outdoor ribbon at A.C. Moores!

Finishing photo quilt 2

2008-11-21T19:27:00.008-05:00

So how do I make a photo quilt? First, I soak PFD (prepared for dyeing) fabric in Bubble Jet solution in a plastic container, according to the directions.

When dry, I iron butcher paper to the fabric and cut into 8 x 11 sheets. I use Jasc Paint Shop Pro to get my pictures ready for printing. Then I print the pictures directly onto the fabric.

Some helpful hints: Cut your 8 x 11 sheets slightly smaller, and cut off the top corners before printing. This helps it go through the printer easier.

Here, I've added strips between the picture rows, and squared up all the edges.

Then, I use Sullivan's Quilt Basting Spray to put the muslin back, batting (80/20), and top together. Then I press the front and the back really well to get out all wrinkles.

I added a floral border, then used the burgundy print for the binding.

A muslin sleeve hanger is attached to the top back edge.

All that's left is to trim all threads, hand stitch the sleeve hanger down, then add the label. Yeah!

Photo Quilt 2

2008-11-20T23:52:00.004-05:00

Ok. Here's a quick blog post before today becomes tomorrow...

Same pictures as the green and blue photo quilt...

...but different colors.

Here are the other fabrics auditioning for use in this quilt...

Stay tuned tomorrow for further progress!

Photo Quilt progress

2008-11-19T16:50:00.006-05:00

Let's frame some pictures in blue fabric...

Then add come green fabric blocks...Then add a thick and thin border...
And it's ready for the binding and trimming stray threads! Hurray! Now it's time to do another one with the same pictures, just other colors.....

Wedding Pictures

2008-11-18T08:51:00.009-05:00

When you are a participant in a wedding you are not always aware of things going on around you. That is why pictures are so important...to capture those times you are otherwise busy.

This particular picture is precious to me. Our girls have always been "Daddy's girls". Bobby waving goodbye to his daughter leaving the wedding is so symbolic. She was leaving in a fun vehicle with her new husband starting the next phase of her life. Bobby was waving goodbye to his daughter and starting another phase of his life, the empty nest.

Pictures have always been important in our life. When Alison dealt with her brain tumor, pictures documented every step. When Ashley went to college, the picture of her hugging her Daddy before he left could be a poster of separation anxiety. Wedding pictures from both Ashley and Amber's wedding are priceless.

Another set of pictures I would not take a million dollars for is the wedding video my brother and his wife made of Amber and Lance's wedding. Every aspect of the wedding was captured on film: the rehearsal, the rehearsal dinner, pre-wedding shots, the actual ceremony, the reception, and the leaving from the church.

If you are interested in a professional video of a special event, contact them at rick-josey-productions.com. You'll be glad you did!

Avalanche!

2008-11-17T10:02:00.005-05:00

Just when I had one area of the house organized, it came crashing down! I was so proud to have all my craft books and magazines in one area, categorized, and a list put on the computer. Then Saturday night I heard BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! I raced to Alison's room, thinking things in her closet had fallen on her, but she said, "What was that?" I ran to our bedroom, and there was all my organization exploded to kingdom come. Bobby had just gone to bed and turned the light out when everything collapsed. He thought his time had come to meet Saint Peter! Guess that's what I get for trying to use what I had (particle board shelves). The weight of all the books and magazines never entered my mind.
So this is how I spent my Sunday afternoon. The craft library is no longer categorized, but at least it is cleaned up and stacked on the shelves until I have a large block of time to sort through it again. Think they would let me appear on Mission Organization on HGTV?

Birthdays, Thanksgiving and Grandpuppies!

2008-11-16T21:20:00.018-05:00

This weekend we celebrated Bobby and Alison's birthdays in Asheboro. Big Al is now 20 years old! We gave her a basket of "20" things...20 pieces of purple bubble gum, 20 combos, 20 straws, 20 Elmer's glue, 20 pennies, 20 one dollar bills, $20 worth of itunes, 20 handmade cards, 20 blowpops, and 20 pictures of turkeys. Fun!

Friday night we ate at Olive Garden. Luckily Amber had the Tide pen!

While we were in Greensboro we just had to stop at Target! Ashley's foot is still swollen from having a mole removed. Thank goodness for wheelchairs!
A stop at Old Navy was necessary to get the traditional matching Christmas pajamas!

We had a lot of delicious food this weekend. Ashley made a trifle that was absolutely scrumptuous.

Amber cooked spaghetti. Just the smell while it was cooking made our mouths water! Wish I had remembered to take a picture of that!

We played Scattergories. Some of us needed to team up together! (Where's that eagle on the map, Ashley?!?)

Lance was our technician to set up Alison's new Wii Mario cart game. I'll be ready to beat him in the trucks Excite game this Christmas!

Brandon was a gracious host and insisted on cleaning up after lunch. He's been the sweetest husband taking care of Ashley while she recuperates from her foot surgery. I understand he has now become her physical therapist to wean her away from the walker, crutches and cane!

Then there were the precious grandpuppies. They enjoyed playing together and gave us all a lot of laughs! See how they are in constant motion, even in the pictures?!

Well, here we are, the proud grandparents of the puppies (even though one puppy, who will remain anonymous, jumped on me while I was asleep on the couch then sprang off of my head!). Bobby is holding Jinx and I am holding Madison.

Thank you, Lance, Amber and Jinx, for driving 3 hours to meet us for the weekend, cooking, and generally working hard. Thank you, Ashley, Brandon and Madison for hosting the entire crowd. Happy Thanksgiving!

Photo quilt

2008-11-13T20:32:00.003-05:00

I'm in the midst of working on Christmas orders. The order I worked on today requires family photos printed onto fabric, then pieced together with country blues and greens. So into my stash I went...
Which ones will be chosen?
The winners are..........

Ta da! More pictures coming as it progresses...

Dear Friends

2008-11-11T09:41:00.004-05:00

When time goes by and you don't see someone for a while, it can be awkward trying to find something to say. Not with these friends. It's as if we were just picking up a conversation where we left off. It was a treat to celebrate DH's birthday with Harry and Marie, or as our daughters affectionately call them, "Ha-He and Marie".

Good friends, good food!

Babysitting

2008-11-09T17:26:00.004-05:00

Alison babysits the cutest children...Payton is four, loves Minnie Mouse, art projects and Princesses. Parker is almost two and loves Micky Mouse, and lawn mowers. He's really starting to put words together..."Bobby lawn mower mow grass?" If we go anywhere we have to drive through town and see the lone lawn mower in front of the Western Auto store. Bet he won't even like lawn mowers when he is older!

Here's my latest tee shirt order completed. Whew! Now on to the other orders that must be done before Christmas....

Thanksgiving and the new Grandpuppy

2008-11-06T14:06:00.004-05:00

Well, we have a new grandpuppy! Her name is Jinx. We'll get to see her in a week when we all converge in Asheboro for DH's birthday, YD's birthday, and Thanksgiving.

This is a new chapter for us. We've told the girls that we'll be glad to celebrate anytime. It doesn't have to be the "day of" a holiday. So next weekend we'll have our first spaghetti supper Thanksgiving. We would rather spend our time together instead of cooking. Then on Thanksgiving Day we'll meet with DH's family for the traditional meal, and probably the following Saturday for my family's meal.

We're in our Empty Nest Syndrome now. When the girls said "I do", the family dynamics changed forever. But hey, that was my goal...to raise "Independant Women". They are, and I'm so proud of them. So next weekend we'll break bread together for Thanksgiving (Texas toast) and play with our 2 new Grandpuppies. Thank you, God, for Your generous blessings to our family!

Fireproof Movie

2008-10-31T00:30:00.002-04:00

This weekend my husband, daughter and I were privileged to spend the weekend in the beautiful mountains near Old Fort. While there, we played games and watched movies.

The first movie we watched was Facing the Giants. When it began, it was in black and white. We thought maybe at some point it would become color..you know, maybe an older movie look. When it did not become color, my husband said, "maybe there's a color button on the remote". YD (youngest daughter) and I thought that was the funniest thing ever. The movie never showed in color, and there was not a "color button" on the remote.

Anyway, last night DH (darling husband) and I saw the movie Fireproof. If you have not seen it, I highly recommend it. I came away from the movie taking a good look at my life and my marriage, and wanting to make it better. I am fascinated that a church in Georgia made this movie on a low budget, and used church members as actors! Kirk Cameron (from Growing Pains) was dynamic as the main character.

Check out more information at www.fireproofthemovie.com.

I look forward to seeing more pictures from this movie group!

Tee-shirt Baby Quilt

2008-10-22T23:25:00.003-04:00

Quilts are one of my passions. I love to see, touch, feel, design, and create them. They're one of the things that make me pause and take notice.

The design above is a block from a quilt md (middle daughter) made as a gift for a friend. Recycling old tee-shirts and creating them into something new is a fun hobby. The cotton is extremely soft to the touch, and the design possibilities are endless. Visit her website at http://designsbyber.googlepages.com/.

I currently have many quilt orders to complete before Christmas. I just love a challenge!

University of Tennessee football

2008-10-20T13:12:00.007-04:00

I'll admit it. I'm not a sports fan. I didn't grow up watching sports, and even though I was a tomboy, I only played church softball as a teenager.

This weekend we were treated to a University of Tennessee football game. Boy was I overwhelmed! Orange everywhere! Die hard Tennessee fans. I loved the band and the halftime show. And did you know there are 120 colored blocks at each end of the football field?

And there are security guards wearing yellow jackets on field level checking out the people in the stands? And their mascot is Smokey the Dog, and they actually have a real dog mascot? And the male cheerleaders can do a backflip from a standing still position? And 2 majorettes twirl batons with real fire? And they sell nachos and cheese?

Oops. Guess I just revealed what I was doing during the ballgame.

My husband, a true sports fan (actually a Carolina Tarheels fan), thoroughly enjoyed the game and free Mayfield ice cream.

It was a wonderful experience that we thoroughly enjoyed. Hey, I hear they sometimes give away free bites of steak....

Cleaning up in the Sewing Room

2008-10-17T23:38:00.006-04:00

I have trouble keeping things put up. My husband is a type A personality, so my "stuff" drives him crazy. (Sometimes his perfectionism drives me crazy!)

The old sewing room (as well as the entire house) has been in overload, since we have had 2 weddings in a year and a half. There have been days I thought the house would just explode from my creative stuff, moving home from college stuff, wedding stuff....

Ta da!

I've gotten one corner cleaned up! The projects I'm currently working on are in project boxes on the black shelves. And I can actually use my cutting table now! It's a start. Stay tuned for another corner transformation!

Tee shirt quilts

2008-10-16T11:12:00.003-04:00

"I'm not a pack rat, I'm a collector"

That's what one of my favorite tee shirts has on the front, a gift from a dear friend who understands my need to repurpose things.

I enjoy making quilts for people from old clothes, tee shirts, old blankies, etc. As I work with each set of clothes, I wonder at their lives, who they were, what they used to do... The people who bring me their sentimental items have wonderful stories to tell about their loved ones. It's personal. It's challenging. It's fun.

A carrot, an egg, and a cup of coffee story

2008-10-15T11:38:00.004-04:00

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word. In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.

Turning to her daughter, she asked, ' Tell me what you see.' 'Carrots, eggs, and coffee,' she replied. Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg. Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, 'What does it mean, mother?'

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, they softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

'Which are you?' she asked her daughter. 'When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart? Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

Long distance care

2008-10-14T20:47:00.005-04:00

I remember several years ago when our oldest daughter went to South Africa on a 10 day mission trip. We received a phone call about 2:00 am our time. "Mama, I'm sick. I'm throwing up. What do I do?" Well, what can a mama do except give advice when there's an ocean between you? I told her to take Pepto Bismal, drink liquids when she could tolerate them, rest as much as she could. Who can go back to sleep after a call like that?

So the next day I waited for a call hoping to hear that she was better. No call. No call the next day either. In fact, there were no more phone calls again before she arrived back in the states. I finally figured she either died or got better. Luckily she got better!

Last night around 10:30 pm I received a call from our oldest once again with a health issue. She had several places removed from her skin, went back for further excising of one site two weeks ago, and now that site had become very painful.

As I was asking her questions like Is the place red? Do you have a fever? Is the site warm to the touch? Does it look infected? I was logging onto my favorite medical site for information (thank you technology). Then, thanks to email, I asked her to take a picture of the wound and send it to me.
Yes, it was red. Yes, it was starting to look infected. But the good news was, the actual incision was healing nicely. The redness and "white places" were where the stitches were coming out of her skin. I told her it looked like the stitches were tight and pulling on her skin, and she might be allergic to the stitches themselves. Clean it with the peroxide mixture before going to bed, and be on the doorstep of the doctors office when they opened in the morning to have it checked.

She did it, they checked it, they said what I said.

So tell me, where does a mother get medical knowledge? Experience (scooter accident, swing set ladder fall, slide incident, tongue cut from a lollipop, lego imprinting (you don't even want to know...), wives tales from our mothers, reading (magazines, novels, pamphlets in doctors offices), the internet, listening to other people's tales and injuries...

I would give anything to take away their pain when my children are suffering. But then there would be no "carrot, egg, coffee" story. I'll think I'll save that one for tomorrow...

Visiting other churches

2008-10-13T11:05:00.006-04:00

While visiting the newleyweds in Wilmington this weekend we visited a new church in their area called Port City Community Church. As you can see, it is very contemporary in both design of the building as well as how the church operates. The church started as a small gathering, meeting in a school and old theaters, and now they meet in this incredible building.

The large sanctuary houses a stage with musical instruments. When you first enter, it looks like there are pipe organ pipes on stage. At closer inspection, they are actually PVC pipes suspended from the ceiling!

One area, called The Living Room, is designed for small group meetings to discuss critical questions. The church focuses on the 20-30 age bracket, those coming back to their faith, or those coming with questions about faith for the first time.
Downtown Wilmington has a cafe called the Trolley House. They have many variations on the hotdog...including a "hamburger hotdog" (hamburger rolled into the shape of a hotdog)! We could see the U.S.S. North Carolina ship from the patio. Maybe next time we can take a tour of the ship!

We ate brunch at a fantastic restaurant that had different food stations: eggs, bacon, sausage, gravy, hashbrowns; fruit and salad bar; pastry table; and fresh omelet and waffle bar. The food was aesthetically pleasing to the eye and satisfying to the tummy!

Having the opportunity to visit with our daughter and son-in-law and seeing their apartment, where they live, see their church... it all helps alleviate some of the "empty nest" feelings. Especially since we are 6 hours away from them now.

We're proud of them and excited about their future!

County Fair time!

2008-10-09T13:53:00.009-04:00

Once a year our family goes to the Cleveland County Fair. We pretty much have our ritual down pat. First we walk through the Exhibit Hall. We mainly look at the sewing and needlecraft section. Our youngest, Alison entered a baby blanket and won second place! When learning the double crochet stitch, she altered it a little and actually came up with a even prettier stitch!

Then we get fresh french fries. Two in our family like to put vinegar on theirs, but I prefer mine plain with lots of salt!

We always have to see the animals. The highlight used to be a huge sow and her piglets, but she hasn't been there in a while... So we enjoy the horses....

And the baby chicks!

After eating a funnel cake, we get cotton candy, a candied apple, and head back home. What fun!

Relay for Life

2008-09-22T15:02:00.004-04:00

Well, this year's Relay for Life was a success! Rutherford County raised almost $200,000! Our church raised over $14,000. Alison raised almost $1500 herself! She takes this very seriously. She sent out letters with updates on her condition, and had a yard sale to raise money for Relay. It's hard to believe that it has been almost 13 years since her initial surgery!

In many ways it seems like just yesterday we received the life changing news, then at other times it seems like it all happened so long ago... We have so much to be thankful for.

As the TV show, "Survivor" starts back, it reminds us of our own Survivor Story. In many ways we all feel like survivors, just making it through another day, especially with the economy taking a nosedive. But to survive from the deadly "C" word is Survivor with a capital "S". We're proud of you, Alison!

Knots

2008-09-19T15:25:00.005-04:00

Don't you just hate knots? Most people do. But I have a confession... I love to untangle knots! (weird, I know!). I've always enjoyed puzzles. I was even working a puzzle the morning I went into labor with my third child! (My nesting instinct was GET THAT PUZZLE DONE!).

I think "untangling" is characteristic of my personality. I love to "fix" things. Help solve problems. Mediate situations. It takes time. It takes patience. I'm learning lots and lots of patience.

As I help tutor Alison with her college classes I've had to learn to put things down and focus on something else. Come back to it later. Put it down again. Refocus on the next thing.

Well now I have a knot to untangle. I'll put up my feet, settle in on the couch and coax the tangles out of the yarn. Ahhh.

Whoops, time to refocus!

Life is not Fair

2008-09-09T13:25:00.007-04:00

When I read about the trials of Job, I waver between my admiration for his solid faith and devotion to God, and pity for a man who would not blame God when he lost livestock, servants, his sons and his daughters, his wealth, and finally his good health. And as a final blow, he was left with a negative wife. Ridiculous.

As we wrapped up a law suit this week (which we felt was totally unwarranted) as a result of our youngest daughter's accident a year ago, I was a bundle of nerves as we approached mediation. My husband was physically sick.

Before the mediation I was reminded by a dear friend of the verse in Psalms 55:22: "Give your burdens to the Lord and He will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall." Or as the New Century Version says, "Give your worries to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will never let good people down."

Could something this simple be true? Either I believe it or I don't.

So yesterday before we left home for the mediation, I shared that bible verse with Alison and prayed with her. As much as I hate to see someone, especially my child go through terrible times, I am reminded that my duty as a Christian mother is to teach and model faith. I want to have a strong faith. Even a ridiculous faith like Job!

Moving in the Rain

2008-09-02T14:42:00.008-04:00

Have you seen the movie "Singing in the Rain"? Well, we could have made a movie entitled "Moving in the Rain"! I helped the newlyweds move to Wilmington. The day of the move we had "monsoon" kind of rain! We stopped in Asheboro to load up some more things. The storage rows were so close together, we couldn't get the big moving truck down the row. My other son-in-law, Brandon backed his pickup to the storage unit. We loaded everything onto the pickup, drove to the u-haul and unloaded. Then we took the pickup to a smaller storage unit and repeated the whole process. But you know what? I think we moved everything a lot faster because of the downpour!

Brandon, in the red shirt, was our hero!

The rain stopped by the time we got to Wilmington. We were so touched by the number of youth and adults that came to help Lance and Amber unload the truck. Especially since everything had to go to the 3rd floor! (And no elevator!)

I have a peace about their move after seeing their new home and meeting their new church family. As I left, I snapped a picture of Amber, ready for a job interview, in her new kitchen. It's looking good, guys!

Beach Vacation

2008-08-22T08:58:00.005-04:00

Sunset on the intercoastal waters...Beautiful.

Sitting on a hot beach when my hormonal temperature is already in the drippy sweat zone is not my idea of a fun time. But having the chance to be with my family is priceless.

When your children become adults, move away from home, and get jobs, chances for family get-togethers become fewer and far between. In Alison's words, "It's just not the same without Ashley and Amber." So at the beach, when the married couples were able to come for a few days, the house came alive with laughter and activity. Just being able to cook family suppers and be with the gals and guys was so satisfying. I may have an "indoor tan", but I had a wonderful time.

Neck pain

2008-08-01T00:45:00.002-04:00

I have just had a "first" in my life... After getting a bad crick in my neck, I went to a chiropractor. I admit I went with fear and trepidation! (I think I've watched too many adventure films where they break the enemies neck...)! However, the session went well, I can turn my head to the right again, and have another treatment today. He used warm heat to begin with, then the actual "treatment", then electrical stimulation along with 2 acupunture needles. (I didn't even feel those!) Interesting!

Jobs

2008-07-30T16:43:00.005-04:00

We are anxiously awaiting news about possible jobs for Lance and Amber. He is interviewing for a youth minister position, and has a second meeting today. Amber has a job interview this afternoon. Both have now graduated and are looking for jobs and a place to live. As much as you would like to spare your children the worry of their future, it is one of those times when they have to find their own way.

I remember when Bobby and I married, moved to Louisville, Kentucky and were on our own for the first time. What excitement! Bobby had already begun one semester at seminary before we married, so he found us an apartment, and that's where we moved. We packed up all the Early American Junk donated by family and friends and made a grand home for ourselves. I worked in the Treasurer's office and made $320 a month while Bobby was in school. We made lifetime friends there with whom we still keep in touch. I hope Lance and Amber find some adventure in these days and create wonderful "first" memories.

Bobby and Ronda Gantt

June 19, 1977

Grandpuppy

2008-07-28T15:36:00.004-04:00

There's a new member in our family...a "grandpuppy"!

During the week we were visiting at camp, Ashley and Brandon got a new cocker spaniel puppy which they named "Madison". Isn't she precious?!

Madison is a cuddler. She likes to be held close and have her tummy rubbed. It's fun to watch Ashley and Brandon take care of her. There have been a few doggie parenting moments: getting her teeth caught on a shoestring, waking up during the night, learning when and where to do her doggie deeds, eating or not eating... Then there was the first vet visit. New doggie parents must now stay with their pet during the visit. It's fun to watch your daughter become a parent...even if it's parenting a puppy!

Camp

2008-07-26T21:06:00.013-04:00

I swore I would never camp again. Famous last words. 23 years ago our oldest daughter was potty training, the youngest was in diapers, and we stayed in a pop-up camper near a lake. The mosquitos had a feast, the bath house was a block away, and sleep was nonexistent. Not a lot of fun for a Howard Johnson kind of gal!

So guess where we were a week ago...that's right, at camp. Camp Caraway for boys in North Carolina, in fact. My husband (sitting on the pier) was camp pastor for the week.

Our new son-in-law is the interim Camp Director for the summer, so we were able to visit with the newlyweds (Lance and Amber), as well as see our other daughter and son-in-law (Ashley and Brandon) who live in the same area. We took our youngest daughter, Alison for the week.

The camp counselors had already been calling Lance and Amber "Mom" and "Dad". So when Alison and I arrived for family weekend, one counselor asked who we belonged to. I replied,
"Lance and Amber".
"Oh! You must be grandma!"
"That's right. And grandpa will be here Monday!"

This is Amber and Alison enjoying the rockers on the wide porch. Alison soon became known as "Aunt Al". We had a wonderful week. At least we were in an actual building! But have you ever slept on a bed that had a plywood bottom, no box springs and a mattress that is just 4 inches thick? (I know, I know, that was not "real" camping, but I was way out of MY comfort zone!)

The poor honeymooners have it rough, too. They are both very tall, so their legs hang off the end of their bed!

One of the great adventures of the week for the guys was being catapulted off the "blob". As you can see in the picture the fellow on the bottom is getting ready to be shot into the air! In their words, it was "awesome"!

This was not our first time at the camp, so there were several traditional events we hold dear...the giant bonfire, skits, and the commitment service. Priceless moments. (Don't tell anyone, but I think I've been bitten by the camping bug...at least the Camp Caraway bug!)

Weddings

2008-06-12T14:58:00.013-04:00

Weddings involve a lot of time and effort. It takes a year to plan the wedding, 2 weeks to pull it together, and a week to clean up and return items.

Our middle daughter got married 2 weeks ago. She had a beach theme, and it turned out beautifully! Some highlights of the wedding included:

sand, seashells, candles, raffia and thrift store glass containers for decoration,

a canoe to hold presents, and a basket to hold cards,

seashell pasta salad, goldfish crackers, homemade pimento cheese, and ham rolls to eat,

and fresh fruit of the season!

The groom and groomsmen wore khaki suits from Target, orange ties, and rainbow flip-flops.

The bridesmaids wore sundresses from Nordstrom.

The bride and groom left amidst bubbles and beach balls...

And here's the father of the bride waving goodbye...(note the bride's hand sticking out of the top of the Jeep waving back...)

We now have our 2008 Christmas postcard picture!

Family get-togethers

2008-04-25T21:17:00.010-04:00

In my husband's family our youngest daughter is the 12th grandchild, and there are 15 great-grandchildren. It has been our tradition to get together once a month. The host plans a menu, then asks the other children/grandchildren to bring certain items for the meal. At times there have been as many as 45 at a meal!

We lost our patriarch 12 years ago to mesothelioma (cancer from asbestos exposure). We lost our matriarch a year ago. There was an unspoken rule that you did not miss a family gathering!

We knew the day would come when the family circle would start to disperse, and that time has now come. There were 13 family members present as we hosted the first cookout of the summer. Our family has expanded to the point that the grandchildren are now forming their own families, and moving wherever school and jobs take them.

In our own family, our oldest daughter married a year and a half ago and now lives 3 hours away. Our middle daughter will graduate from college mid-May and will get married May 31. Most likely, she and her fiance will not live in our hometown, either.

As they leave our family nest we take pride in their accomplishments and share in the excitement of their futures. When they are able to come home for family get-togethers, this Mama and Daddy bird will welcome them with their favorite foods: homemade chocolate chip waffles for breakfast and chicken pie for supper!

Chicken Pie Recipe

Step 1) Boil 4 chicken breasts. Reserve liquid.
When cooled, cut chicken into small pieces and place in a rectangular casserole dish.
Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Step 2) Mix 1 can cream of chicken soup, 1 can cream of celery soup, and add reserved chicken broth (2 cans worth). Mix well then pour over chicken pieces.
Step 3) Melt 1 stick of margarine. Add 1 cup flour and 1 cup milk. Mix with wisk until smooth. Pour over chicken mixture. Bake at 325° for 1 hour until top is golden brown.

Embroidered skirt quilt

2008-04-24T11:30:00.004-04:00

Quilts are one of my weaknesses. Old, new, tattered, pristine, unfinished, finished, quilts make me stop in my tracks. One of the memory quilts I made recently came from a lady's skirt. Beautiful embroidery was on the front of the skirt. So I cut strips from her shirts to form borders. What a vibrant personality she must have been!

How do you spell relief?

2008-04-13T15:06:00.003-04:00

Do you remember the tv commercial for alkaseltzer years ago that went "plop, plop, fizz, fizz, oh what a relief it is"? Well our family is very relieved. Our youngest daughter had her yearly MRI early and there was no sign of a returning tumor. Yeah! Apparently other children who have dealt with medulloblastoma have had sudden onset of hearing loss on one side as well. So we'll check into a new hearing aid for that ear.

You know how you try to keep things simple? Well, sometimes it just won't work that way. The ENT wanted our daughter to have lab work in addition to the MRI. So we opted to just go to Charlotte to Carolina's Medical Center and have everything done at once. Well, of course the main test the ENT wanted, testing for inner ear antibodies, was accidentally not done. So I took her this week to have labs drawn for that one test. She is an extremely hard stick. But you know what? The nurse found a vein (even though you couldn't even SEE a vein) and got the needle in the very first time. We appreciate professionals like that. When people are good to your children you remember them forever...

Making a list and checking it twice!

2008-03-05T11:11:00.007-05:00

We've experienced the planning of one wedding with our oldest daughter. Now we're working on a second wedding for our middle daughter. It's amazing what you can learn the first go round!

Things I learned from the first wedding:

-don't assume anything
-everything you say and do will be viewed under microscopic inspection
-the bride will be a nervous wreck
-the wedding will cost more than you think
-it will not be perfect
-you will wonder if a courthouse marriage might not be a bad thing!

That being said, we're doing it again! This week...invitations!

Let's plan a wedding!

2008-03-01T18:50:00.010-05:00

Today has been a fun day! Although the majority of plans for the May 31 wedding of our second daughter have been done, it's now time to review and do the things that can only be done close to the wedding date. She is home for spring break from college so we're off and running!

Wedding showers have been planned, so we visited two hometown stores to register for a few more items. This daughter loves artsy, fun, creative items. One store had a line of metal serveware items by Arthur Court that are amazing!

We found the hometown stores to be a lot more accommodating than the larger department store. And has anyone else had trouble with larger stores discontinuing items on registeries shortly after the registry is created? Very frustrating for new brides. From experience with her older sister's wedding a year and a half ago, we found Bed Bath and Beyond to be the most cooperative about gift exchanges. And they always honor their coupons. Even when they have expired!

After watching my husband coach his Upward Basketball boys team, a visit to the local Mexican restaurant for supper hit the spot. (In North Carolina we have "supper", not "dinner".)

Now it's time for this caregiver to catch up on homework. My role in our youngest daughter's academic life at the community college is to read, learn, and put the course information in a concrete form that she can understand. I've learned I greatly dislike courses such as "Fundamentals of Mathematical Fundamentals"! (Why don't I hire a tutor? More about that subject later)

Sensitivity

2008-02-29T22:30:00.003-05:00

Today I took our youngest daughter to the ENT doctor for a follow-up visit. She is our 12 year cancer survivor who has been having some problems with her right ear. Due to surgery to remove a malignant brain tumor at the age of 6, the left side of her face droops. She sees a plastic surgeon who has already performed a muscle graft and a nerve graft. Eventually he will do some "tacking up" on the left side for cosmetic reasons.

As we sat in the waiting room a four year old girl came and stood in front of my daughter. The conversation went something like this:
"Can she talk?"
I responded, "Yes, she can talk."
Then the little girl pointed to her own face and said, "What happened to her face?"
"She had surgery for a brain tumor 12 years ago."
"Is that going to happen to me?"
"No, probably not."

My daughter just politely kept reading her magazine as I conversed with the child.

We have had people ask (in front of her) if she has had a stroke, if she was in a wreck, ....
Were the little girl's comments innocent? Sure. Were the effects devastating? Absolutely.
It's days like today that break a caregiver's heart............

First day attempts at blogging

2008-02-28T21:14:00.004-05:00

Well, the stir fry cooked in 8 minutes, but the rest of the day took 9 hours!

Let's see...
-an hour for lunch with my husband and daughter
-an hour running errands
-3 hours moving "stuff" out of a bedroom to make room for another daughter coming home for spring break from college
-an hour and a half to cook and eat supper
-2 1/2 hours continuing the move of "the stuff" (more about "the stuff" later!)

So here I am, trying to put down a few more thoughts before this day becomes this night...

To finish my sentence from the first post: I am caregiver to our daughter who is a 12 year cancer survivor. She is a walking miracle who is a first year student at our community college. One day I'll share her amazing story.

"Creative Caregiver". I think that's a pretty good description of myself at this point in my life. I am creative with textiles: quilting, sewing, knitting, crocheting. I am a caregiver to my daughter: academically, medically, emotionally, physically. On really GREAT days I'm a "Creative Caregiver" incorporating the best of both roles.

I can't wait to see what the second day of the rest of my life holds!

A new day

2008-02-28T11:09:00.000-05:00

They say "today is the first day of the rest of your life". Well then, I guess today is not only the first day of the rest of my life, but the first day of my new blogging life! How exciting!

Why is my site called the "Creative Caregiver"? Simple.

1. I LOVE creating and learning how to do new things.
2. I am a stay-at-home mom who cares for...

pause...putting on stir fry...be back in 8 minutes!