Yardsale finds

I went yardsaling last weekend with a new buddy of mine and we had a blast.  You can find her at her wonderful blog: http://cheryl-comfort.blogspot.com/.  She's a very talented artist and even has her very own Etsy shop!  Anyway, we hit up some great sales and I came away with lots of good stuff that I prefer to call "treasures".  Hubby on the other hand calls most of it "junk".  He told me recently that we need some pillowcases for the extra pillows in the 5th wheel.  He said he'd looked for some at the store but they were not cheap.  I said well check out WalMart...that WAS where he'd looked.  I said I could look at yardsales and he said good idea!  Then he looked kind of funny and asked it those words really came out of his mouth!  Busted me up!!!  Enough about that...here's some pictures of a few of my best finds:

Isn't this a gorgeous lampshade?  It's the prettiest pale pink.  It was on a metal cream colored lamp and I got them both for just $7! I felt the lamp was too short for the shade so I used the lamp with the shade in the next picture.  Until I can find the perfect lamp this beauty of a  shade is glaming up a cheapie standing lamp.

  Here's a picture of the lamp with a different shade on it.  Perfect together right?  I got this shade at an estate sale a couple of weeks ago and think I paid $5 for it.  I picked up the 2 little lamp ornaments for just 50 cents each.  This is not where they are going to stay but a good temprary spot for now.  I also found not 1 but 2 sets of pillowcases.  I paid $1 for a pair that have cute embroidery work and cutouts on them.   I paid 25 cents for a plain ivory set.  That's the set going to the 5th wheel.  I found lots of baby clothes for the 2 grandboys and a bed toy too.  I also got a few pieces of costume jewelry, 4 laundry baskets, and some yarn for next to nothing!  I love to hit those yardsales!

I can't believe I've been so dumb!

Guess what I just figured out...I can take a picture on my phone and email it to myself then save it to my computer and then post it on my blog!  Ok so I know I could also just sync my phone to my computer but I can't do that to my work computer and I like to blog during my lunchbreak but always wish I had photos to blog about and well it's only taken me what 3 years to figure this out???  Talk about having a blonde moment! So without further ado I present to you my beautiful Princess with her new haircut (Don't laugh it hurts her feelings).

So now can someone please tell me why Blogspot turned my photo???? Drats!

It's soooo hot outside

Well, we went straight from winter weather (rain) to middle of August type summer...HOT!  It's supposed to be over 100 today and tomorrow!  I work inside so it's nice and cool but when I go outside it's like walking into a furnace!  We got solar rings to put on the pool to heat the water...just in time for us to not need them :).  The littles have been enjoying the pool for a week or so.  I think today may be the 1st time I take a dip in it.

VBS is officially over for another year.  It was just awesome.  The kids are so cute as they come through the line for their dinner.  I think this is my favorite activity that I do on the Fellowship Committee.

I've decided to start listing things I'm grateful for...at least 5 a day.

1.  Being saved by God-how wonderful it is to know that I am a Princess of the most high King!
2.  My relationsip with Jesus-not where it should be but growing
3.  My husband-not always easy but I love him still
4.  My kids-ALL 4 of them (miss you Colton)
5.  My grandkids-we now have 8!

I'm here again

Well, I'm here again.  This makes 2 days in a row.  Definitely some sort of record for me! 

We are having Vacation Bible School every evening this week.  I'm in charge of the evening meals.  It is sooo much fun!  I have wonderful helpers, including my awesome in-laws...thanks mom and dad!  Meals are easy but we try to do healthy too.  Not so sure nachos and corn dogs are the healthiest things to have but we include veggies and fruit too so the squirts get some good stuff.  Tonight it's nachos and fruit.  Tomorrow night we will order pizza...yummy and then we can say another successful week!

Hi

Hi,

I'm not even going to apologize or explain why I've been gone for so long...I'm back though.  I've been on a long hard road and I'm still on it but feel I need to start blogging again.  Life goes on whether we want it to sometimes or not!

We have added 2 new grandson's to our lives...that makes 5 granddaughters and 3 grandsons now!  I sure hope the kids stop for a while!  I love my grands but "8 is enough"...

I lost a very dear friend to breast cancer recently.  I never met her in person but look forward to doing so in Heaven someday.  She will be missed here on earth...enjoy Heaven JanM!!!

Not much else I want to say right now but found this wonderful quote I wanted to share:

Rest is an act of trust. It says, "I'm not the One who keeps the world running. I am not God."

                                                              Tim Keller

Is that awesome or what...that's where I am right now...resting and trusting...

Diannia

Another week

Well, another week has come and gone.  Time sure is flying by!  The weather has been cooling off.  I think it is supposed to be in the low 90's tomorrow.  Our church is having a carnival from 12-3 in the afternoon and Sugarbear and I volunteered to serve soft serve ice cream AND slushies....what were we thinking!  I have a feeling I'm going to be looking for helpers!  We are also moving into a hotel tonight for 1 week.  Back in July the water dispenser line on our refrigerator sprung a leak.  We didn't find out about it for several days and possibly weeks since the water leaked under the Pergo flooring and saturated underneath it.  We didn't notice it until the Pergo started warping.  Looked like a little thing.  Well, let me tell you it's not!  The old linoleum was still under the Pergo and partical board was under all of that.  The partical board is warping and in order to remove it the linoleum (and glue) will have to be disturbed and guess what's in the glue...asbestos!  Soooo, we move out for 1 week while the abatement team comes in and removes the linoleum and underlayment in both our kitchen and family room, then the installers come in and install carpet in the family room and a new vinyl linoleum in the kitchen.  I can hardly wait!  I have some before pics and will post them when I have the after pics to show too...

We Went Camping!

You heard me right...we went camping this past weekend for the 1st time!  Sugarbear and I bought a "new to us" truck and 5th wheel recently (like just last week).  You should have seen me and DS#1 trying to get everything bought and packed in just a few days.   SB and I had gone shopping over the weekend to get kitchen stuff and I'd already started pulling some things from home that I already had but it was still a lot to get ready in a short amount of time but we did it!  We pulled out of town around 1:00 on Friday and headed up to Oakhurst for a long weekend.  Some good friends from church went too along with DS#1 & family, DS#2 & family, DD & family and DF's DS#2 & family.  Altogether we had 20 people spread out over 3 campsites.  It was really hot there during the daytime but cooled down nicely at night.  We learned several things...like there is a vent ON the air conditioner as well as some in the ceiling, and the bed is waaaayyy tooooo hard but all in all had just a wonderful time!  We are hoping to create lots of fun memories for the kids and grandkids!  We're already thinking about our next trip in a couple of weeks (to the coast this time).

New Do

I got my hair cut and colored last night and I likey!  It doesn't look as short in person as it does in this picture...what I want to know is when did I get so old???

DS#1 and DGF got an ultrasound done yesterday and it's a BOY!  Yea!  We now have 5 granddaughters, 1 grandson, 1 grandson on the way, and 1 identity still unknown on the way!  Man is Christmas ever gonna be expensive!

I'm still alive!

I can't believe it's been 4 months since I last posted!  Where has the time gone?  Lots has happened in the past 4 months that's for sure! 

Let's see for starters DS#1 is engaged and they are expecting a baby in January.  His fiancee has a little girl that just turned 5 so she is #6 on our grandchildren list.  She started Kindergarden on Monday and loves it...so far. They will hopefully find out what our #7 will be next Tuesday.

Here's another headliner for you...DS#2 and DGF broke up.  He has a new DGF and they are moving in together...that's right after 5 years DS is moving out of our house!  I know it's time but I sure do miss those little girls at bedtime...of course they spend about 1/2 of their time at our house still and we have both of their bedrooms set up for them so while it will take a bit of getting used to it'll all work out.  Bri started Kindergarden on Monday too and is loving it too.  She comes home each day and shows me what new signs her teacher has taught them.  She's going to be either an interpreter or DE teacher when she grows up I just know it!  Mia continues to grow like a little weed.  Can you believe she's almost 3?  She's doing pretty good on the potty training, as long as DS doesn't put her in pull-ups...they are just too much like a diaper and she pees & poops in them instead.  She's is talking up a storm and saying things that surprise us on a daily basis.  Oh and DS#2 told me 2 nights ago that he and DGF are execting a baby...yep it's true...that will make #8...and all ages 5 and under!

Baby Matthew turned 1 last weekend.  They didn't have a big party for him so we will give him his present the next time we see them.

I took the month of July off from work and it was GLORIOUS!  The 1st week I was off I was running around trying to get everything done from sunup to sundown until DS#2 reminded me that I was under orders from Sugarbear to enjoy myself and that I should slow down and "pace" myself.  The 2nd week I still got things done but at a slower pace.  The 3rd week Sugarbear was on vacation too.  On that Monday we discovered the water line to the refrigerator had been leaking and called the insurance company.  My kitchen has now been torn apart for 1 month and we're still trying to come to an agreement on what repairs and costs will be.  The beginning of the 4th week I finally settled into a nice flow but then on Thursday it hit me that I was going back to work and I'd better get busy getting all those things I still wanted to do done!  The frenzy was back on!!!  I've been back to work 3 weeks now and sure miss staying at home.  While I was there I managed to get 2 quilts all quilted and the binding on.  I also took the little girls to visit their cousins up in Turlock (they moved from Modesto a few months ago).  We had a most wonderful day!  We decorated picture frames and sunvisors, had a dress-up tea party and then they went swimming in the little pool.  I took home 2 very tired little girls that's for sure.

Sugarbear is busy opening a new store but should be home tomorrow for a day or so.  He's such a sweetie...he's promised me a new Long Arm quilting machine!  I'm busy researching all the ones that are near us.  I want my service rep to be as local as possible.  We're moving SB's office out of my sewing room and into DS#2's old bedroom, getting new carpet for the sewing room and painting.  Once all that is done I'm hoping to have room to set up the LA in there instead of the garage.    We bought a Barrister bookcase for me to store all my fabrics in and I can hardly wait to get it in the room.

I guess I better get going but I promise to try to get back sooner...and post some pics next time!

Lots of catching up to do!

Easter break was wonderful and a Godsend!  I got to spend 1 1/2 glorious days with my Modesto kiddos.  I really needed that time to bond more with them.  Sugar Bear had to leave out 1st thing Monday morning but had some free nights at the hotel so not only did I get bonding time I got ME time as well!  WONDERFUL!  Came back home Tuesday evening and spent Wednesday shopping for the church Easter Sonrise Breakfast and then taking that and all the quilting stuff down to the church.  Thursday was house cleaning day.  I got up bright and early and started on the living room and kitchen.  DS#2's DGF got up and helped me tremendously!  After our cleaning spree we went out for a nice lunch at my favorite Chinese restaurant then came back home and I got a little quilting time in before starting dinner.  I had no plans for Friday except to take the tax paperwork back to the accountants.  Afterwards I decided to ride to Tulare with Sugar Bear.  He had to work and I got to play!  I went over to my DQF's house and we took off shopping.  We managed to find some nursing fabric so I can make my DSIL a new purse (she's in a nursing program).  I was really excited to find the fabric let me tell you!  We stopped off on the way home for a nice steak dinner then spent the evening with the little girls.  Saturday was WI at Weight Watchers.  I weighed exactly the same as last week.  SB wanted to know how I stood on the scale and held my breath to manage that feat...haha.  We had the little girls for the afternoon and most of the evening.  Spent some time at the church for the annual Easter Egg Hunt...boy did they have lots of eggs!  Got up bright and early on Sunday and spent the morning in service to our Lord and church family.  We cooked, served and cleaned up the Sonrise Breakfast for around 75 people.  Then we served donuts after that!  Came home and spent the rest of the afternoon resting.  I watched a new movie with Bri before she and sissy left with their daddy to another Easter get together.  Monday I spent the day at home cleaning and getting ready for the week.  I had been given a pattern for dresses for the little girls. Now remember I'm a quilter...not a seamstress...so these dresses are SIMPLE! On the same principle as the cute little pillowcase dresses that are out there in blogland except out of fabric. I have 1 completed and 1 ready to hem. I see me making lots more of these in my near future! I've also been crocheting beads into the edging of socks for the little girls. Those work up really fast! Bri loved her dress and socks. Mia will get hers tonight when I finish the hem.   What a great time off I had...wish it could have been longer!




We had our first official Prayers & Squares meeting this past Tuesday evening.  It went very well!  There were several ladies there and we got lots of things accomplished!  We had been given 5 quilts that were already completed and tied.  We needed the ties to be untied and with 5 people working on it we were able to complete the task in record time!  After that we got busy and put the ties in 3 more quilts and then sandwiched and pinned 1 more!  We were able to come up with 3 things we want to work on during our next time together as well.  During all of that we fellowshiped and got to know each other better.  What a wonderful time I had! 

Well, it's time to get busy...I'll write more soon!

Spring Break

It's almost spring break time!  I'm so excited I can hardly stand myself.  For the 1st time in a very long time I'll be getting the week of spring break off!  A week plus 1 day to be home and do whatever my heart desires.  Ok, so I have more to do than just what my heart desires but that's ok too.  I think I'm going to go visit the out of town kiddos for a day or two.  I need to shop for the Easter breakfast at church then go put all the goodies away.  I will also spend time taking my sewing items to the church for storage for our Prayers & Squares group meetings.  On the Monday following Easter I plan on going to Tulare to visit with my quilting friend.  That still leave 2-3 days to do stuff around the house and sew!  I think I may take Bri and Mia to the zoo or playland one afternoon as well.  I think I just filled my week up without even trying!

I've been busy!

I've been playing around in blogland and found out how to change my background!  How do you like it? 

I've also been busy at home making little stuffed doggies for 4 little girl's Easter baskets.  I'll post a picture when they are all done.

Getting closer to Prayers & Squares

I'm finally getting closer to officially starting the Prayers & Squares ministry at church.  It's taken me longer than I had originally planned but it is coming together.  I'd like to have 20 or so quilts ready when we announce it at church so that we won't be scrambling to complete any as they are requested.  Here's what I have going so far:

15 or so tops in various stages of completeness (is that a word?)
1 friend helping me by sandwiching and do light quilting on several tops (thanks Cherii)
1 evening each month on the calendar at church dedicated to P&S
2 people interested in coming each month to help
a shelf at church to store quilting supplies and quilts waiting to be given out
2 sewing machines for people to use
various supplies to keep at the church instead of hauling them back and forth
10 yds of batting
1 bolt of muslin for backings


Here's what we still need:
2 sets of risers for raising the tables for pinning
fabric
batting

All in all I think we're off to a good start!

Things I have learned...

Things I have learned...

The more people that go to the grocery store with you the more “stuff” you buy.



Chocolate really does make a person feel better.


If you have cable TV your child can watch either Dora or Spongebob 24 hours straight…if you let them.


If you burn just 1 kernel of popcorn it’ll make the whole house stink.


Men wish women would never change.


Twenty-four hours in a day doesn’t always seem like enough but it’s all we get so we should make the most of each day.


Words once spoken can’t be taken back.


Nobody on earth loves you like your Grandma.


Grandkids are God’s way of making up for all you went through with your kids.


Hearts don’t divide with more kids to love…they just grow bigger.


Women wish they could change men.


Dogs will drink out of the toilet bowl every time they get a chance…even if their water bowl is clean and full.


Marriage is better if God is in it.


Jesus didn’t come for the righteous…He came for the sinners.

Hi There! It's been another wacky month at our house! The girls are now staying with their mom 3 nights a week and that has certainly been an adjustment for me! It's soooo quiet when they are not at home! I'm sure I'll get used to it eventually but for now I'm a bit discombobulated! What you've never heard that word before?

Let's see what else has been going on....hmmmm...oh yea I've started using 2 of the evenings they are gone to work on the Prayers & Squares ministry. It's going well. My goal is to have 20 quilts ready for prayers to be added before announcing that it's up and going. I also want to have several hundred 2 1/2" squares for single prayers ready to hand out at the same time. I now have a little over 1/2 the tops done. Tonight I'll work on the 2 1/2" squares while watching Antique Roadshow. Anyone else like that show?



I have a new quilting friend! She moved back to CA last fall from OK. She lives about 40 minutes from me. I go to church with her father-in-law. We are new BFFs! I invited myself to her house last Monday and we hit it off big time. Then yesterday we went to a quiltshow about 1 1/2 hrs from my house...another great day! She compared us to 2 pieces of a puzzle...we both like different things (I like scrappy and 30's and she likes bold and bright) but just like a puzzle we still "fit"! She's also helping me with doing up some of the Prayers & Squares stuff.



DS#1 has moved back home for the time being. Our house runneth over w/love and people! If he stays for very long we are going to finish off the garage earlier than we had planned so he can stay out there...with my quilting machine of course! When we bought this 4 bedroom, 2 bath, living room, family room house I thought it was plenty big...I think I may need to rethink that thought!

Hi everybody! I know, I know 2 months since I last posted. The holidays were wonderful but a bit weird. Thanksgiving was very different. My mother-in-law got sick at the last minute and dinner was moved to our house. Then my brother-in-law called and said he was sick and his wife was working. The other brother-in-law came over after we'd eaten dinner so it was just me and my family. Nice but weird! We got to spend a terrific Saturday before Christmas with our daughter and her family. We ladies decorated Christmas cookies with the little girls and had a blast! The out-of-town girls got to open their presents that evening before heading home. Bri and Mia got to open 1 present each too. Christmas was good. Everyone had a nice day. We even got some relaxation in. After Christmas I came down with a sinus infection. Then when that started clearing up I got some sort of virus, sore throat, fever, mouth and tongue sores, not to mention swollen and very painful gums! After a week of that I ended up at urgent care and was told I had pnemonia so I was down for another week! Needless to say I didn't get any sewing time in and when I started feeling better and wanted to sew I found out I had a problem with my machine! I sent it in for repairs and a good servicing and found out that back in November when I bought a new 1/4" foot the guy had sold me the wrong one for my machine. Oh well, it needed servicing anyway. I got it home again on Monday and finished making 12 disappearing 9-patch blocks for a baby quilt.

Before I run out of time let me tell about the newest grandbaby to join our family. My youngest DS has a new girlfriend. She was PG before they started dating and just had her baby...a little girl named Lilyn Rose. Some children come to us by blood and some come by love...I take um any way God sees fit to give um! She's absolutely beautiful! Lots of coal black hair and dark brown eyes. She's gonna be a looker when she grows up!

Ok gotta scoot. I'll try to be better about posting!

It's Friday!

Yea for Friday! This week has been a bit strange with having Veteran's Day on Wednesday. We get it off from work so I went to Modesto to see the kiddos there. Got to spend some time lovin on that new grandson of ours. He sure is a cutie and for now his hair is a beautiful strawberry blonde. His mommy said the new hair coming in is white blonde so I doubt the reds will be there forever. The twins were spending the night at their aunt's so I didn't get to spend much time with them but that's ok...I got to bond with "the boy" and spend time with my stepdaughter.

Yesterday was Colton's birthday. He would have been 20. Happy birthday son! We sure do miss you!

Happy Monday

Hi! Just a quick drop in to say hello. We had the girl's birthday party over the weekend and while we didn't have as many come as we had expected, it did turn out very nice. Here's a picture of the cupcake tower we made. Bri sure had fun helping decorate them! You should have seen her face when she realized the Barbie dollhouse box really had a dollhouse in it instead of Papa's office work like we'd been telling her (it's hard to hide the box when the covering keeps slipping off the thing). We got Mia a little dollhouse and she plays with it too (mostly carries around the pieces). Bri has spent hours already with her Barbies and their house. Now she wants a Barbie camper to go along with it all. I told her to ask for it for Christmas and see what happens. I just can't believe these girls are 4 and 2 now! Where has the time gone? Here's a picture of the girls having fun in the bounce house too:

They were definitely tired that night!

I guess I better run. Time to head out to the grocery store for some much needed restocking!

Well hi! How are you doing? Come on in and sit a spell! The weather here is a beautiful 80ish degrees and the sun is shining. Fall is definitely in the air as our nights cool down and the days are a very comfortable "warm".

We've been hit with a flu bug at our house but I think we're all on the mend now. DS#2 and I both were sick last week. I ended up taking the full week off work as it turned into a nasty case of bronchitis. I'm happy to say that for the most parts the drugs the dr. gave me are working. I'm still having problems sleeping because of the cough and will go visit my primary dr. on Thursday and hopefully get something to help me sleep. The girls have a bit of a cough but Children's Tylenol for Colds seems to be doing the trick for them.

Speaking of trick...we sure had us some fun on Halloween night! We took the girls and worked at our chruch's Trunk or Treat. They had a blast! Their mom came and took them for the rest of the evening and overnight so we had some quiet time after the big evening.

Because I was sick I haven't gotten much sewing time in lately. I feel like I'm behind on it and have to keep reminding myself it's for fun...not a job! I do need to quilt a little baby quilt for a DF's grandbaby to be. I have a certain someone's Christmas quilt top made and just need to get it quilted as well. I have been knitting fingerless gloves for Christmas presents and have 2 pairs done so far. I keep thinking of people I'd like to make these for but am not sure I have time to get them all made. I may try doing one up with crochet and see if I like it as well since I'm much faster crocheting.

The pets are doing ok. Sophie is now out of heat and still a "virgin"...yea! The dogs are very happy they can play and sleep together again. Not so sure the neighbors are glad they are together cuz they bark more when there are 2 of them. The cats are starting to get along a littttle bit. Lucee is tolerating Princess...sometimes....when it's convenient to Lucee (isn't that just like a Siamese cat?). Lucee loves to start the interaction but doesn't appreciate it when Princess does. I did catch them playing the other day. The kitten was under the footstool and swatting at Lucee and Lucee was trying her darnedest to get at that kitten. Ok so the kitten was playing and Lucee was probably ticked off as usual...it's a start right?

I'd like to take a second and say hi to my friend JANM and her furbaby Miss Molly. Miss Molly is not feeling well (kidney failure) and JANM is doing everything humanly possible to make Miss Molly's days as comfortable as possible for her. JANM you are the bestest furbaby mommy there is and you are all in my prayers during this time. Love ya sista!

Until next time...in Christ's love,

Diannia

Hi! Sorry it's been almost a month since I last blogged! Let's see if I can catch you up on the to-do's at our house:

Princess is settling in just fine. Bri has stopped crying everytime the kitten wants her to stop holding her. Mia on the other hand is trying to pick her up ALL THE TIME. She does pretty good but we have to watch real close because sometimes she gets her a bit too high (think around the neck). We did have to take Lil' Man (male Sheltie) to the vets a couple of weeks ago with a scratch on his eye. The vet thought the kitten probably did it. She won't fess up to it and we can't prove it sooo... Lucee is tolerating Princess a little bit...not much. Princess thinks her place to lay is on my shoulder and she doesn't mind one bit that she is scratching me getting there...I on the other hand mind quite a bit!

Speaking of pets...Sophie is in heat...yuck! She's spending her time either in the backyard or the garage and Lil' Man is either in the house or backyard. They can't understand why they can't be together and neither can Bri & Mia. They keep wanting to put the dogs together. Mia has found the dog treats in the pantry and made it her personal mission in life to make sure they get them...alot of them...like the whole box if we don't watch her. Of course the dogs like her line of thinking just fine.

Disneyland was a HUGE success! We had so much fun! 1 day was not enough so we're planning to do it again next year only take the rest of the crew next time. We (meaning I) will do some research to see if we (meaning alot of us) will be going to Disneyland here in CA or Disneyworld in FL. I think I'll (meaning me) will start looking into this after the holidays.

I've been busy on the quilting front. I've given away 2 baby quilts and some burp cloths lately. I have several more baby quilts to make between now and January. I've also started working on the Prayers & Squares ministry at our church. I've got several flimsies done (quilt tops) and would like to have 20 done before the first of the year...not sure it'll happen but hoping by the beginning of Febuary.

We've started doing our furlough days at work and I'm loving the time off. Sure wish it could be full time!

The girl's birthdays are coming up. We'll celebrate them both on November 7th. A "My Little Pony" theme with a bounce house and cupcakes are being planned even as I type. I can't believe Bri will be 4 and Mia will be 2...where has the time gone?

Oh the church front we will be participating in the 2nd (or is it 3rd) annual Trunk or Treat on Halloween. We are also heading up the annual Thanksgiving Dinner. I think this is our 3rd or 4th year to be in charge of it. We have a new pastor and he has a "6 week prior to event" plan that I'm trying to follow. All the stuff I normally do just put down on a weekly countdown.

That's it for now. Guess I better run!