Change of Plans

I have been pleasantly surprised. When the county judge decided to retire after this term, we knew that we would be getting a new county judge. We had people running in two parties for the position. After the November 2 election, we now know who it will be. Since the judge is retiring...so is his administrative assistant.

After the primary, I plastered my resume around the courthouse because there is going to be personnel changes in several offices. Then, the part time position with the Chamber of Commerce opened up and after interviewing, I was offered this position. I thought that part time would be sufficient. Unfortunately, while it helps "this" month, it does nothing for my retirement. I could see that some day I might have to sell my home and downsize. I do not want to HAVE to do that. If I want to is one thing...but to HAVE to is a whole 'nuther ball game. (Don't know what happened to the font!!)

I made sure that the county judge-elect had a copy of my resume. I interviewed Monday afternoon. Around 5 p.m. that same day, she called and offered the position to me. I was shocked. With this economy...

I learned a long time ago to pray for MY job. Not to pray for "A" job or "THAT" job. This time I also prayed that the CJ-elect be guided in her decision. I do NOT want someone else's job!

I honestly thought that I had blown the interview because of one of the duties that I had no knowledge about. Not something hard...just something I did not expect. The few years that I worked across the hall in the probation department and I did not know that the CJs office handled indigent cases. I repeated that about three times. I turned to the CJ-elect and said, "It's not a problem. I just didn't know that."

I walked out after the interview and did the head thump (when no one was watching of course!). Well, I thought. I'll be keeping the part time job a while longer. So when the call came in. I was shocked. Elated. Jumping out of my skin. HALLELUJAH!

But then I had to tell my current employers. That was hard. I fully intended this job to be my last before real retirement. It's been handled. Now the world knows.

And I need new clothes. YIPPEE...except I HATE shopping for clothes. I pretty much hate shopping for anything.

Oh.

Except maybe yarn.

And definitely quilt fabric. :o)

Welcome to the World!

Colt Hughlan
Born Sunday, November 14
2:37 p.m.
6 pounds 1 ounce

Proud Grandpa

Sam, John, Erin, Colt Everyone, thanks for the congratulations and best wishes!

Camper, Stump, etc.

Shortly after we got the camper and pickup we took a trip to Colorado. We purchased the camper because we were going to spend summers in Colorado after Sam retired, I quit my job, and we moved back 'home.' We didn't I mentioned at the family reunion that I would like to sell it. Just via word of mouth, we have several interested. So...here's what it looks like. Click on the photo to enlarge it. The front window is the 'bedroom.' The longer window is over the sofa. The little window is at the kitchen sink...next is the stove then refrigerator then bathroom. Other side of the bathroom is twin size bunk beds...going back to the front is a closet, the dinette, outside door...same bedroom.

Look at the clouds in the west. This morning about 8:30 or so.
The promised shot of the tree stump. I love the 'setup' on this. Wouldn't it make a neat painting?!

Never have taken a photo of my new Tahoe. Here she is. Dirty. Half in the shade. But I love her! BTW, I've named her "Jewel" after her paint name...Red Jewel Tint-tone. I think it's appropriate.

Blog Win

I wasn't going to mention this until I received my prize/gift...but I can't stand NOT to!

I WON THIS!! Kathy, you remember her. I met her in person at the Houston quilt retreat along with 9 other HGTV quilters...Oh, YOU know the retreat. The one that I went to and drove this home....
...Anyway, Kathy celebrated her precious granddaughter Aidan's seventh birthday with a seven day giveaway. Can you believe that someone did not respond in a timely manner? And I WAS SECOND CHOICE!!! But, don't cry for me. 'Cause IT'S HEADED MY WAY ALREADY!

Go visit Kathy at http://www.shawkl.com/. She's an artist. Not just with jewelry either...you should see her CQ items. You've got the web address...go visit her!

I haven't felt this good in a long time.

Hi, Sean.

Fall

We are having a beautiful show of colors this year!

Enjoy the show.



A neighbor's meadow with a new winter cover crop. Don't know what it is yet.


I need to get another shot of this: I parked right beside the fence and snapped this just before getting back in the Tahoe. I'll try to 'frame' it better tomorrow...unless we get the predicted rain.

This Weekend

I went to the gym Friday and Saturday morning.

I did NOT clean house! But I did wash a couple of loads of clothes. One load is still in the dryer. :o)

I moved plants on the front porch into the house. Those on the back porch I grouped together and covered with sheets. Low was 38 so everything was okie dokie.

I went to Wal-Mart and got an electric blanket for Mama's bed. Changed her sheets and put the new blanket on the bed. Then visited with her.

Made homemade biscuits for breakfast.

Baked a chicken and some sweet potatoes for lunch along with fresh cooked spinach.

Visited with Sam's cousins.

Baked a loaf of bread in the bread machine. Kept smelling the stinky trash every time I opened the cabinet under the sink. That is unusual because I generally don't throw food scraps in the kitchen trash. After loading the dishwasher, I opened the door again and thought, Whew! Gotta get the trash out. I leaned down for the DWer tablet and saw a tale sticking out underneath an upside down trap. Found the little stinker causing the stink. It was NOT this cute!I got a couple of latex gloves out of the pool supplies in the garage. I heard Sam ask, "You want me to handle that?" Well DUH! ;o)

I finished binding a quilt for a baby. Nothing special. I used "cheater" fabric...printed to look like quilt blocks. Just meandered it over all. Turned the backing over the front and basically hemmed it.

Everyone have a great week!

Holidays and Babies

How neat is this? My niece, her husband, and their daughter. Did you guess the Red Queen, Mad Hatter, and Alice?

I finally got my "Made by Sherry ,...." labels so finished this. Sigh. Brook told me 'no pastels'. She did not say 'no pinks' until I saw her last month at the baby shower for her brother John's baby. Too late...this fabric was already purchased.

I also finished the crocheted blanket for John and Erin's baby. The baby was originally due the end of November, but the date has been changed to about the 23rd. I bet I know when he will be born...when he gets good and ready!

Flowers and Chili Cook-off

No...They really have nothing in common...it's just that they were on my camera. My Confederate Rose finally bloomed. I am really rather shocked. It was such a hot dry summer and I did not keep it watered. It really needs moved, but the rootball is huuuggggee! Many more to follow! Look at the buds on my Christmas cactus! I always pat myself on the back over this one. It generally blooms between Thanksgiving and Christmas...it may be early this year.

Earlene and Nancy invited me to help them in a chili cook-off. Earlene picked me up at dark-thirty this morning. Before we got to Rocky Branch, you could see the fog hovering over the highway...in that ONE spot. Earlene knows that I put photos like this on my blog, so she pulled over before I even started pulling my camera out of my purse. I doubt that the fog covered even 1/4 mile. Spoooooky!

Betcha can't guess what our chili cook-off theme was?! LOLEarlene was having a see-no-evil problem. Twice. Aaaah! Here's a good one. Sigh...it was contagious. Then my camera battery died. It hasn't been that long since I charged it...and very few photos taken. The camera is about two years old and I have taken lots of photos...perhaps the battery is dying. I'll have to price them. If it's too high...I'll just buy another camera. I am absolutely amazed at the price of GOOD digital cameras! The first one that Sam bought was right at $700. It takes AA batteries. But my little $100 camera takes photos just about as good.

Beautiful Sunrises and other Surprises

When the time changes, I'm going to miss the early morning sky. But I'm not setting my clock an hour earlier just to catch it! This photo was taken just 15 minutes later of the southern sky as the rising sun cast its glow on the clouds. I've been crocheting a baby blanket. It is an off-white color. I'm not sure who it will go to. In addition to Sam's two about to have babies, I have a nephew whose girlfriend is going to have a little girl between the grands. I may not get around to making a quilt for that baby...so this may go to her.

Warning!!!

The following photo is not pretty.

I am growing...

...MAN BROWS! Just take a gander at that honker. I could hardly believe my eyes! I've been plucking chin whiskers for a couple/three/four...OKAY!!! Almost seven years now. What's next? I shudder to even think about it.

The Next Generation

Check this out. I am glad to have been a substitute teacher for the group of kids who did this:

http://www.kltv.com/global/Category.asp?c=194395&clipId=5230014&topVideoCatNo=66626&autoStart=true

I tried to embed the video but it did not work. You'll have to copy and paste the link in your browser.