Saturday

I was sitting in my sewing room yesterday and happened to look out the window. This cardinal hen was visiting my feeder. Later...I wish I'd been five minutes earlier.

Cutting Table and Stuff

A while back...did I mention that Sam was planning on building a drop leaf cutting table for me? HE STARTED ON IT! I am so excited! Even before he started building his wood working shop, I sent him an e-mail with a link to a website that sold cutting tables. Only problems with those...cost...whoooweee! and size. The size that the person built would not fit my space. This one will! It is made of red oak and red oak-faced plywood. The box is on it's side with the bottom toward the yellow measuring tape. The top drawer will be opened from either side and will hold rulers. On this side the slots will have drawers, the other side will have shelves...either with or without a door...I have to decide and I'm leaning on without because of the limited space in my sewing/quilting/computer room. The long slot will hold cutting mats.

These are the three top pieces glued up and patiently waiting... This was the sky-view yesterday afternoon. Just wish there's been some rain in those clouds for us! Guess what these are going to be? No fair! You guessed!

Baby News

Sam is 74. He will be 75 December 9. His children are 31 and 33 (if I remember correctly). He has no grandchildren. In May he found out that John and his girlfriend, Erin, are going to have a baby in November.

Today, when he came to the house from the shop for lunch, he told me that he got a phone call and was going to be granddad twice. I asked, "TWINS?" No...Sam's daughter, Brook, and her husband, Cody are going to have a baby in January!

When it rains...it pours!

Apron Time

Carol and I were 'antique' shopping a while back when we stumbled across some cute Texas tote bags. We were going to buy one, take it apart, then each of us would have a panel. Then one of us turned around and found TWO napkins. Here's mine now: Hmmm...I really need to hire a skinny model. :o(

To make ME feel better:

More Cup Towels

I finished sewing the borders on this set of cup towels for the All I Want for Christmas swap on the HGTV quilting forum. I want to make a few more for me...probably with some different fruit designs.

Cup Towels

Remember the apron I made? It's for a swap I've joined on the HGTV board...All I Want for Christmas. I would've never purchased the orange fabric for me, but I have so fallen in love with it!

I attached my embroidery base to my sewing machine this afternoon and stitched a couple of flour sack cup towels. (The designs are from www.annthegran.com. I don't think they offer them any more so am sooo glad that I saved them on my computer!)They were for the swap too until I realized that I used the wrong stabilizer...the second design was stitching when I tried to tear the stabilizer off the first one. eye roll So these are mine. I took my little scissors and cut the stabilizer from behind the larger areas. I've got the other cup towels for the swap stitched with the Dutch dolls, but decided not to do the day of the week. I don't like the green (it looks like it matches in the photo, but it really does not) and, besides, I have some vintage DOW cup towels and never use them on the correct day. So...I've omitted them from the swap gift.

I also made these for me. Red, purple, and green grapes.

I Do NOT Understand

Cranky Old Woman time...On a forum that I frequent, I related a recent incident. I ate at Chicken Express a couple/three weeks back (and loved every grease laden morsel). I started visiting with another diner, and she mentioned the receipt. I looked. There was a Bible verse printed at the bottom. I thought Bravo for the owner! He came around and asked about our meal. It was good, and I told him that we both appreciated the Bible verse. He said that a week before he did the same thing...visited with the diners and asked if everything was okay. A woman said No. That she was offended by the Bible verse on the bottom of the receipt and would not be back. He paid for her meal...gave her $10 for a $7 meal.

Another poster on the forum said that she would've been offended too.

WHAT?! I buy gasoline from people who do not believe as I do. I stay in motels that are owned by people of different beliefs. I purchase clothes and various other items from people who worship differently from me...or don't worship at all. I would never dream of telling them that I was insulted by a religious icon or quote from one of their religious leaders in THEIR store. Nor would I say anything about displaying a flag from their native country. I would be more apt to ask, "Oh, where are you from?"

But if a cross is displayed. Or a Bible is on the counter. Or I say "God bless you." Or an American flag is flying. THIS IS INSULTING?!

When did EVERYTHING become acceptable except for Christianity or country pride in the United States of America?! EVERYTHING else can be jammed down our throats, but if we have a Bible verse printed on the bottom of a receipt in OUR store that is not acceptable?!

Where do we live?

In America where soldiers have died for our freedoms...

...or in some middle eastern country where people are killed because they do not believe in the 'state' religion?

Swim Day

I didn't get many photos Sunday...just too busy having fun as are these family members.

Grant was a water hound!












Brianna squealed at first, but then whenever she got ready to jump in, she did so in front of an adult fully confident that she would be grabbed before she went under...Jonathan saved her this time.


Lauren had to take a break from all the fun.












Then, today after visiting with Mama, I noticed the colt...Sam and I saw the baby a few days ago and it had evidently just been born because its legs were so wobbly.

Awwww.

Poor Pogo does not look happy. I told Jonathan to be certain to send me a photo of Pogo in her pup tent. So...it does look like he plopped her in it and told her to STAY doesn't it?

Thank You

...To my ancestors who served in the Spanish-American War and the War Between the States.

...To my uncle who served in WWII...with the group of men on Normandy Beach. The uncle who came home with holes in his back spaced like he had been jabbed with a pitch fork.

...To my uncle for his stint in the USN.

...To my cousin for serving aboard the USS Ponchatoula during the Viet Nam "conflict."

...To my husband for his stint in the USAF. Thank you for coming home. Thank you...

...Those whose family cry beside your grave. ...Those of you whose families have no graveside to visit.

Thank you... ...To Sgt. Joshua A. Tomlinson... of Minden Louisiana. Who did not come home to his family but was buried Saturday afternoon. To his comrades in arms who served before him, with him, and after him.

...To every active personnel and veteran of every branch of the military of the United States of America.

...To the family members of those veterans. They serve our country by loaning us their fathers, brothers, sons, grandsons...and now their mothers, sisters, daughters, and grand daughters. I humbly and prayerfully thank you.

God bless each of you.