As usual, when I have been away from this computer for any length of time, it refuses to cooperate with me.  I have just spent the last hour updated the last post that I had to leave in complete for lack of time and for the love of Sidney, I can not get it to take.  So.  I am doing the next logical thing.  I am updating the last post in this post.  Which means: yes, you got it – more pictures of grandbaby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And you should have seen how he has grown!  I have current pictures (he is almost 6 months old) on my IPad, but I just haven’t figured how to get them off yet, LOL.  But when I do (shaking finger like Italian Grandma…………………………………………………………………………..

Ok.  Now on to other things.  But oh, wait, I forgot ———— I am going to be Blessed all over again this February……………….yup – you got it,  grandchild number 2 is on the way.  The only wish I have for this one is that it is a little girl, but God, I will accept whatever you Bless us with.  I am never going to stop knitting baby things – it’s a given, for the next 3 or 4 years, Nana’s needles are size 6 or below, LoL.

Now on to other things.  Since I am committed to knitting baby articles for the next 4 years, well – I started to get a little bored.  And what does the Lord do?  Drops a friend in my lap (had never met her before) that offers to teach me to quilt.  I met Vicky at one of our SnB meetings and she graciously offered to teach me (not knowing what a dunce I am).  Before you know it we have a Wednesday afternoon quilting guild going.  Vicky is our resident Guru and BJ, myself and Barbara are her rapt pupils.  Is it bad to say I look forward to Wednesdays more than any day of the week?  Oh we have so much fun.  Our first project was a little apron-like device that your sewing machine sits upon and then has pockets which hang down in front to hold some of your notions (listen to me, “notions”, like I would have know what those even where a couple of weeks ago…….) but anyway.  We are now working on a Christmas table runner.  BJ, the teacher’s pet (aptly named because everything she does is perfect, LOL) has all her squares and triangles cut out.  I am not sure where Barbara is on the project because she has been feeling so poorly (please get better soon my precious friend!), but I will tell you she completely skipped the first project and went off on her own and made the most perfect notions packet that folds up upon itself.  Only difference is she is a Marjong nut and made it in the cutest oriental material and fudged a few places so it keeps her cards secure.  Needless to say she is teacher’s pet number 1 1/2.  Then there’s little ol’ me.  My apron ended up being a skinny remote control holder that you drape over the side of a chair.  It really turned out if you don’t count the places I missed the “ditch” and the darned thing is coming apart upon itself.

But on to victory.  I have no pictures to upload this time so I will cut this post fairly short and get back to cutting out 9 3/4 squares.  If I could get the “Truing” up of the fabric done the first time, I wouldn’t have to cut so many blasted squares, but ah, it’s all a learning process, right?

Come on Ladies, buck up and try something you have never tried before and remember, no matter how alone or down you feel, there is One who always watches you and will hold you in His Arms until all the booboos go away.  Believe me, I know.  He is my brother, Jesus, and he has nursed me through so many situations.  So keep your chins up and your toes tapping….after all – you woke up this morning, right?

Talk about a funk, people.  Seems like one thing or another has happenend in my life since January and I can’t even use the excuse that all were bad.  I have had wonderful revelations, great times with friends, put our house on the market, found another house if we get lucky, lost 2 cats, gained many happy memories and basically, lived life.  I have had such an epiphany – life’ journey travels in jerks and stretches.  Either way, boy you better hang on for dear life.

Well first.  Let me upload some pictures of the latest addition to this family, my grandchild Elijah – the most perfect child in the world as all you grandmas will understand.

Hello and How are you.  It’s been a while for me trying to get through this warming trend down south here of 17 degrees.  Still the weather man says that we have had more record highs then lows for the year.  Sure doesn’t feel like it when you have you coat on under your robe.  Just wanted to pop in and say Hi. And Shirley – give me a call – I had no idea you were still in the area and have lost your number.  I would love to get together and just chat.  I can’t drive yet, but you are welcome here if you would like.  Take care and please don’t this that I have forgotten you!

This health set-back has had the ugly side-effect of blocking my creativity.  I find it hard to think let along write, draw, create or knit.  I belong to a group, CREATIVE EVERYDAY, which I losely followed last year and am going to try and do a better job this year.  I mention it here because some of you might also find the site inspirational.  It at least helps you to develope the discipline it takes to be creative.  Click the link above or the following icon to investigate.  Much Love and Keep Warm in this frozen climate we seem to be experiencing. 

As promised, I have been going through graphics and organizing them.  How quickly they get out of control.  The following was our wonder Christmas day and Dinner with a small portion of my family.  Sweet.  I hope you enjoy this peak into my world.

Well that was short lived – I am having trouble inserting them.  As you can see I have multiples which I can’t for the life of me correct at this point and I am getting cranky – so I will try again next time.  If anyone knows what I am doing differently that I always did before that always worked, please let me know.

One of the many adjustments women must make as they age can be mild to moderate hair loss.  I am currently undergoing a thinning caused by medication and a combimation of the autoimmune disorder and underactive thyroid.  If you would like further and more in-depth information on the reasons and causes, I would refer you to Google Health – Female Pattern Baldness. Lots of information is available on the web and there are many options for dealing with the condition (in my situation) while it lasts, such as wigs or hat and scarves.  I have found that Headcoverings, Unlimited to be an excellent source for both and have my first order in.  I prefer to wear a 3 stitch tam;  I like the look and the comfort.

In the coming weeks I hope to begin posting pictures again.  I love graphics and find they make a blog so much more fun to read.  I, have however, frightfully neglected my graphics library so I have a bit of work ahead of me before I can begin.  I figure a little a day will get the job done.  I am finally accepting the fact that breaking down projects to a little a day to be the ticket to living a more acceptable and less frustrating life.  I would encourage those of you who tire easily and are still trying to run as usual  that you make this simple procedure a part of your 2010 resolutions.  It really does help emotionally.

Christmas was a delight; I sincerely hope all you experienced the same and those that may have spent it alone, believe me.  You had Friends and Angels blowing wishes toward you that you may not have even been aware of.

Mikee is out in his nirvana (garden) pruning and cleaning up and I am going to go work on the baby afghan, I just wanted to pop in to say that while health still is ornery, Spirits are higher and the outlook for 2010 much more hopeful.

God Bless you all..

Well, as with most piles (referring back to my last entry) I  have managed to incorporate most of them into the general decor of the house so they don’t stand out so.  Once Christmas is over I will start to chip away slowly at the organization to, hopefully, once again bring this cottage to it’s pre-lived in discombobulation.

It doesn’t yet feel like Christmas Eve, but my husband and I haven’t yet started the preparations for tomorrow.  I am married to a jewel.  It would be a dark and depressing life if not for all his constant work, supporting me;  a fact that the doctor (and myself) have finally decided have reached unmanageable proportions.

I was admitted several days ago to out patient nursing care.  I will have a nurse, PT, OT and (this is the biggy) patient care aide running in and out of our home soon.  I mention the aide as a biggie because I have fought for so long for my independence, but my last fall the other day (and a profound missing for daily baths not supervised by a retired  Air Force MSGT, have convinced me to allow a stranger in the house to help with personal hygiene.  Although I remain the sasme, diagnosis wise, the weakness and falling is getting out of proportion to daily living with unbroken ribs (ask me about how that felt one day) and I’m just exhausted and sore enough to accept the help.l  It has been available for some time;  I have just battled that last bastion of physical dependency for so long.  And, as the doctor said, if I don’t like it I can stop it.

The one thing I am still adamat about accepting is the “Lifeline” button.  I mean Geeze.  I’m 57, not 87.  Somehow I just can’t go to that level of dependency yet.  Giving up my car keys (like I EVER (not) drove was a big enough deal.

Tomorrow will be a small but lovely gathering.  My oldest son and his (yippee – 1st grand-baby,) pregnant wife are going to join hubby, hubby’s brother and myself for a simple ham dinner and small gift exchange.  As with all Golden Memories God gives us, this one will pass in a flash, so I plan on enjoying every second of it.

Good cheer to my readers (I am amazed how many of you are out there and e-mail me).  Good Cheer, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.  You are quite literally my lifeline and though I am not consistent with entries, this silly blog gives me purpose in what would otherwise seem like a purposeless exhistance.  I wish all God’s Blessings on eveyone and Pray that 2010 will be a year that God beats up a little more regularly on  the dark one and mankind is a bit more gentle with his brothers.

I wonder – am I the only one motivated by lists?  The past few months have been difficult on me, physically and emotionally and I awoke this morning, again thinking of all the drawers that need cleaning, knooks that need dusting and cloths that need organizing.  So what do I do?  Make a list?  The only problem with this genius idea is by the time I am done with the list, I am exhausted and disheartened about how much there is to do.  So.  This useless “Journi” is going to serve as a record of accomplishments for the next couple of – ah – millenia?

For instance, starting in the bedroom, I got the piles organized, then the piles in the sun-room stacked and then the piles in the bathroom going.  Three rooms, 7300 piles and I’m exhausted.  But ready for tomorrow, and feeling like I actually accomplished something today.  I was bemoaning the lack of true progress to my greatest cheerleader (my Dear Husband) and he reminded me while I was (b)itching about the lack of time investment (about 3 hours), that it wasn’t bad for a woman that was supposed to be in a wheel chair.

So I have piles.  And a plan for tomorrow and an end in sight somewhere way out there in the future where I can see it if I really squint.  Oh, and speaking of squinting – we ordered my “old lady” glasses (Sophia Loren frames),——huge but with a large visually progressive sight area and picked up not one, but two wigs yesterday.  One for fun and everyday and one for good.  I also got 4 turbans which I adore and haven’t been out of since I purchased them.  When this ” fall out” happened about 10 years ago it took about a year to complete the cycle and get a full head of evenly grown hair again.  Going on that time table, I should be just about set for supplies for the next 12 months.  And at least I don’t have to shave my legs for awhile – yes, let’s look on the sunny side of the fence, today.

If any of you are still out there out there or looking for companionship, please write to me.  We can whine but eventually get past that and just laugh.  I was laughter really badly.