Seattle Trip ~ January 2013

 I cannot believe I am actually sitting down to write about a trip within a week of coming home. It may be the only time it ever happens, so I had to make note of it.

Last spring my second daughter and her family moved to the Seattle area. Of course I can't let too much time lapse between visits or perhaps everyone will forget me! So I gave myself a birthday present and flew to see them last week. The time just flew by and I wish I could have stayed longer.

This little man is now almost 10 months old. Jonathan was so darling with me and came right to me and let me hold him as much as I wanted. He spent a lot of time hanging out leaning on my leg (as in the picture below). He stands by himself and even accidentally took a step or two while I was there. He'll be walking in no time. (A side note - I thought he was just a friendly sort, but when my friend came over he burst into tears and would have nothing to do with her. I must admit it made me happy that he took to me right away.)

The girls have grown so much! Madeleine is now 5, and Diane just turned 3 yesterday. Diane has become a little talker, and sings a lot. It's so fun to see them learn and grow. I just wish I were around to see it every day.

The day after I got there I took off with my friends to Manchester. It's a tiny town right by Port Orchard, and we had a beautiful view of the Sound and could see the Seattle skyline when the clouds cleared a little. We had a grand time talking, playing games, talking, and eating. All the things we do best together.

Our view from the house in Manchester

Karen Perry, Tamara Badger, Melanie Veazey, Diane, Wendy Howe, Marsha Porter

 We celebrated my birthday the next morning with a delicious breakfast. Later we had birthday cake. Chocolate cake with vanilla buttercream frosting. My favorite.

Wendy, Tamara, Marsha, Karen, Diane, Gloria Hough

That afternoon I returned to Debra's. We celebrated with cake again that night after dinner. Madeleine and Diane arranged the candles. A five for the tens column, and six ones for the ones column. (You do the math.) Children of a math major for sure. Actually, they had the five from Madeleine's birthday, and the other candles were the only other ones in the house. Leave it to that same math major to figure out how to make that equal 56.

We spent the rest of the time I was there just being together. I played with the kids (Sequence for Kids is a great game) and read to them. I got to see my sister a couple of times. Debby and I just talked and talked. There was not enough time for all the talking I wanted to do. I think this trip was the best birthday present I ever gave myself. 

Madeleine, Diane, Diane

Jonathan and Diane

Diane and Debra

Oh, how I miss them! 

He Restoreth My Soul by Donald L. Hilton, Jr, MD

An excellent book on dealing with pornography addiction, a plague our world is riddled with.

More Christmas and Birthday Gifts

I finished these late for Christmas, but early for birthdays. Actually I finished them at the very beginning of January but didn't want to post them until now (after they've been given away). 

This is a project that expanded as I went along, thanks to ideas I gathered from other people. I think it's a fun gift for me to give, especially because I love to read so much. 

Each little fabric envelope or bag, whatever you want to call it, is a self contained reading kit. There is a coordinated bookmark, some tissues (in case it's a sad book), some post-its (to mark parts you want to go back to, or refer to in a book group discussion), a small pen (with which to take notes), some reading lists (covering many genres), and some chocolates. 

I better make one for myself.

January Miscellany

I have to admit, I just wanted to use that word: miscellany. I probably don't have that many things to share, but there you have it. 

This month has disappeared in the blink of an eye, yet I find myself saying, "is it only the 19th of the month by now?" I realized I haven't posted since the third day of the month, and here are a few of the reasons why (the miscellany):

1. I've been sick. I was hit hard a couple of days before the New Year, and I'm still not 100%. Mostly a miserable head cold, and exhaustion. I spent several days getting up in the morning and planning all the things I would do that day while I ate breakfast. Then I promptly went back to bed and slept. Although I'm still dragging, and I am only fighting some slight congestion, I'm much improved. The poor air quality we're experiencing here does not help. 

I love the month of January and its potential for new beginnings. I've set some fun goals and resolutions, and I must say I'm a bit dismayed at my delay in being able to carry them out. But I still have the rest of the year to go, and if I don't take it easy now and fully recover, I'll miss out on more time to do the fun things I have planned. 

I haven't even done any reading to speak of, that's how tired I've been.

2. Now that I am feeling some better, I have been working like crazy on a project that I don't want to reveal until it has been given. I had optimistically hoped to have it done by Christmas. Ha! Then I thought by the middle of January. Ha! again. Realistically I am in the final stages now and hope to have it completed by its "due date." Hopefully a post to come on that by the end of the month. (And hopefully no Ha! for that goal.) At least I am full of hope!

3. Long story coming in this item. The short version, if you'd like to hurry to the next item, is this: we had a pipe burst this week. 

Long version: We've had record cold temperatures this month. At times I wonder if I will ever be warm again. Wouldn't I have been a terrible pioneer? Back to the story. Last Tuesday evening I was sewing downstairs. It gets very cold down there in the evening and usually I head upstairs to the warmer climate before dinner. I was in the middle of something and didn't want to stop, so I decided to stay down there a little longer. I had the TV on, and heard a funny noise outside. Almost like the crashing sound of a big pile of snow falling. It was dark and I couldn't see anything obvious, so I kept working. Ray came down to ask me a question. I turned down the TV, and just as I started to say "I hear running water", Ray said, "I just stepped in water!" He looked down and water was pouring out from our wall onto the floor. It was warm water, so Mr. Handy immediately turned off the hot water. Meanwhile I was grabbing all the towels downstairs. We figured out what it was - a single water line that only feeds one thing. We were able to turn that off, and won't have to fix it until Spring. Here are the miracles and blessings that happened in the process:

a. We were right there when it happened. So easily we could have been upstairs for the night just to come down in the morning to a drenched and flooded. downstairs. No thank you to that option!

b. The water only went on the tile, no rug or carpet was affected.

c. Ray solved the problem quickly, and in less than an hour it was all cleaned up and fixed for now.

c. No real damage to the wall or floor.

d. I was reminded again how wonderful it is to be married to a man who stays calm in any situation, and how nice it is to work so well together. He keeps me grounded and sane while I constantly test his ability to stay sane.

Finishing the mopping up.

Everything moved out of the way of the water, into my office area. Most of it is back to normal now.

4. That is really the end of my list for now, but I couldn't resist ending with this quote. I don't know the source--my daughter sent it to me--I look at it when I need a chuckle. I don't know why it's so funny to me, but it is certainly is true.

First Finish of the Year

To tell the truth, I actually finished this on December 31. But I didn't get a picture taken of it, or get it posted in time for 2012. So I'm happy to count it for 2013.

I made this bag for Beth for Christmas. She needs a new church bag, and since the last one I made for her was when she was a young teenager (and has cats on it--Laurel Birch cats, so they're cute, but cats nevertheless), she wanted a new, more grown-up looking bag. That seems reasonable, now that she's married and has two children. Maybe Rachel will like her cat bag.

The pattern is a Laura Denison design - Folded Bottom Tote. I found these pretty fabrics, and did some free-motion quilting on it to enhance it. I have to say I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.

I love bags, and always think "How easy to make a bag!" but it's never as easy as it seems it should be. For something smaller than a baby quilt it should go together a lot faster. And the seams are always bulky because I like to line it with a cotton duck in addition to a layer of batting, to give it shape. I only broke one needle and bent another needle on this bag. Not bad.

Overall it was a great project to start the new year with. Now on to the next project.

2013

I'm sick as a dog. What a way to start the New Year! Still, I'm excited about some goals and resolutions I've made for 2013.

First, my theme, or motto for the year:

• Resolve to spend more time with those I love
• Resolve to strive more earnestly to become the person God wants me to be.
• Resolve to find happiness, regardless of my circumstances.

(taken from a talk given by Dieter F. Uchtdorf, October 2012)

Second, my ongoing goals, or tasks for the year:

First things first:

• Continue to work on and improve in becoming spiritually stronger through prayer and scripture study
• Improve my eating habits
• Exercise regularly

Photo labeling:

• Label existing digital photos in my files
• Scan and label family photos

Third, my monthly goals which will change in specifics, but fall into the following two categories:

Household organization:

• Tackle a room, or region of the house monthly. Thoroughly clean, and do some organizing while I'm at it.

Project list:

• Choose a project from my Main Projects list, and tackle it for the month. Note that photo labeling falls under this, so on months short of available time, that may fill this bill.