Tomato Plants

Another rainy day today. I don't mind it, though. Last night I planted five containers with tomato plants. I still have three more to plant. I'm going to do them tonight, if it's not raining. I picked up some more buckets (free from the bakery) and I think I'll put a few pepper plants in them. I would also like to plant some more flowers. I've kind of gone nuts with the planting this year. Guess I'm making up for the past couple years when I didn't do too much gardening.

Still haven't gotten any sewing done. It's been nice in the evenings so I've wanted to be outside. Darling son was very pleased when he saw all the signatures on his graduation quilt. I need to add a border with his name and the year of graduation on it, then get busy quilting it. That may wait until the Fall. I still have to get those baby quilts done and have committed to quilting the Double Delight for a gift my mother would like to give a friend.

We had rueben sandwiches for supper last night. Darling hubby requested them. I wasn't really in the mood for them, but they are quick and easy to make, so after I had them made for everyone else, I made myself a fried egg sandwich. I just had a taste for it. I have some farm fresh eggs that have a great flavor. There is such a big difference between store bought eggs and farm eggs.

My grandmother is not doing too well. I am going to go visit her tomorrow, I think. She is having hip and back pains.

Time for a fresh start

Time to regroup! The graduation and party are over. I can concentrate on other things now. We did have a great party for darling son. It was out at the old lake on the outskirts of town. A lot of people showed up and he received a lot of nice gifts. And no one went away hungry! We had lots of food. The fried chicken all went. There was about half a gallon bag of mostaccioli left and a few bags of bbq left. I purposefully made a lot of bbq so we wouldn't run out. I have plans for the leftovers and it freezes really well.

I have not sewn a stitch for weeks. I thought once the party was over Saturday that I would sew on Sunday and Monday, but it didn't happen. Sunday I was wiped out and hardly did anything except put things away from the party and get my house back in order. Plus we had overnight guests Saturday, so that set me back a bit. Monday my brother had a party for his college graduation. I could have sewn before and after that, but I just wasn't in the mood.
I really have to get back in the mood now. I'm sure all it will take will be sitting down at the machine to get excited about sewing again. I just have to motivate myself to take that first step!

Party getting closer

Just a couple more days til the graduation party. I have two roaster pans full of bbq in my fridge. Still need to make the mostaccioli. I will probably do that tomorrow night unless I feel ambitious and do it tonight.

Had a picture of some of the family at graduation that I thought I'd share. We had quite a group at the ceremony and not everyone could sit together. On the left side is a close friend of the family, then darling daughter, brother, stepdad, and brother.

I still have to make new bags for the yard game. They are sitting on the kitchen chair waiting to be replaced. I can use the same filling (corn) for the new ones.

I'm also looking forward to having two days off after the party, since it's a three day weekend. I plan to get some quilting done Sunday and Monday. I don't think I could do any quilting today or tomorrow anyway, my hand is so sore and a little swollen from cutting up all that meat for the bbq!

There is a mystery being posted on the one online group I follow. It looks pretty easy, but I just haven't had a chance to start it. I need to finish those baby quilts first. I don't really have a lot of baby fabric and I need to get a pastel type baby quilt made. Maybe I'll do that for the mystery...

Planting flowers

Last night I planted another pot of flowers for the deck outside. The first two pots were round, with a variety of plants in them. What I planted last night was a long rectangular box with just moss rose in it. That's one of my favorite summer flowers. My great grandmother had them in her flower beds. She also had snapdragons, which I think are neat. I put some of them in the assorted pots.

I also finished cooking the meat for the bbq last night. I have 60 pounds of meat waiting to be shredded and put into sauce. Going to make the sauce Wednesday night. That will be a project and a half. Then Friday night I'm planning to make the mostaccioli and sauce. This is going to be quite a party, if I have anything to say about it!

I also have to make sure we have a second set of the bean bags for the yard game we are taking out to the lake for the party. Last year one of the sets of bags had a couple bags get tears in them (I think the material was old). Anyway, I have to make another set, I think. They were pretty ease, just 7" squares sewn together. The game needs 8 bags total, 4 of one color and 4 of another color. I'm sure I can find some material to make them with!

Graduation is over, Party still to come!

He did it! My darling son graduated high school Saturday night. He was awarded two, count them, two scholarships! I am bursting at the seams about this. He also performed a guitar solo for the last time with the band during graduation that netted a huge round of applause. One of the scholarships was for band students and he and another band student shared the award. The other was for a descendant of a coal miner, which he is. Darling daughter was awarded this scholarship last year, so I was really really busting out over that one. I figure it was my great grandparents up there working things around! Neither scholarship is a lot, monetarily, but they mean a lot sentimentally. Have I mentioned how proud I am of him?

Needless to say, I haven't done much in the way of quilting. We had family here over the weekend. This week is going to be busy with preparations for the party this Saturday. I'm hoping after Saturday I can get back to business.

Day before graduation

Gearing up for a busy weekend. Did a little sewing last night. Put the last border on the pinwheel cat fabric quilt. Won't have much time to sew with graduation and company this weekend. I'm so ready for him to be out of high school! So is he!

Daisy Chains

I've got to get myself out of the afternoon slumps. Every day at work it seems a little bit after lunch I just want to crawl under my desk and take a nap. I'm sure I'm not eating the right foods, but even when I eat right I still don't want to be here! Oh, to be independently wealthy....hahahahahahahaha

This picture is of what I call clover. It's one of those pretty white flowers that grow in the Spring in everyone's yard around here - unless they put weed killer down. Personally, some plants people call weeds I find very pretty. Like the purple stuff that grows along the edges of fields and roads. And although Goldenrod makes me sneeze, I still think it looks pretty in the fields. I'm sure the farmer's don't share my opinion on that one!

When I was little we used to pick the white clover and tie the stems together, stem to flower, and make crowns and bracelets and necklaces.

We have had rain and storms off and on all day today. They started very early in the morning and are expected to continue until tomorrow morning. I made chicken and noodles last night for supper. It was yucky. I just couldn't seem to get the seasonings right. Tonight I'm making rueben sandwiches. I can't really mess them up!

Darling son had his senior class trip today. The rain probably put the kabosh on a couple things they could do, but where they were going had a lot of indoor activities, such as swimming, a rock climbing wall, volleyball, etc. I'm sure he will be beat when he gets home tonight. Darling daughter worked 6-2:30 and was stopping at the thrift shop on her way home to try and find some more shirts for work, to tide her over until she gets her first paycheck.

Darling husband is probably working 12 hours today, 3pm to 3am. That makes for a very long day. I'm going to drop off some lunch for him to have later in the evening. It might just be a couple bologna sandwiches, but it will be something extra for him to eat.

Spring is springing up!

I did a little bit of sewing last night. I finished all but the final border on the kitty cat and fish bones baby quilt. I also cut the final border, a 3 inch strip of alternating solids that are in the quilt. Tonight I think I will put the border on and maybe pin either that quilt or the dog and dog bones baby quilt. I have the backing all set for both, but have to make sure I have enough of the batting I want to use.

Here's a picture of darling daughter and her daddy. She had a great first day at her new job yesterday. She worked 9-5 but today had to get up and be in at 6 a.m.! She is working until 6! Nothing like a 12 hour day to start her off. Wow. I hope she can keep day hours, but not necessarily 12 hours days. It's a half hour drive for her to work and I really don't want her driving those country roads in the dark if she can avoid it!

We have a beautiful Spring day today. The sun is shining and the temp is perfect - not too hot, not too cold. We even have a little breeze blowing. I think we might get some storms tonight, though.

Last night the sloppy joe was pretty good for supper. Didn't make anything on the side with it. I was tired and ended up falling asleep about 8! I must really be a wimp... Tonight I have a chicken cooking in the crock pot with carrots, celery, and onions. When I get home from work I will pull the chicken off the bones, cook some noodles and thicken up a gravy to make chicken and noodles. That will be a pretty good supper.

Monday before High School Gradaution

Don't know if I am ready for this or not, but graduation is this Saturday night. Guess I really don't have any choice but to be ready because it's coming whether I'm ready or not! I'll probably blubber like an idiot - that's my baby, you know!

Here's a picture of darling son with proud Papa and Mama. We were at the city park taking pictures before he went to prom. He must of had a great time, he slept the entire next day! They go to post prom at the school and don't come home until six in the morning.

Didn't do more than half an hour of sewing over the weekend. As much as I wanted to get into the sewing room, I couldn't find time. Friday night I went out with my friends for pizza. Saturday was busy with prom, then in the evening we went to that birthday party for my nephew. Sunday I was just plain worn out!

Yesterday dear hubby made a fantastic pork loin on the grill, along with some Italian Sausages. We had twice baked potatoes, devilled eggs, and veggies to go with it. Dinner was very good. Tonight I'm making sloppy jo for supper. Gotta be something easy for Monday nights!

Happy Mother's Day!

It's early Sunday morning and I'm waiting for the rest of the house to wake up. We don't have much planned for today, just to go to church and then grill out. Darling hubby is great on the grill and there's a pork roast in the fridge with his name on it! ha ha.

Darling son went to prom last night. He looked like quite the man in his tuxedo with tails! I'll post a picture in a future blog. His date was very pretty also. I felt kind of nostalgic after they left because I kept thinking how this was his last high school prom and the next time he would be in a tux would probably be his or darling daughter's wedding! Scary thought!

Yesterday we went to my nephew's first birthday party. My sister in law rented out a hall and had a huge party, 50 or more people, there. It was quite the production, in my opinion. Two cakes, huge wall murals, Sesame Street themed, a big blow up of big bird about 5' tall, and big sub sandwiches for food along with other stuff. I'm not jealous of this woman, however I really truly do not understand her doing this. She and my brother are unemployed right now and have been for months. I didn't have that kind of production when my children turned one, and my husband and I were both working at the time! I guess to each his own.

I did get the opportunity to spend some time with my cousin and her baby at the party. She is my age and has a baby not quite a year old. Her first! The baby is so cute I just love seeing him, which I don't get to do too often. He's just a little miracle.

The end of a really long week

This week seemed really long to me. I finally finished darling son's graduation invitations. There are a couple stragglers that need to go to people at his work and darling hubby's work but they can take them there themselves. I'm done!

The food and beer are all ordered. Next week I will pick up the meat to make the bbq with.
That is a project in itself, but it will get done. I also have to find a good picture of darling son to have put on the cake. I think I want one with him and his guitar.

Tonight I'm going out with a couple friends to dinner. I am really looking forward to it.
Made spaghetti pie for supper last night. It was okay, no great shakes. Kinda burned out on everything right now. Tonight I'm probably just going to make tuna helper for whoever is home.

Going to work on the baby quilts tomorrow morning. Have to get a move on on them.

It's a beautiful day!

What a great day today is! My darling daughter has found employment for the summer, yea! She will be working about half an hour from home at an assisted living center. This is so perfect for her, being in the nursing program at college and all. And darling son has a nice job right in our hometown getting enough hours to keep his gas tank full. We are fortunate people.

Worked on the graduation invitations again last night. Mostly I wrote out addresses on the guest list. Tonight I plan on addressing the invites. I have to keep a list of addresses so darling son can send out thank you's! I look forward to these parties, but I will be glad when it's finally here and all the prep work is done! Still need to get all the meat and make bbq.

I did take a picture of the baby quilt work in progress. I'm trying to decide what colors to put in the corners. I want to keep the 'movement' of the pinwheels going in the border.

After this quilt is done, I want to make a baby quilt in pastels. I need something more for an infant than for a young child, I think.

Tuesday afternoon sunshine

It's a beautiful day out. The sun is shining and the temp is good. Can't wait to get home from work and enjoy the rest of the day. Darling daughter has offered to make dinner tonight - chicken stir fry. I will use that gift of time to either work on graduation party invitations and/or to sew. Last night I worked on those dag gone invites for two and a half hours. I thought I had lost the list of people to invite, so I recreated the list. Then I found the old one. Figures! Oh well.

Every time I look at the quilt I made just for us out of scraps, the one posted in March I named Scraps of My Life that has the maroon criss crossing in the center of the blocks, I get the urge to do another quilt like it. It was a lot of fun and I think turned out to be a really interesting quilt. First I have to get a couple baby quilts done.

I got a call from the Nolting representative today. He called to inform me that he and his wife were going to be in the area (about half an hour away) this week, demonstrating their machines if I wanted to come out to play! Unfortunately, with work all week and prom Saturday, I don't think I'll be able to get down there. I did call the shop they were at and talk to the owner. She is trying to decide if purchasing a machine and renting time out on it would be a good venture. I told her I would be interested in renting time if the price was right. But I really really really want my own. Some day.

Spring concert in the park

Here are a couple of pictures of my son at the outdoor band concert Sunday. While listening to the concert, I leaned over and said to my husband that this would be the last concert he is in with the high school, except for one or two songs at graduation. The next time we see him in a concert it will be with the college band. That will sure be something and I'm really looking forward to it.

I picked up the signature quilt top for his graduation from the high school office. Several of the teachers and staff signed it for him. It will go to his party where the guests can also sign.

While in Kentucky, I picked up a package of five or six of the permanent pens for writing on cloth in different colors. I plan on using them at the party. All I had was black to send to the school.

I did get a few hours of sewing done on Saturday. I worked on the baby quilt with the novelty cat fabric. Saturday was my 22nd wedding anniversary. We didn't do anything special. Sunday we did go out for a few minutes and ordered pizza and salads for at home. The pizza was very good. I had bought the ingredients a couple weeks ago to make homemade pizza, but since I didn't get around to it soon enough, they have since been eaten! Agh.

I've been working on graduation party anouncements. I have got to get those out this week.
I made a big pot of spaghetti sauce yesterday. We will have that and some garlic bread for supper tonight.