Sweet Gifties

Do you know MaryJane's Farm? You do not have to live on a farm or even be from the country to enjoy MaryJane and her writings & products. I picked up one of her books 3 or 4 years ago, interested in her back to basics style and I found so many lovely friends along the way. Her website hosts a chatroom and although I was quite hesitant at first I found the most fantastic group of ladies. Some are true blue farmgirls, some are city chicks; our interests and beliefs run the gammit, but somehow we find much in common.

I wasn't visiting the "farm" much these last few months, but felt the sudden desire to about a month ago. Don't I come back to dear friends waiting with open arms and new friends that have experienced similar heartbreak to mine this year. A topic called 'farmgirl friendship" caught me eye. The author would pair up ladies and 4 times a year when the newest edition of MaryJanes Farm Magazine comes out we send our partner a package. It was a neat idea and something special to look forward to. I received a wonderful package last Saturday as we put up our tree.


Oh I love getting packages!!!
And Wow, what a great letter~
With yummy MaryJane's organic chocolate inside! (yes I ate it, and it WAS yummy!)

Now, one thing many farmgirls have in common is craftiness. We either admire or like to try our hand at a variety of crafts. I have a feeling my farmgirl friend is talented at MANY arts, but she chose to share her quilting with me in this beautiful hot pad! I have not left it on my tree, but hey what a neat idea; a kitchen tree with quilted coasters? Anyways, not only do I love it, it matches my GREEN kitchen!!!

This wonderful surprise did not end there; she added a little container garden AND homemade chocolate chip cooks (also YUMMY!)

How much fun was that??? Thanks to my farmgirl friend!
Most of my decorating is done. Getting ready for two Christmas parties next weekend!!
Blessings!

Goings On

We had a Birthday

And some Thanksgiving

And some surprise gifties from Nancy Jo!

Remember Whensday

Remember when you were an awkward teenager and had to get your picture taken at family gatherings? (Top left...with the big glasses)

I joined a meme here . I couldn't help but start with Christmas memories!

Missed by Many

I'm not the only one to blog about my dad...

http://stokoefarms.wordpress.com/2009/03/29/in-memorium-bob-krenzer/

Truly Thankful

Working in a public office and being connected to the County Court system, one can tend to see the darker side of people. Not every day or all the time, but SOME days I can't wait for nothing more than to get home and turn off the phone and hide! No matter what our jobs, it is often too easy to forget about the goodness in people. We are so rushed and busy we find ourselves upset with others for driving to slow or standing in the wrong place in an isle in a grocery store. Whether it is something as minor as that or the horrific things we see on the TV news; it's really difficult in this life to follow the Lord's command to love others. Then there is that moment...



My family and I have had many of those moments this year. People giving of their hearts and their time. Neighbors, church friends , family & even strangers showing their love at our time of need. When my dad died it was the darkest time of my life but I saw the absolute best in people. They still continue you to bless us. No, it wasn't just lip service when they said, "we are there for you". People meant it, they followed through. They bless me so much when they help my mom. She is 62 years young, but for 40 years, she had a helpmeet, her other half; and as often happens in marriages, the work was divided. Suddenly, it's all on her shoulders or at least it feels that way. My husband, our two teenagers and myself are only 15 minutes away but we have work and school so sometimes are weekly visits are not enough. Sometimes we just haven't had the talents to make up for all those handyman talents my dad had. Sometimes we just got to say, "we don't know how". And when we have felt we are at the end of our rope emotionally and physically; someone comes and helps us along. God just won't leave us there overwhelmed.

There are more examples of the goodness of giving that has blessed my family this year than I count; they all mean more than words can express to us. I just happened to have here a visual journal of a special day that shows what I am trying to say.
Dad built this garage/barn back in the mid-eighties. He tinkered on cars and tractors and who knows what in there! This summer it need a fresh coat of paint and although the job was a BIG one, we had more than enough help. Then men who volunteered with my dad on our church's parking crew showed up early and did a phenomenal job. They organized everything, from how much paint to purchase to brushes, tee-shirts and painters hats!




It truly reminded me how selfless people can be; how blessed my family is. It's been a difficult year; but I can sit here and say I am thankful. Thankful for the legacy my dad has given me, thankful for a family I can turn to, depend on, love and enjoy. And I am thankful for the goodness of people that will sacrifice their time to do for others.

May you all be blessed this Thanksgiving

What Do We Have Here..

Seems that the mood to talk & write again has come back and you are not gonna be able to get me to hush up! I do have some pretties to share. Mom & I have filled some of our time together prowling through some thrifties. She had decided in April that I needed a china cabinet for my birthday that was in August.


Teacups and saucers seemed to strike my fancy this summer; some of them I had, some we found in our meanderings:

A sugar & creamer set my mom has had forever (must remember to find out where she acquired it from)
The last thing here I'll show you for now are these cute little Christmas plates I picked up at Joanne's. I love that nostalgic look.

I could not resist the Christmas creamer and the matching sugar bowl seen in the forground!!
Not to sound like a broken record,but the loss of my dad and other family members this year has made me extremely sentimental. So when my urge to pay attention to my house came back I started this nesting, redecorating thing. Mom loves shelves and nic nacs. Bells, thimbles, odds and ends found over the years. I was already showing signs of the same symptoms, but now I had the urge to go back to my own child hood. I may regret this down the road and think it all looks tacky, but for now it warms my heart. I found the shelves I had stored away with nic nacs I had packed up from my youth and out they came. This one is in my freshly painted bedroom because I know it has no eye appeal to anyone but me!

I guess a look only a mother could love!

Mom, dad & I and a couple little trinkets he picked up for me along the way.


I know, I'm boring ya to pieces. But just a couple more, I promise. These are new but I just fell so in love with them. Funny there seems to be some "itty bittys" out there of the paper sort. These little bittys I just couldn't pass up. I don't know why I love tiny things so, but I do.

Well Blogger won't let me put the last one up with an itty bitty kitty and a quarter behind her to show the size; so I will leave well enough alone.

Thank you for visiting and and the encouragement!

~Blessings

Recharge...

Who knew it was so hard to get a little down time and recharge the ol' batteries! The work week is busy, the weekends are busy and sometimes no matter what the outer circumstances the MIND just doesn't cooperate and relax!

It just so happens that this week I have managed two days off in the middle of the week. Yesterday DD woke up with a fever, headache and stomach. Swine flu, you say? No to my surprise it was strep. So with my almost 17 year old tucked safely in bed with the appropriate medications in her system I found myself ALONE in a quiet house on a sunny uplifting day. Oh, I just can't tell you what a rarity that has been. What did I do, you ask? I cleaned, I reorganised; I went through all the junk I have tossed aside with little care to where it belonged the last few months. Talk about good therapy!

Today was a scheduled day off. Thank you Veterans for the sacrifices you and your families have made. I have more than enough because you protect me and my family. I was able to be quite self-centered today. Of course I am taking care of DD and she is on the mend. I put the finishing touches on a clean up project but then enjoyed the pleasure of catching up at www.maryjanesfarm.com and on some of my favorite blogs. Oh what a healing balm to share with some girlfriends down on the "farm" telling stories of loss of a parent and the process that follows. What a great bunch of REAL women I have found; they truly hold an important place in my circle of friends.

So tomorrow I will return to work for two days. I find it ironic that I have the most stressful job in my life at the most stressful time in my life. I'm sure God has a reason for that...

~Blessings to you all! Hope to hear from you!

I wish I had a picture of something new and crafty to post, but as you may have guessed by now, I don't. I feel guilty for not sewing and that is just plain stupid, it's a hobby for pete's sakes! I really do yearn to get the creative juices flowing again, I love the magic of creating a pattern out of colors and shapes of fabric, and nothing can beat the feel of a quilted blanket; but I just don't have it in me. My mind just goes on overload when I even look at my quilt table, there are just too many short circuits in my brain from this year filled with loss to concentrate on a project. And I guess that is just life.
I have contemplated renaming my blog. I feel like it's false advertising to say this is a quilty, crafty, family blog. I haven't sewn in over six months. I am sure I will again, it's in my heart. I've been crocheting and have found a pattern I can handle to make some gifts for Christmas. I've been trying to write which is one of those back of the mind dreams of mine. Anyways, I wouldn't know what to rename my blog if I did...so I'll leave it and hope that the friends I've made will hang around through these ups and downs and spotty postings.

September Already?

Well, yes, yes it IS September. I see hints of color in the tree leaves already. We have had a rainy summer followed by a sudden hit of stifling humidity; but this week has ushered in some of the finest days of the season. Still warm and very sunny, but oh so comfortable.
My summer hasn't been all that productive. I have struggled with the lose of my dad, and the oh so many changes that have followed. We move on because we know that is God's design for us, we can not become immoble. That is useless. But it does take ALOT more energy right now to do what needs to be done.
The unexpected death of my father was all too soon followed by the passing of his youngest sister. Another shock. The month after that we lost my great Uncle to whom my dad had grown very close to. It seemed to never end. Now my Grandma, dad's mother, is in hospice care. She has lived a long life, beating the odds of some major health issues in her young adult life. It's been a long hard year for our family. Here is a picture taken by dad's cousin of he and my grandma:


So how do you move on when life seems so rough? Some days honestly I couldn't tell you, but then I am reminded: thinking of others. Life is fragile, we are here for a very short while to share God's love with those around us. I was starkly reminded of this yesterday when my co-worker received the call that her father was being taken to the ER with chest pains. His life here ended yesterday. Just as sudden and heartbreakingly as it happened with my dad only five months ago. And yes, it all came back though it hasn't moved too far away to begin with. But I am gently reminded to poor out the comfort
on my friend as God comforted me in my time of need. We have to focus on others.

Give those you love a hug, let them know you are there. And when life is overwhelming find someone who needs something you can give.
~Blessings

Back in Time

It was a lovely day to watch a Civil War reenactment complete with Abe Lincoln delivering the Gettysburg Address.



Waiting for the President..


He was quite the story teller!







Oh *sigh*. . .



Mom and I went back Sunday morning for the Union church service..I love a sweet little country church, singing old hymns. But wouldn't ya know they were memorializing a fallen Chaplain. If it was part of the act, we couldn't tell because the tears were flowing. (which of course started our own waterworks)







~Blessings

Can you believe it is July already? I never did plant any veggies this year; but the good news is is that I hear there will be a farmers market right up the street from me this year. The flower beds do look nice and I took a day off yesterday to make the front landscaping look a little more respectable.
We had a parade in town last weekend. Greg drove his grandpa's tractor for the first time since dad's been gone. Must admit I had a lump in my throat~which is quite good for me usually the waterworks start and don't stop!
We also had a weekend full of soccer tournaments. Talk about time flying is on the
U19 team! They had a great weekend of which one of the two days was dry and they came home champs!! My 44 and her #4 BFF
I am still working on crochet. I think I am to the point where I can finish a project and it will look respectable. I haven't really had the energy to quilt, but I can calm my brain down enough again to read. I picked up a Debbie Macomber book for the first time mainly because the cover seemed so relaxing and it's been a nice cheerful read.
I took mom to have shoulder surgery today. From my understanding she had a good sized bone spur removed. This should keep her out of work until her scheduled retirement. She deserves it; she's been making Cool Whi~p for almost 30 years. I wanted her to stay with us, but she laughed at the thought! Honestly she wouldn't get much rest her with the 4 of us and a pup; but I was worried she wouldn't be able to do anything. She seemed great after surgery, though ready for a nap real soon. So I am close enough to check on her and we will see how it goes.

Well, I am lazy tonight...so I am going to pick up a pizza!! Thanks for all your encouraging words!

~Blessings

A Day of Quilts

Mom and I went to a first quilt show today. Incredible. Mindboggling. Inspirational (hopefully)!

Here are a few pictures from the Genesee Valley Quilt Club Inc Quilt Festival at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Take my breathe away!
I love the originality of Remembering Marmalade by Bonnie Robinson. That tail is something else!


I love kids fabric and the sweetness of children's quilts. Here's one of the many that caught my eye.
Alaina's Quilt by Carolyn Maruggi


Batik fabrics always catch my eye, but I always seem to overthink them, thus having no clue how to use them. I love how Joan Wigg used batiks in her Beautiful Batiks Row by Row.


I am an outdoor lover at heart and I am always drawn to nature and God's creatures. I don't know how the moose thing started by I am a sucker for a moose! Claire Welch's Northern Neighbors quilt fit me to a tee!
Here is another beautiful scenic quilt entitled Johnnie's Bear Quilt by Karen Wilcox
One of my favorite patterns is the Courthouse Steps. The pattern is similar to the Log Cabin which is also a favorite of mine. This Courthouse Steps by Liz Cocuzzi is a lovely rendition in browns. Is
n't the border of houses cute on Cracked Up by Cynthia Marino?


I have a special fondness for sampler quilts and traditional blocks Arizona Queen by Nancy Smith is a beauty!.
Also Colton Wedding by Jody Farraci (I love toile prints!)
Can you imagine the work this sampler took? (I missed the name on this one :(


Have you seen the quilts that use all sorts of neat embellishments to add to their style? Well they are even more gorgeous in person than in the magazines! Yesterday by MonaJeanne Easter was absolutely precious!
And some blocks from Ribbons, Pearls, & Lace

Ok, I know, I really can't show you EVERYthing..they were all so lovely! So I will close with a couple of neat quilts that show great use of theme fabrics. You know those fabrics that are just so darn cute but you think, "What could I do with those?" Well, these women did wonders!! Patricia Foote made this adorable A Dick & Jane Quilt to Griffin,
The King was in the building gracing Brook's Elvis by Joyce McMurray And finally, two of my sentimental favorites for their odes to cowboys and cowgirls Saturdays with Gabby by Leslie Delpopolo and My Heros Have Always Been Cowgirls by Kate Wylie



Hope you enjoyed the mini-show!
~Blessings



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