Life..............

Dress A Girl Dress I made this week.  The top is crocheted by my daughter Karyn and I added the skirt.
This dress was sponsored for $15.00 about 20 minutes after I posted it on Face Book.  Thank you Katie Cunningham.

Dress A Girl dress I made last week.  I cut a toddlers T-shirt just 1.5 inches below the sleeve opening and added the skirt.  This dress was actually sponsored before it was made.
Thank you Claudia Cope

Looking North up the Swinomish Channel in LaConner Washington.  A sweet little town that is a delight to visit.

Looking South on the Swinomish Channel in LaConner Washington
The Rainbow bridge that crosses the channel in the background.

My Sister Jacque

A very favorite picture of my family.
Taken in December of 2011.  We knew Kris was sick and had a very short time left with us.

It seems once you fall out of the blogging groove, it can be difficult to get back in.  I am posting a few pictures of my life in recent days.  Of course they have been filled with caring for grandchildren and great grandchildren. I have squeezed in some sewing and spent one day cleaning my house with the help of my friend Rebecca.
My sister Jacque who is suffering from cancer has been at my house for the past week.  She generally lives in Seattle with one of her daughters. Last week she went to the hospital for a transfusion and they discovered she had pneumonia. After a couple of days in the hospital she came out here. This is the third time she has come and stayed a week with me because she has difficulty breathing in Seattle. She was very weak when she came out, but she seems to gain in strength. Having her here isn't any problem at all.  She can do most things for herself, spends her time in her bed or in the living room on the couch. The only added work is the small meals she needs through out the day. She will be returning to Seattle on Tuesday as she needs treatment again during the week. She was getting a bit stir crazy (a good sign) on Saturday so we took a drive North and West to the little village of LaConner.  It is a fun touristy town. It was a warm day and we took a very short walk along the shore of the Swinomish Channel. We both were pretty tired by the time we got home.
The web site for my Africa trip is up and running. http://www.netturtlestudios.com/evy/   I have about 100 dresses I need to take pictures of and get loaded onto the site. The sponsorship program is going very well.  Since I announced it in early August, I have received $1000.00 in sponsorship.  Only $14,000.00 to go. I will be doing a presentation at my church this coming Sunday.
I included the picture of my family because it makes me so happy every time I see it. The way we were. It was a happy bittersweet day.  Knowing we would never have a complete family photo done again and being together as an entire family having a great day together.

Lunch bags my daughter Gina and I made for her children.

One I made for the neighbor girl for her birthday.
Now I have one in process for granddaughter Olivia.  Can't make one for Kate and not for her.

Isabella not appreciating in any way taking a bath in Gramma's sink.

A bag I made my friend.

It folds flat and to about the size of the little brown pocket on the front so you can tuck it into your purse for when you go grocery shopping.

New couch.  You can see where I tuck my laptop when I am not using it too.

So, probably I should head to bed as I know I have another very busy week ahead of me this coming week too.  Gotta get some much needed rest.

I will leave you with...........................................................

The obligatory shot of Pepper.
She lost her perch on the big comfy green couch.  I tried to make her comfortable on the table but she will have nothing to do with it.

Random

The climbing hydrangea I planted on the south side of my house.  It was just a scrawny little twig for so many years. Finally last year it decided to take off.  I think by next spring I will be able to guide it over the top of my gate and hopefully up along the fence.

Pepper and I were out on poop patrol. I can't help taking pictures of her. She is so darn cute.

I get so much enjoyment from my roses.  I remember a card someone gave my mom many years ago when my sister was killed in a water accident.  The front was a beautiful rose and the caption was that God gave us memories so we could have roses in January. Every time I look at my beautiful roses I remember that card.

Have to get a little Grandson love into the mix.  Great grandson Jayce David.  He is learning to get down off of Gramma's porch. He fell, but fortunately from the other side so it is not so far to go.  He insists on being outside and is comfortable, usually, with stairs. He negotiates mine and the ones at his house every day so I was a bit surprised when he did fall from the porch.

There is something so special about day lily's.  One day of absolute beauty and the next nothing. These are special because the came from the garden of Stan's sister and brother in law.  His sister Susie lost a very long struggle with cancer this summer. 

You know how you associate some flowers with people?  My uncle had a gorgeous hydrangea along side his house.  When Stan and I bought this house 12 years ago, I just had to have one to plant beside mine. I bought this one. It is on the east side of my house where it thrives beautifully. Two years ago though, someone thought it needed a hard prune. Someone else was just a little bit peeoed when they took a walk through the garden and discovered it.  It did not bloom at all the following year, but this year has made up for it.  That person has been forgiven.  This is my first hydrangea but since have collected several more, including a gorgeous white one. I had plans of planting a hedge of white ones, but never got beyond the original one.

Disregard the Gramma fat tummy and focus on the pretty baby.  Who could bring themselves to put that down? We sat like this for 2 hours while he napped.  Pepper right alongside the entire time.  She really thinks it is her job to watch out for the babies.

After our nap, a very happy rested boy.

A couple of days later, Great Granddaughter Miss Trynity came over to try on some shoes a friend had given to Gramma for her.  Unfortunately the feet were just too big.

Mommy tried real hard to get her to like them.

But she had them off as soon as she could.

Pepper keeping vigil out the front window.  Nothing gets past her. 

Prayers for a Blessed and safe weekend for everyone.

Today

Peek-a-boo toes.

The owner of those peek-a-boo toes.  Miss Isabella Katherine.

Napping on the couch while Gramma knits.

Jayce David showing Great Gramma he can almost stand alone. Mommy encouraging him.

Getting the hang of it. He even managed a couple of steps. Jayce will be one year old July 1.

I was in the Garden while the dew was still on the roses.

God gave us memories so we could have roses in January.

To day Miss Isabella and her big brother Darius spent the day with Gramma and Pops while their parents were at work. We started our day by going to Church. Stan and I go in separate cars because he stays afterwards for choir. Good thing today because Miss Isabella decided she did not want to be good. She and Gramma wound up going home mid service. Darius stayed with Pops which was good because we had a visiting Pastor and part of his service was a puppet show.  I enjoyed what I was able to see of it. Glad Darius got to see the entire show.
We really did not do anything special for the day. Stan does not like having a fuss made over him for any reason so I have quit trying. Took me lots of years because my family always loved to have parties and make a big deal out of things.
Miss Isabella's daddy has not been working for several weeks so he has stayed with the kids. Consequently, she does not like to stay with her Gramma. We had a pretty fussy day, even though the pictures do not depict that.  She is a nursed baby and does not take a bottle very well. It is a struggle to get her to take one at all. Since Daddy is back to work and will be busy all summer, including a job in Alaska, she will be getting used to spending time here. I am thinking I might need to get my stroller back from daughter Gina so we can do some outside time this summer.
After Miss Isabella and Darius left and I caught my second wind, Pepper and I went out for a walk around the block. She loves her walks. I just have to ask her if she wants to go and she nearly beats me down the stairs to the door. I have been so inactive all winter, my knees hurt constantly and my ankles are always swollen. It is a vicious circle, you become chronic because you are inactive and you are inactive because you are in constant pain. Stan and I are planning to take a trip to Southeastern Alaska in just two weeks. There will be lots of walking so I started trying to get some walking in to build my stamina. I was able to do one more block than usual tonight.
After I got home, my daughter Angie and her family came down for a few minutes. The live just 6 or 7 houses down the street from us. We got to enjoy watching Jayce practice standing up. He even went from sitting to standing twice on his own.  Of course with all of the cheers and encouragement, he was having a great time. I am sure he will be walking by the end of this week.
I also managed to squeeze in a few moments of knitting. Trying to get my special order hats done. I do not want to have them hanging over my head for too long.
Now it is time for me to do just a few more rows and head to bed. Four wonderful grands will be spending the day with Gramma tomorrow. I am sure it will be a very busy day.
Hope you all had a blessed day.

"Cooper, Darius

if you are finished with the chairs, please put them back under the table."

One was very literal in his translation of what Gramma said. Hint............he does not get to spend almost every day with her.

Another week in the life of Gramma2Many

Caleb (#6212)

doesn't even need

a skateboard to ride the rails!

Landing on both feet successfully.

Miss Elizabeth (#6314)

learning to knit with Gramma.

She actually caught on very quickly and took her project with her when she went home to work on it further. She is the first to get the concept of knit one row and purl one row. I usually teach them to knit every row until they are comfortable with the knit portion of it.

Because we are in the middle of big changes in the basement, tiling the floor and putting in new windows, that area is closed off to Grands. This is the aftermath of a day at Gramma's and being unable to play downstairs.

I wish I could have taken pictures of a few bolts of the lightening that accompanied this hail storm. Had I still been living in Georgia, I would have been looking for a safe place to hide from the tornado.

I have not experienced a thunder storm with the power this one had for many years.

Still waiting for my beautiful Wisteria to come into full bloom. It usually blooms before it leaves. I do, however, see a few leaves showing.

The favorite corner of my yard. My cherry tree and my swing. I love to sit here and knit in the summer.

"Gramma"

"Mmmmm"

"I'm a very Blessed little girl."

"Yes you are darling, but what makes you say that?"

"Gramma, didn't you hear that in a land far away there was an earthquake and lots of children cannot find their mommies and daddies? That is why I am blessed."

Gramma to self, "Oh my gosh!"

Olivia Marie # 3317. Five years old.

What better way is there

to spend a Friday night than being entertained by there Grade School's production of Jack and the Bean Stalk, put on in by Missoula Children's Theater.
It helps if some of the performers rank high in your favorite list. Above is Elizabeth, in the blue who played the part of an acrobat and Abigail sitting below her playing the part of a ballerina. Looking a bit like a disgruntled ballerina here.
Also featured was Caleb, in the middle with the blue scarf playing the part of a farmer.
Missoula Children's Theater is a non profit theater that travels to schools around the world. They hold auditions on Monday, (trying to find a part for every child who auditions) and performing on Friday night and Saturday afternoon. This was a very well done production with a twist on the story I had never seen or heard. Lots of singing and dancing and definitely a great opportunity for all of the kids. And to think I could have stayed home and blog surfed or played games. So glad I did not!!

I do not know if it writers block

or if I am just to spread out, but I have not been able to share much with you the past week.

But I do have this to share with you from Saturday.

If you were a four year old boy (#6518) and you found this paddle with suction cups on it,

And you discovered that it sticks if you slapped it down on the seat of a toilet.

What would you think it was?

Well, if you guessed it was a toilet opener, you were right!!!