ATC's From DJ

I really do not know where to start. I am well, but guarded. Doing everything I can to stay well. Colon inflammation is not easy to get rid of. I have missed everyone and at times have looked at your blogs. You are all so creative!!! To add to this time, I have been dealing with depression. Okay, I am a wreck! DJ and I did a ATC share that Janet and Lee put on this summer, and I got mine from DJ a couple of days ago. It is so exciting to get a package in the mail. I think she made two really fun ATC's, one is summer, the other is fashion, and the Box is a little treasure. Thank You so much DJ, this was fun.

I have been doing crafts from my sofa, some for Bazaar, some for our Christmas party. And the harvest from the garden has been so good. I made salsa, and roasted tomatoes for freezing...they will be so good when the cold winter comes.

We have had a very warm fall so far...it has been in the 90's, but like most places this will soon turn to much cooler temps. The leaves have not started turning yet, but it will happen fast when the cold comes. I cut Savory from my herb garden this morning. All my herbs are now cut and will go to sleep for the winter.

Arney has been working on the barn, it has been leaking for sometime, so a new rough had to be done. He will probably finish this next week.

I really want to be here daily, I will try. Big Hugs, Mary

working on feeling better

This is Dolan, our granddaughter Kayla's husband. He just got home from Iraq, we hope that he will not have to go back into the war zone. He is stationed in Washington State. So glad he is out of harms way!
As for me, I am fighting with inflamation of my colon...not a pretty picture. I will not be sitting at the computer much for awhile yet. Take care all! PJ's is my uniform of choice right now. So handsome!!

Cottage Poem by me

Little Cottage
"Pin Cushion"
I am small, this is true.
A service I can do for you.
Pins and Needles short and tall
Pushed inside my Cottage Wall.
Mary E.

Today is Our Anniversay

Today August 15th, we have been married 47 years...I thought this picture was so cute, but not us. Tonight we are going out to dinner, and maybe a show. There are so many memories. And to write them down would be a book...But first and foremost, Arney is my best friend. I have known him since I was 14. I think you should really like someone and then love comes so naturally. Someone you can talk too, someone that hears you! And when the hard times creep in you can talk to your best friend. I am a chatter box, Arney is not. I am a night owl, he is not, I am very social, he is a bit of a loner. But in all the ways that count are the same. We have had to work hard in this life, nothing has come easy. But the simplest of things make us very happy. Our children are the best thing we have ever done.

Slowly I have added some more of my little cottages...

Here are just the ones I did in creams and laces. It was fun to make the little flowers, a first for me. click to enlarge...they are all different, one of a kind:)

I do not know what is wrong with my posting, but it is fighting me, so far this is all I can upload...I will try to send more pictures later. I made 14 cottage pin cushions, now they are wrapped and waiting for me to find a poem or saying to go with them. It is really nice here today after our rain yesterday. It was down in the 60's, which is not normal at all. So today we are back in the 80's and everything feels so fresh. Tomorrow I go to get new glasses...then shopping at Costco. We will not get out of there without spending to much as a rule. But it is always good..I continue to work on my weight loss, good days and bad. It is not always easy to stay on track...but I continue to try!!! Wishing you a wonderful summer day.

One little pin cushion

Here is one of my little pin cushions....I took some other pictures, but they did not turn out very good. I may try again later. I finished the ones I started and now I plan to do some in shades of creams with lace, buttons and flowers, etc. I will be ready to move on to something else after I am done. It is very warm and it looks like storms are heading our way. Arney gave cucumbers to our neighbors today, we have so many. Since Arney works nights tonight, I will try to get some blog peeking in before going to bed. We sat on the patio this morning early and watched the birds, our Robins are fat and friendly this year. A Mallard mommy Duck went into the irrigation ditch with about 14 babies...she was very nerves, kept her eye on us for sure. The Hawk babies are working on their flying, it looks dangerous. They can sit for hours before making up their mind to take off, then they yell as they fight for their little life in the air. Thinking of you on this summer day....

Today

Arney left for work this morning and I was supposed to go to the dentist, but I didn't remember it till it was to late...so today I spent with my friend Brenda in the back yard. Brenda brought her dog Buddy to play with our LB, a play date. I took these pictures a few days ago. The bench that LB is sitting on is very special. This is our child's bench for the Grandkids, but it has been a place that Matti enjoyed and as you can see, it now belongs to LB all by himself. I have pictures of him and Matti sitting on it together too.
The Lavender was really beautiful this year...I cut most of it for indoors so I can smell it all winter too. I make little gifts out of it also.

The Larkspur has been beautiful too...it is now giving it's seeds to the ground for next year. This is a favorite of mine. This has not been a real hot summer. It is in the 90's and then back down to the 80's, but we still have more summer. Our garden is doing really well too. I plan to make a lot of Salsa for winter. I can hardly wait for a real tomato.

Our Raspberries really belong to LB in this patch. We have another one in the front yard for us. Matti and LB took them over a few years ago. At first we thought it was the birds enjoying the sweet fruit until one day we saw them inside the bushes. They looked a little guilty with all that red on there mouth. So we decided to give them the berries.

LB doesn't like me to take his picture...so he didn't smile....

My Mother loved Sweet pea's, she planted them to climb on our porch when I was about 12 years old, and she would talk about how good they smelled coming in the front door. The humming birds love them too.

The rest of my yard is in herbs. I have Thyme, Sage, Oregano, Mint, and the list goes on. It is always a treat to go into the back yard and cut what I need in something I am making. I put in a new Rosemary plant and another Lavender plant this year. I was going to do more but spring was so wet and cold, next year!!!

I am still working on the little cottage pin cushions...I will show them off when they are done. I am having fun with them, buttons and embroidery, fun little touches that bring them to life. I need to be doing other things too, but for now this will do. I hope you are all having a good summer. It will pass so fast. I hate to see it end this year, winter was so long.

I continue to be amazed at finding family from so many generations ago. And when there are stories, it is great. Be back later...Mary

our New Little Granddaughter

This is our Kristie with our new Granddaughter Halle Dawn. Our cup runnith over with love for this new little love. She has two sisters and two brothers that are ready for her to come home. I spent the day with them as they waited for the news. It was so special to be with the kids when they got the news that Halle was born. Mother and baby are wonderful, but I had tears all the way home...a new life, another place in my heart just for her. Kristie is a very special Mom and my son Cory is a wonderful father and man.

Halle, peaches and cream!

This is a unfinished project, but I thought you would like to see them. When completed they will be pin cushion to sell at bazaar in October. They are all done by hand.

For Sharon my sister....

Sharon, it says on the back of the picture...Lafayette Newman and wife Sarah...below that it has these names...Ralph Newman, Floyd Newman, Lona Newman .. (Descendants) This is what I have found-Samuel Lafayette Newman born in Little Rock, Arkansas 1881. died: 1933 at age 51.
Wife: Sarah Ann Eslick born: Jan 15, 1885 in St Louis Missouri. Died: Feb 9, 1919 in Pittsburgh County, Oklahoma. No date of their marriage yet. He had another wife...Fanny Westmoreland, they were married in 1920 after the death of Sarah. Census shows him living in Scipio, Pittsburg, Oklahoma. This is Fanny Westmoreland

Samuel L's second wife. The picture of Samuel and Sarah...scroll down.
On the1930 census it shows Samuel Lafayette Newman as a Indian. On this census it shows him age 48 with his children, but does not show his wife, but does not say he is widowed. Children on this census for 1930 are:
Rufus Newman age 18, Leona M Newman age 16, John Newman age 14,
Zarlar Westmoreland age 19, Herbert Westmoreland age 16, and George Westmoreland age 12. All living in Ouinton, Pittsburg, Oklahoma on this census.
Samuel Lafayette Newman and wife Sarah 1910 were living in McIntosh, Oklahoma. Samuel age 28 (27) and Sarah age 23. Does not show children yet. This was in some of the pictures from Mama...more to come. I am still searching for where they belong in our family....Help!!!!
Click on photo to enlarge...

Almost time

Our Kristie will have her baby girl at any time now. If she hasn't had her by July 27th they will induce labor. We had dinner with our whole family Sunday and she is building her nest. They have a very large home and they moved the oldest to the smallest room so that the 3 girls will share a room about the size of a really good sized living room. Everyone has been busy moving things and painting. Kristie is so talented, she has done graphics too. The quilt I made fits perfect with all the colors on the walls...the girls (Alexis and Avery) are really excited. Wanted me to see everything. The boys (Cj and Treyton) have been painting too. Now there will be five children. To be continued

In the Good Ole Summer Time

Here it is July, it is hot! Tomorrow is my Birthday, not old enough to have been around when this picture was taken....Our garden is really starting to look good. I can hardly wait for the tomatoes. Our summer is filled with Arney's Mom. She is having Dialysis and has spent more time in the hospital. I haven't felt creative at all, just to many things on my mind. Our baby girl Granddaughter will be born very soon, within days and our focus is on that also. Arney took this week off work and we have some plans so I will probably be off the computer more or less. I want to be outside more than inside. Stay cool, I hope you are having a really great summer. We are working on it!!!

Happy 4th of July!!!!

It seems like yesterday, but another 4th of July is here. I think it is a time to give thought to how we got to this place in history. America came with the blood of men and women, their was no radio or TV, or the phone. Men died to bring messages miles and miles telling of what might be in harms way. I think we have a obligation to ourselves as humans, the brightest, the time of instant knowledge to stop and give thanks to those who have died for us, and for those who continue to believe in "We the People!" I am a news watcher, I always have been. There is so much bad news and I believe there are wonderful stories of good people out there. It seems to be more important to get people upset and set the stage for fear. I can not believe that we have not learned more about each other. If someone was dropped in the United States that knew nothing about us and turned on the TV they would think we were all a bunch of haters. I find it hard to believe that we let this be our entertainment, that we haven't figured out how to think for our self...We the People are listening to so much trash that we cannot see the forest for the tree's. I have gone as far as yelling at my TV when I hear some of the trash...like they might hear me! And to talk to each other has become a problem. We are so afraid of offending each other or causing a disagreement. So as we burn up a few hot dogs and eat a watermelon, ask the question....when did we decide to let others do our thinking for us, did we forget that we are all in this together. I know that a lot of you do not watch the news, that you decided long ago to filter out the junk...I wish that I could.

The quilt is done and a little down time....

After I posted, I went on line to look for "Dixie Maid" the batting I used for the baby quilt. Rock River Cotton Company in Janesville, Wisconsin. It seems that this building has been used since the 1880's. Janesvilles has a long history of manufacturing. I was unable to find what year this batting was made, but it was fun looking. I learned other things along the way about a town I knew nothing about. I find there are many adventures in searching for things and places on the Ole computer. This river played a part in the growth of this area.

It is hard to believe the 4th is this weekend....Have a wonderful time! I thought you would get a kick out of me having a time out after finishing the baby quilt. I will give this to Kristie tomorrow, I hope she is happy with it.

I like to lap quilt, then I can stitch anywhere I might be. I do have a frame, but it is for larger quilts.

I am not sure how old this cotton batting is, but it is vintage for sure. It has been in my stash of sewing keepers for along time...years. I bought it at a estate sale and put it away. I decided it was time to use it, so I cut enough for the baby quilt. It feels really good, loved hand stitching with it.

Here is the brown paper sleeve it is in...it shows 69 cents on the upper corner. It looks to be written with a black crayola of some kind. I should look up the company and see what I can find. The batting came with a pattern also, but was gone when I bought this.

Arney is home and his Mother is doing so good considering how ill she has been. She is home and we got a nurse to come in a couple of days a week.

She is very fragile.

I loved catching up on all your posts, everyone is so busy!!!