Yard Sale FInd

Last month on my way to the gym I saw a huge sign...it read, "Yard Sale....Come See Us". So I thought, oh why not....I turned around and am so glad I did!

I saw this Coca-Cola Razorback tray first....for $1. I bought this for John.


I turned around and spotted this this vintage 1950's Camel back love seat.

The tag said $20. I thought I read it wrong so I asked the sweet old lady if it indeed was for sale for $20. She said, Oh yes dear.....I said, SOLD!

Yes, it was very nasty! But I stepped back and visualized the couch all cleaned up. It could be a beautiful piece. I was so excited to go home and wake up John so he could help me pick it up.

We headed back over to the sale....as we were talking to the two women (mother & daughter) I spotted a chair. I couldn't believe it hadn't sold.....it was waiting for me! :-}

The mother (who is in her 80's) said she has had that chair forever. It has a stamp on the bottom that says, Kemp Furniture. I believe this might be from the 50's or 60's. The seat has been reupholstered.

So John tried to clean the love seat but couldn't get all the stains out with our cleaner. So he called a company and they came out on Wednesday and for $85 he cleaned and treated it with a stain treatment. All the stains came out!!

Not bad for a total of $105!

We moved my sewing machine to the upstairs bedroom and put the love seat in the craft room....which is now the sitting room. It gives the room a more cozy feel and looks so much more appealing when company comes over.

I did some research and these couches sell for $350-$500. So I think I did really good!

I'm so glad I made that detour that day!

Thankful

I am thankful that I got to spend 3 days with my husband and both my daughters this week!

We ate so much food I need to pull in double time at the gym.

We didn't shop on Black Friday....first time for me in many years. Instead the girls slept in, John went to the deer woods and I pulled out the Christmas decorations. The girls were rested, John didn't get a deer and the decorations are about a 1/4 done! I hope to be finished by Sunday.

We got ready and went to our favorite Mexican restaurant. They were excited to see the girls....and spoke spanish to Meg.

We stuffed our bellies once again and then went to the theater and saw "The Blind Side". It was SO good! It was quite long though so be prepared if you go see it. It was humorous & touching. As I was watching it I couldn't help but think of some of the children that ride my school bus....they are born into that life....it's their parents choice not theirs.....I pray for those young ones that they will be strong enough to get an education and walk away from that life and not be influenced by others to stay.

Thankful

Quilt #2

I am so far behind in sewing it isn't funny! At this point I'm just praying I get it all done by Christmas. I am good under pressure so I'm sure I will...
**fingers crossed**

I have all my strip pieces cut out...now I have to sew those together.

Here they are all laid out on my dining room table.

Here are a few strip pieces complete...waiting to be pressed and then cut again just to be sewn into a block. I thought I was making it easy on myself, with the pattern I chose, I think it's just as many steps as some of the others. Oh well, it's going to be beautiful!

I was getting frustrated with my sewing machine. It isn't a crappy sewing machine....just not as advanced as I need/want. So after losing a bidding war on a 1974 Singer model that I really, really wanted on E-bay.....I did some research on newer models and found a machine that was perfect for me! I drove to Joann's and bought her.

It's my early Christmas gift.....a gift so I can make others gifts. :~}

It's all digital.....fully automatic......it does 98 different stitches.....letter applique.....7 style button holes.....twin needles......and on and on! It came with 4 bonus feet, so I have 9 in all. I am in love! It sews so smoothly.

I'm off to sew & then this afternoon I'm going to see "New Moon"!!!

Quilting is cheap therapy.

Mongolian Beef

John & I played around with 2 different recipes and feel that we have come up with the best one for Mongolian Beef.

Mongolian Beef

1/4 cup chicken stock
3 tbsp. hot chili oil
3 tbsp. hoisin sauce
1 1/2 tbsp. oyster sauce
1 tbsp. dry sherry
2 tsp. sugar
2 tsp. soy sauce
1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

1 pound flank steak, thinly sliced
2 tbsp. corn starch

2 tbsp. peanut oil
2 tbsp. chopped garlic
3 bunches of green onions, cut into 2 inch pieces
1 white onion

1. Toss steak with corn starch-let sit for 10 minutes.
2.Whisk together first 8 ingredients. Set aside.

3.Heat peanut oil in Wok till hot- fry meat for 3 minutes. Remove & drain on paper towel.
4. Drain all but 1 tbsp. of oil from Wok-Add white onion, cook for 3-4 minutes then add garlic & green onions cooking another 2 minutes. Add meat & sauce....continue to stir until sauce forms a glaze (about 2 minutes)
Serve over brown steamed rice.
Enjoy

#1 Quilt Top

Quilt top #1 is finished. Thanks to my wonderful husband for helping.

I showed John how to sew the squares together.

He hasn't sewn since he got out of the military 12 years ago. He use to sew all his patches on his uniforms. I think he enjoys sewing these quilts with me. I welcome all his help. And the girls are gonna love the fact that daddy sewed some.


Also thanks to Reeses....tehehe... he is always right by me when I'm sewing.

When not in my lap he is behind me sitting cozy in the chair.

or on the table

Can you tell he is our baby?!

Here is the quilt top all pressed out. I have to buy the fabric for the quilt back. I'm contemplating on a dark or light brown. I hope to have a quilt sandwich by the weekend. For now, on to quilt #2.

Meaning of my Name

Several people have asked me, "What is the meaning of your blog name"?

KEEPER OF THE SKIES WIFE

It's pretty simple you see. I am wife to John who is an Air Traffic Controller for the FAA.

He has been keeping the skies safe for over 22 years.

(forgot to take real picture...but this is a drawing of his tower)

He works both Tower & Radar. He talks directly to the pilots and tells them when to taxi, clears them for take off and landing, where to turn around in the sky, keeps all planes separated so there aren't any mid-air collisions...etc.etc. Air travel would not be possible if it weren't for Air Traffic Controllers!

Did you know that there are over 7,000 aircraft in the skies over the U.S. at one time?!!
All those white dots are aircraft's!

Yes, it is a high stress job! He handles his stress very well. His outlet to relieve the stress from the days work is to take it out in the gym!

View from Tower at night time.

This is Little Rock all lit up!

Can you see the airplane in the photo above?

This is their break room/kitchen.


This summer, when my sister and family came to visit us, John gave them a tour of the facility.
Here they are in the radar room. John is showing them the radar screen and how the system works. This was on a weekend so all radar was being worked in the tower that day.
It's pretty cool to see how many planes are in the sky. When the girls were little John would type their names into the slot where the plane was....they thought that was the coolest thing ever!!!

In the control tower:


John pointing to an Airplane taxing to the runway for take off.




Evan got to wear Uncle John's head set. One of the controllers had a pilot key up and tell him hello. It was so cute to see his face when the pilot called him by name.

Look Ev that's the plane that talked to you!

Here he is clapping....it made his day!

The tour came to an end. Here is the Keeper of the Skies with his group....Elijah, Evan, Morgan, Bridgette & Madisyn.

John LOVES his job!

Mother

Mother had her surgery Wednesday morning. It last almost 2 hours. (we were there a total of 7 hours)

Dr. Andersson was Wonderful to say the least. She had a block (numbed entire arm, no feeling at all) put in moms arm so she would be able to rest easier the first night (& she did!) She did a scope first to see how bad the ligaments were torn....she was able to repair them. Doc said the break and ligaments were worse than she had anticipated. She put in a plate and some screws under & on top....she is extremely concerned because moms bones are way too soft for a woman her age. Doc said they were as soft as Balsa wood. There is a 3% chance that the pins & screws won't stay because of her bones. I hope they stay! She is going to have to go to her Primary Doc and either up her osteoporosis medication or switch it all together.

So this morning she is doing pretty good, I think! She is starting to feel some of her arm/hand around 4 am. So as instructed she is moving her fingers up & down!

Mother has been so accident prone lately I think I am going to have to wrap her in bubble wrap to keep her from getting hurt!!

Thanks for all the prayers!