Updates

I have neglected my blog for so long. I really have missed blogging, but sometimes life happens and we have to prioritize and get things back on track. Many changes in the last year for me but it's just one of those bumps in the road we all have.
Updates!!

1st.. I will be back sewing and blogging full force by OCT. Yeah!!!!

2nd.. my oldest DGS Blake turned 12 yrs. old3rd.. My newest DGS will be here to start his journey through life in about 8-9 weeks.4th.. DGD Katelyn gets prettier every day, if that's possible..almost time to start worrying.5th.. DGS Keith loves his big brother and strives to be like him.6th.. DGS John still hasn't been able to part with his blue dog.7th.. I can't wait to get back to quilting and show everyone my new sewing room, once I get moved in it.
8th.. My friend of 30 yrs. has moved back to GA. and is a quilter too. Woohoo... I have a wonderful friend to sew with.9th.. We move in our new house Sept.10th.. Been stitching on the CQ block for DS and carrying my machine to the gym a couple days a weeks to sew patch on every ones' Gi. pics of those projects to come.

11th.. Number 11 but MOST IMPORTANT, I thank God for it all...

I also thought about changing my blog since so many other thing have changed. But I decided that everything doesn't have to change. I can just redecorate this one..well, when I get the time. Busy times right now.

Have a wonderful day!!!

The true loves of my life

I do have a pic I can share with you today. These are my precious grandchildren.
Top left is Blake he has the biggest heart, he is so caring, giving and thoughtful. He's only 10 but he already has a weekend job. He works on a farm. Jim a friend of the family seen how hard he works and enjoys every job you give him, so he gave him a real job earning wages. Blake saves most of his money, but what he does spend, he spends on others. While I was over keeping a eye on them the other day, I heard water running so I had to go investigate and my precious boy was doing up the dishes for mommy. He is full of energy and puts it to good use. He always gives me a big hug and tells me he loves me. He is a big part of my heart, a true delight, and is always thinking of others
Top right, is miss Katelyn the super star. She's all girl and a true princess you see. She loves attention and gets it. She loves to sing, dance and put on shows for us. She is not shy, and always says just what's on her mind. She's a big talker and is older then her age, she may only be 6 but she can carry a conversation like an adult. She is a book worm and her spelling skills are lets just say better then mine. She excels in her school work. She's cute and she will tell you how cute she is, LOL. If you say oh Katelyn you look so cute, she says I know. She is the only girl and knows just how to work pap paw, she has put her girls skills to work on him many times. She know a few bats of the eyelashes and she wins. She has taught me a few things about living life to it's fullest. She is a such a joy it often brings tears to my eyes.
Bottom left, Keith our mr mischievius. He is so sweet and loving you just want to squeeze him. When he comes running to the door to greet me with his arms all stretched out, hollering nana all the way, it makes my heart melt. He loves to investigate and explore new things. He is a danger to him self at times. He started early too, as soon as he could crawl he was a climbing and in to every thing he could get his hands on. If he couldn't reach it he found a way. He's not near as bad about climbing as he use to be but I still have to keep a very close eye on him, because you just never know about him. Locked doors and high up places don't stop him, LOL. He just turned 2 and is talking up a storm. Me and Keith have a special bond, that even I can't explain. He thinks I'm his nana and only his, he thinks I should never leave and go home and if mom stops by for a visit you can bet he'll let everyone know he wants to stay with nana. I can take him anywhere and he is so well behaved, a little gentleman for sure, now if I can get him to do this at home. He just got a big boy bed and has learned to use to potty. He's growing up far too fast for me. He is so fun loving, always puts a smile on my face and keeps me young at heart.
Bottom right, John, he is so gentle and animated. You can see exactly what he thinking by the look on his face. He is so full of personality. He's almost 2yrs, he doesn't talk much but says it all with expressions. He has a face for everything. There is so much I could say about John, I'll just have to pick a few. He is an only child and good at keeping his self busy. He has always loved music, he will stop dead in his tracks to listen to a song playing. He loves to cook, give him some pots and a spoon and he's content for hours. It is funny to watch but he is so neat and tidy. If he gets his shirt wet when drinking, he wants a clean one. He keeps his toys right where he thinks they go. If one of the other kids leaves his leapfrog and the floor he picks it up and puts it back on his table, he knows his tools go on the work bench and his plastic french fries go in his play kitchen. I think he will be a neat freak like his mother. I have never seen his his room a mess, it just amazes me how he puts everything back where he got it. He's not one to get into things, he knows what his and what's not. I have to say his favorite thing would be his dog and outdoors, he could stay outside rain, shine, sleet or snow. He is also a momma's boy, as bad as I want to call him mine he's hers. It's usually bath time when mom gets home from work but as soon as he hears the horn beep from locking the car doors, it's all over for me. He can't get out of the tub fast enough to see his mommy. I love when he gets tired he crawls up in my lap and lays his little head down and goes right off to sleep. It like heaven for me to have him in my arms.
You know it's a funny thing how each one is so different. I wouldn't change one thing about either one of them, I love them all with every bit of my heart. When I think of any one of them I feel so blessed, it makes me cry with joy just thinking of them.

Blake, So loving and thoughtful!! Katelyn, Our super star!!! Keith, Mr. mischievous!! John, is gentle and animated!!

Meet my Cat family

Last years some stray cats turned up out here, and they looked like they were about to starve to death. So, I fed them, they were afraid of me at first, but now they're my babies. Only thing is I've got 2 more babies this year, I don't have the heart to part with them so we've decided if we are going to keep them we'll have to take them all in and get em fixed. The 2 new ones are the gray with white and the Siamese. The big fat black one was next to death when I found them. Her head was the size of a well between a golf and tennis ball, but it looked huge because her body was so scroony that she couldn't hardly hold her head up. She also has a deformed foot. She took to me right away and she's my best buddy. It took the other ones a little longer to realize I was there friend. I didn't push them to come to me, I just let them do it in their own time. I have given them quilty/sewing names; Buttons, bobbins, Noodles, Zipper and Patch. I wanted to include the babies in the picture so I had to take it through the back door window, they just now got where they will come up on the porch to eat with the others and I don't want to spook them. I have a picture of a big black snake they killed too, but I'll spare you and not post that pic.


Katelyn, loved her cowgirl skirt so much she asked me to make her another. She didn't have another skirt to add a ruffle to, so I thought since Katelyn always wears the knees out on her jeans from crawling we could just cut those off and use them. So, her mom went and found me a pair and it worked. I left the pants intact just cut the legs off. I still need to make a orange belt to go with them. I'm thinking about putting a piece of rick rack on the top edge of the ruffle, not sure yet. I so glad she likes them because she goes through pants so fast crawling around all the time. Guess I could have cut those legs off a little more even, but my original plan was to rip the seams out and make it a skirt when I realized most of her skirts have shorts built into them so there was no need to do the extra work. If this one looks good on her, Katelyn has several pairs of holey kneed pants so, I may be busy for awhile. I realized today that I have nearly 90 posts so I've been wanting to do a give away for some time just haven't had time or a clue as what to give. Lately my brain has been overloaded, so the best I can come up with based on my thought of what would be a good gift to give that most would love, is fabric. We quilters do love fabric. Now, I can't decide on what fabric, but I have about 10-12 more post to go before deciding. Oh well, guess I'll figure it out. until then I just wanted to let you know that sometime here real soon I'll be doing a give away. I would let Katelyn pick but there is just no telling what you might end up with, but it is a thought, we'll see. Do you think it would be better to do more yardage of one fabric or FQ pack? Or maybe I could offer different ones to choose from. Gosh, maybe I should just go to bed and quit thinking!!!

A Miracle for Christmas

Today I seen my granddaughter walk for the first time. Just a few months ago she stood for the first time. She went to therapy for nearly 4 yrs. but the therapist said they were going to stop her therapy because she hadn't made any progress, and was unable to stand or walk, that was about a year and a half ago. My daughter and her family moved down to Ga. 1 yr. ago, and since then Katelyn has gotten new doctors and therapist. The found that she didn't have control a certain muscle that she needed to walk, so they designed braces specially for her needs. Katelyn is nearly 7 now. She spent the her whole life on the floor or in a wheelchair. She could crawl but could never stand, so I never seen her upright until today. Today was the first time I seen Katelyn walk, I couldn't help but cry, I tried to hold it in for her, but it was a very emotion moment for me. I was told about a month ago that she was starting to walk, but the school would keep her braces and walker and just send her wheelchair home. They said it was just too much to transport everyday. So since Katelyn liked walking at school, it was her choice to keep them there. Katelyn loves to sew and make dotee dolls with me, since she decided she wanted to come stay with me tonight, I think we'll make a valentine dotee together. I hope who ever receives her dotee in the swap loves it. here's a link to the youtube video if you'd like to see her.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwdBEjKo1XA

I have the Best Sister

She's not just my sister she was also my mother for a short time. My mother passed away at the young age of 37. My sister took on that roll, or should I say chore, because I became quite a hand full after my mothers death. I went from a a carefree, fun loving child to one that hated the world, life and even myself. I had my sights set on self destruction. She seen me through those times. I love my sister more then she'll know. She has always been a wonderful sister, wife,& mother. She is well educated and has always been a hardworking woman. She is also a very talented lady. She is an excellent painter,(oils & acrylic) she does any kind of needle craft you can imagine. She is loved and not always told. I think my sister deserves the "Best Sister in the World Award". I don't know that she will read this but I hope she knows how much I love her.

They are growing up too fast !!!

I spent the day yesterday with the boys, and I love every minute I spend with them. They are both such handsome fellows. Both of them have so much personality, you just can't help but love them. They are both well behaved, but of course they will always be angels in my eyes. While one is a true dare devil, afraid of nothing. The other is more apt to investigate before diving in. I can always tell when they are getting tired, one grabs his foofoo, the other gets Mr. dog. They are learning so much so fast, I think they will grow up too fast for me. I try to cherish the time I have with them. Nothing brings me more joy then when I arrive and they coming running with their big smiles all excited because it's nana. They are the same age and size, and play so well together. Their personalities are really starting to show more each day. It is funny to see how smart they've become. When Keith wants something that John has, he'll go pick John dog up, knowing John will drop what he has, to come rescue his dog. Then Keith makes a mad dash to go get what he has tricked John into putting down. I get tickled just thinking about it. Neither are finicky eaters. I've never had problems getting them to eat their veggies. I have never found something that Keith will not eat, until just the other day. I had made a big pot of chicken and dumpling. Now I like to eat my dumplings on top of mashed potatoes. I know Keith loves mashed potatoes, but he would not eat the dumplings, he made it very clear he didn't like them. My daughter hates dumplings too. She told me she doesn't even like the way they look. I guess we pass our taste buds down to our off spring. He loves bananas and apple sauce, I think those are his favorite. Johns loves sweet potatoes and yogurt. We asked the doctor why his nose sometimes looks a little orange and she said it was because he eats a lot of carrots and sweet potatoes. but it was okay because he eats all his other food groups too. I guess you can tell I'm home today and missing them. I can just about tell you if one gets a new hair on his head. I just love every little thing about them.

If a picture is worth a thousand words

Then this one is saying "Nana we've heard your "How we should behave" speech a million times. Can't you see how close they are paying attention!

The Gift

First, I must say if you double click the image it will enlarge it.
I got the most amazing gift in the mail today. My DS is a oil painter and she sent this to me via UPS. Now how lucky am I to have such a thoughtful, loving, talented sister. I just wish you could see this in real life and not just a small snapshot. My camera doesn't take the best of pictures but I wanted to share it with the world, and this is the only way. This picture brings back so many memories for me from when I was young. It gives me a feeling of serenity, those carefree days when we are young and would spend the summers at my grandma's. Me and my sister use to sit on her porch and play for hours. We would put on her bras and she'd give us a cup of coffee, boy we had the best times playing grown up. I remember one day me and her sit there and laughed so hard I peed my pants. My grandma was a hoot. We had a step grangfather we called Bill. And he drank a lot, so when he get drunk and pass out, grand ma would tell us if we would go get Bill's checkbook at of his pocket she'd take us to town. Now, going to town back then was a big thing for us when we stayed with her., She usually only went to town on special occasions. She lived on a farm and raised most everything we ate. We drank goats milk, and had laying chickens. I remember eating things like squirrel and dumplings. Bill even made his own brew, and shotgun shells. For me those were some of the best memories of my childhood and to look at this brings back so many.

They are growing up

My 2 grandsons both got their first hair cuts and they are just handsome fellows. These 2 are different as day and night. Johns the blue eyed and Keiths the brown eyed. Now when John was a baby he was a hand full. He had colic and was a very fretful baby, but now he is the sweet child and so easy going and actually goes around picking his toys up and putting them in their rightful place. Guess he gets that part from his mother she is such a neat freak. But on the other hand Keith was the best baby, never cried just lsat there and entertained himself most of the time. If he fussed I knew he was either hungry or tired. Boy has all that changed, this child is a dare devil always climbing, even uses devices to get on top the taller stuff. And he loves nothing more then to be getting into things, he won't touch his toy for nothing. I'm so glad my daughter is soon to be moving into her new house where they will have their own room. I can't let the older ones get some of things out that they most love to play with because he is such a menace. Don't get me wrong I love him with all my heart, but he does get put in time out a lot. Most of the time I think I'm the one that need time out. Oh, I'm sorry back to the hair cuts.. .

Dreams really do come true.

My Grand daughter Katelyn got her new leg braces today, and she stood alone for the first time in her little life. Katelyn, never cared if she could walk or not, until she started school last year, and other children made fun of her and hurt her feelings. She felt different for the first time in her life. Although her 2 brothers, cousins and friends she grew up around could all walk, run, jump, and ride bikes , she never viewed herself as different. They all treated her just like they would if could walk. But once she enter a world where the other children that hadn't known her all her life suddenly treated has though she was different, she quickly became depressed and talked about how she wanted to walk. She had been in therapy for 3-4 tears but hated it and just didn't want to go, the therapist dicided that they would just wait until she was ready. It has took 6 months for her new braces to be made and they received them today. She was able to stand alone for the first time. But she didn't get to keep the braces because they do need some adjustments. But, I'm just so overjoyed, that I can't find the words to describe how I feel. and can hardly type for crying tears of joy. WOW, what a change this will make in all of our lives. Her mother doesn't even know yet, she's still at work, and had no idea that her braces would arrive today, neither did I for that fact. Katelyn's wheelchair is so heavy, I couldn't lift it. So, most of the time I just toted her and used her stroller. Which was fine, except I also had her younger brother and cousin both age 1 now, which I keep while my Daughters work. And it was just so difficult to have 3 children that couldn't walk. Any time I went somewhere I had to carry all 3 to the car and use 2 strollers, one was a double stroller. Now I guess you're wondering how I pushed those 2 strollers. Well, I would push the big one and Katelyn older brother who is 10 would push hers. Now both the babies are walking and Katelyn is off to a good start too. I mean to be able to stand alone her first time wearing her braces is a miracle. Katelyn has always had leg braces but could never stand with them. Since they have moved down here she has had new doctors, who have discovered what was preventing her from standing and redesigned her braces to fit her needs. It seems it will make her dream of walking come true. I so happy for her, she is so sweet, and all I want is for her to be happy. I love her with all my heart and couldn't bear seeing her so sad. Children think that mom, dad, or nanna is suppose to make things better, and I just never knew how to tell her she may never walk, so I would just tell her God made her exactly the way he wanted her, and that she is special, and never think you can't do the things that others do, that you just have to do it in a differnet way. Now, I know in my heart that she will have her dream come true. And it's just so overwhelming for me, I just can't take it all in. We've become so adapted to the thought that she would never walk that you can't imagine what this must mean to us. It all still hasn't sunk in, as I writing, I am realizing all the possiblity this will mean, and I'm just floating. And undescibable weight that I never knew I had has been suddenly lifted and no words can described this joy. I'll have to come back and address this later, I sudden am so light headed.

"Can't never could do nothing"

We got darling grand daughter Katelyn's MRI results back and she has a tethered spine. They can repair this with surgery which will done at the end of the school year, because of the time it takes for recovery. The good news is the Drs. say she will be walking by the time she is a teenager. Katelyn has never been able to walk. She has no feeling in either of her feet, and both her hips stay dislocated. She has endured many major surguries since her birth. She had one right at birth and one when she was only a few months old that kept her in a full body cast for 6 months.And several more on her legs and feet. But each surgery has improved her mobility. She wouldn't be crawling or pulling up today, had she not had them. Now this spinal surgery will correct her spine and keep it from becomeing attached to her tail like an anchor with would cause lost of the abilities she has. So, we are definitely going through with this surgery. We are just thrilled for her. She has been through a lot of physical therapy, but they determined that it wasn't going to help because she found it easier to crawl and wasn't interested in walking. But now that she has started school, she has decided she wants to walk, and they have fitted her for new leg braces and we should receive them any day.
Katlyn absolutely loves to sew, so I bought her a sewing machine for Christmas. When she sews on mine she pushes the pedal with one hand and guides with the other. But I plan to set hers up so that she will be able to push the pedal with the side of her knee. She is a happy and extremely bright young girl, who can out read children twice her age. She is only 6 but a big book worm. I have always tried to focus on the things that she can do rather then dwell on the things she can't. Against her mother wishes, who kept telling me Katelyn can't swim momma. Well I just didn't believe it. I knew durn well since she could move her arms and legs she could swim and sure enough she's a little fish in the water. I took her in and told her now you just kick those feet and pedal them arms and you can learn to swim like nanny. And Viola she was swimming. I think it is a great form of exercise for her. I know all (or should I say most) parents are over protective of their chilren, but that's what nana's are for. . I like when she spread her little angel wings and flies high. I'm so glad they moved down here last year, I think it has been very liberateing for my grand daughter to not be so sheltered from to world. I never think well we can't go do this or that, I think how can I make this so she can enjoy the same things that other children enjoy. We go to the rodeo, and she rides the ponies, we go to white water and I ride the water rides with her, I take her anywhere I would take any of my other grandchildren. In her own words "We are best buddies". My moto is if we can do it she can do it, only she might have to do it a little differently we would. So, never focus on the can't and focus on the cans. One of the best things my father always told me was those famous words "Can't never could do nothing".

Ripe time

I told cliff to go up to the property on the mountain and get me some of the apple. I knew it was time for them. They are usually always small but make the best pies. I will be picking some green tomatoes this week too, looks like there will be too many getting red at once. So tomorrow I guess it will be fried green tomatoes.

A day at Stone Mtn. Ga.

Wow we had a great time. My brother and sister in law came down from Ky to spend the 4th with us.Although it was very hot that day, they had plenty of shops to browse and cool off in. I bought some hand blown glass roosters to add to my collection. We took the cable car to the top of the Mtn. There's fabulous views from up there. We also took the train ride around the mtn. We rode the ducks around the lake and seen the worlds largest laser light show, followed by fireworks. Here is some pics of the park and some of my family.This is my brother and his wife. This is Cliff, my daughter and my grandson John.And last but not least we had a wonderful dinner at Miss katies country cooking restaurant.Can't you tell it was delicious.