Cabin Fever...

I had to get out!  I stayed home - SNOWED in and Iced over since my Farmer's Wife Group meeting on Tuesday Morning.  The snows came and the freeing rain coated it over with ice. The roads  were still snow-packed- Walla Walla doesn't do the residential areas very well.  Sylvia came to take me to Lunch, for my late Birthday. We went to a new place downtown called the "Maple Counter"  They are only open for Breakfast and Lunch. It was pretty good, we split the Gobbler sandwich and I still had leftovers.  She didn't eat her Waffle Fries.  The breakfast and dessert menus have us thinking we need to go back just for a treat. Thanks Sylvia!

Here's my Car- Friday afternoon when I went out to try and scrape it off. I used the edge of the ice scraper to chisel around the driver's side door to get it open so I could start it and run the DEFROST. See how thick it was on top of the door.

The ice coating on the windows took a while to slide off when I was able to roll the window down after stopping at the BANK drive-through. YEA, for Pay Day!  I needed to go out and Pay Lynn for the Templates and Books for the Farmer's wife.  I was lucky that she had a GO Die that she ordered two of that I could buy to try out my new Go-Baby fabric Cutter.  Just for my 2 Daughters Information- I spent the amount of $$ from my Birthday to get that Go Baby HST Die to make 3" Half square Triangles.  SPENDY!

It was good to get out of the House, but I was so glad to get back home unscathed!  Freezing Rain coated the highways and even Hwy 12 was closed for the night.

Today out the front door it looks like this!

I had to keep going out to scrape the walkway so I could get newspapers and mail and packages from the Outside world... This package came with the Mail lady as I got home from Lunch with Sylvia.

Judy Laquidara's New Book of Borders! I got it pre-ordered so she would Autograph it personally for me.
She wrote: "Mary -the Quilting Grandma  Enjoy the Borders!  Judy Laquidara".  There's a reason I call her the 'Border Queen'.  Watch to see which border I use first...

55th Birthday continues...

 My Birthday loaf from Friends at Church complete with a candle. Thanks Crains!  Paul made my Birthday Dinner before he went to Church and left the Box of Chocolates and a Fun Musical Toy on the table for me to see when I came up to go to Church.  The grandchildren liked playing with it.  I took a video of it and posted it on Facebook- HERE is the Picture- sorry it is sideways.

Like my Children always liked to do- I have celebrated for almost the whole week  It started before Guild last week and into the Monday Holiday.  There was no School for Richland so NaDell brought her 4 children over to take me to Lunch.  We went to the Cookie Tree downtown Walla Walla.  A favorite place in our town to get a great sandwich made with fresh homemade bread. The kids would not let us leave before buying a cookie or two.  Even with that they said they were "hungry still" at Grandma's house.  I had the mini Cupcakes left from my Sunday School class and I think they each had two.  I am so glad that the snow didn't keep them from coming. Late Sunday evening it snowed and the temperature was sub zero all day. 

 We forgot to take pictures at Cookie Tree and at Lynn's where we went to visit, so NaDell could see the re-modeled Shop, and Lynn could see how big the Grandchildren are growing. Here are Andy and NaDell's 4 children with Me at our house just before they went out to play in what was left of the snow.

Abigail with an outfit that I made for the Oldest Ransom Daughter in 2003.  She only smiles for her Mother...or I should say she smiles BEST for her Mom.

NaDell and Andy's Son- growing up. He picked up the Jenga tiles by color -counting them for us.

 Grandpa came home in time to visit a bit and share the Bread I brought home from the Cookie Tree for him with some butter and jam.  NaDell took the pictures of the older girls outside in the snow.

Not too cold outside to still wear her skirt.

Thanks for coming and helping my Birthday last a little longer.  I think I can safely take down the Christmas Tree now.  LOL

"Alive at 55..."

I looked and looked for the song that was playing around the time I was Born and the closest I could find with a little help from a Facebook Friend was...Guy Mitchell "Singin' the Blues".  It's played on youtube HERE. I was hoping for one by Elvis...

the only Baby Picture I have.

My 16th B-day, My Mom made me this cake and I got my first pair of REAL LEVI's

Yes, I might have been 'Singing the Blues' about my Birthday on Friday the 13th.  Even the weather man this year was threatening the "S' word.  I am too old to ask for a "White Birthday". It's NOT my idea of FUN. Things don't always go my way and the Best plans I try to make often don't work out.  I'm a BIG dreamer and have lots of 'things' I want to do and places I would LOVE to go this year.  Even my plans to meet my sister went awry on Saturday. Paul pops my Bubble and brings me back to the "real world". He asks me "Is it a "want" or a  "need"?  YES, I WANT it and I Want to NEED it!   So, I play the "Glad Game" again and I'll put a smile on my face and take all the Hugs I can from my Grandchildren, Count My Blessings, Teach my Sunday School Class and EAT Cake!  I know I am so Blessed.

Saturday Afternoon I delivered a little treat to my Birthday Buddies from Church.  Two ladies who share the same Birthdate.  My Oldest came to visit with his cute family.  I tried out the Cupcake maker I got for Christmas.  The grandchildren tested the finished ones for me.

They helped finish the Nativity Puzzle! Only one piece is missing since Christmas shuffling and trying not to lose pieces.  And brought me a "Count Your Blessings" plaque and a book by Pres Uchtdorf.  THANKS!

I got invited to go Chaperon the YOUTH Dance at the Church Saturday night.  Then the Bishop said he would be interviewing and handing out the dance cards so I stayed home.
My Friend turned 55 just a couple days ago and she said "Alive at 55".  I'm liking that mantra! I'm in good company turning 55 this year.  My Childhood friend turned 55 on the 10th and I told him "The more Birthdays you have, they longer you live".  Happy 55th Birthday to Me!

I couldn't choose just one...