Saturday Slowdown and Catch-up

It's been a long week and now that the family has all gone home I can take a deep breath!  I had to make way too many trips to the Tri-cites, Connell and Spokane with the family time and my body/back is screaming for me to stay at home. Janessa and Jacob at the Spokane Airport.

 I went to the Eye Dr on Thursday and he referred me to a new Eye specialist in town, who saw me on Friday.

I came home looking like this!  I posted it to Facebook and said Grandma was a Pirate. I got 24 comments and 8 people who liked it.  I'm not a fan of needles in the eye but that's what I got and a small mass removed.  It sounded like a BB when it hit the specimen cup.  Dr had to use the Microscope and I had to hold real still.  He gave me a A+ for being a good patient.  I'll see him for follow-up in a couple weeks and maybe find out what was in my eye lid.  I have ointment to put on the spot twice a day for the next week and I'm trying to keep out of bright light.  

Today I'm missing a trip to Tri-cites with DH to attend a sealing at the Columbia River Temple, a visit with his mother and a Pirate Birthday Party for Samuel who turns 4 on Monday.   Joseph says he'll save me a black pirate patch for my eye.  Thanks, I think.

I've received many cards and gifts for my Birthday and wanted to acknowledge them. The Body wash, puff and lapel pin are from Wendy T, the scrubbies from Judy R, the notepad and Candy Bar from Linda A, Quiznos gift card from Milton's family, the Necklace from Ransoms, and the Homemade soap and pin cushion from Janet O.  Janessa sent me an Apron with Jackson and Jacob's hand prints on it.  I haven't gotten a picture of me in it just yet.

 These two friends, my Visiting Teacher and former VT took me out to the "Maple Counter" for Breakfast the day after my birthdate.  The waitress took our picture when she brought me the FREE  Birthday Blintz.

I ordered the silver dollar pancakes, Karen got the Apple souffle pancake, and Noel ordered the Apple/ Cinnamon pancake with a side of bacon that we all shared.  I tried some of the Apple Syrup and made some at home this week for the morning Brant's family left.  Janessa joined us for Breakfast too.  It was a HIT!  I just used Apple juice instead of Water. 1 part juice, 2 parts sugar and brought it to a boil.  YUMMY STUFF, it thickened when cooled because of the pectin in apples.

I have to add a few more pictures from the funeral... The 6 Casket Bearers with their Boutineers on.

The 5 oldest Grandsons and the youngest grandson. The other grandsons were Honorary Casket Bearers. I hadn't counted before, but realized that there are 13 grandsons of Gordon and Zora. 12 Grand-daughters.

  I handed my camera to Kari's dad who was there and he took this picture of our families side, while we were waiting for the rest of the cousins to get there. We met at 8:45am before the final viewing and Family prayer for a BIG family picture.  All but 3 of my family here. More pictures are posted HERE.

 Pictures of my sons who had a part of the final program for Grandpa Gordon at the gravesite. My Husband Paul dedicated the grave, Shannon played "Taps" and Sgt Jeffery and Staff Sgt Shawn did the honor guard and folding of the Flag.  Sgt Jeffery Gordon Crowther presented the Flag to Grandma with the recitation that goes with it.  " From a Grateful nation..."  Grandma has given the Flag to our family to keep for now.  (She wanted to give it back to the mortuary). It's an HONOR to have it in my home.

 Four of my grandsons eating at Grandmas. I sure miss them when they all leave. I'll try and get something ready for Design Wall Monday this coming week.

My Family, all together. (except for Jestin, Jackson and Ben)

Slightly Distracted...by Pictures

Oh My Goodness!  I am late getting Birthday Pillowcases in the mail and I have nobody to blame but myself.  I had an e-mail for a FREE Photo Book from Shutterfly in my INBOX and the temptation to use it was just too much for me.  I started a new file on my Computer in My Pictures and started collecting the best Photos of all my Quilts.  Some I had to scan from the Hard Copies.  I used my FLIP-PAL scanner that I won from Pat Sloan last year. It is Portable and easy to scan from the Creative Memories Albums where I have some of my earliest Quilt pictures.  Some of my Quilts don't live at my house so the old pictures have to be used and it is easier than waiting for someone to hold them up while I take a picture and then uploading, cropping and all that jazz.  One of my Facebook friends, Linda, reminded me, 

"I have found that it is easier to get out the books and show them instead of getting all the quilts out, showing them, and then having to refold for storage."  

  It took me way longer than I thought and I missed the Midnight deadline on that offer. But my Quilt photos are all in one place on my computer now.  I even had to ask my children for some pictures of their quilts.  Thankfully my Sister- by love made a book with my Mother-by love's Quilts recently and some of those pictures were fairly easy to locate and re-send.  DS #1, had 9 baby quilts and wasn't sure who made which one so he took pictures of the ones he thought were made by Grandma Zora Crowther. DS #2 said his quilts and Photo albums are in storage, it is TAX time so I might not get those in time for this book.  I reasoned with myself that "If I don't DO this, It won't ever get done!"  DD#1 came to my rescue with another FREE Link to make a Photo Book with "My Publisher".  Valid through April 30th and good only for NEW customers.  All I had to do was enter my e-mail- no new Passwords to remember.  The extra pages that I knew I would need, were less than on this site too.  BONUS!
 SO.....a day later and a few less (a lot less) hours of sleep time and I am well on the way to hitting that PUBLISH button. I'm still waiting on a couple pictures to be e-mailed to me to fill in and I'll be finished- for now. Since I have over that many more Projects/UFO's to finish in my lifetime.
While I wait for those last pictures I have these cute fabrics calling to me...One Year old's won't remember that Grandma was a day or two late, right?

I'm sure that my Daughters will know which one is for their Birthday boy... Today is the day to work on them!
Tri-City Quilt Show coming up so time is flying. I have more pictures to take...

Design Wall Monday, January 30, 2012

Last week was pretty much a Bust in the sewing room except for "tester" block I can't show and the Birthday Gifts I made for two of the four Grandchildren Birthdays coming up so far this year. I know by showing them on here the Parents know what I'm making for them.  Oh well, the surprise will still be how they actually look and the fabrics I will choose special  for each one.   I had hoped to make these all for Christmas and since the Plan 'D' went into effect in December, they did not get done. I'm hoping for a little more playing in the Quilt Zone this week. The letters are made using the techniques I learned from the "Word Play" class I took last fall at STASH.

 Seth got his in December for his Birthday.

Next is Abigail's - her sister's called it a quilt in the video my Daughter took.  LOL.

Saturday was Samuel's Birthday and he got this one.

What do you think?  Should I use all capital letters or go wonky with lower and upper case letters??

Check out more Design Wall's at Judy L's Blog HERE.

It's my Birthday!

Look what the hubby brought in for me this morning... They didn't have the roses in my favorite color...it's the thought that counts right?I'm not sure about the NUTS, is that a hint that I'm CRAZY!!!? We had a quiet dinner at Taco Time in Tri-Cities last evening. Olive Garden had a 45 minute wait and that wouldn't leave us enough time to be to the Temple in time for the Ward Session. When I walked into the Changing room there was my Burbank Lunch Buddy, Pat Christensen! It was such a nice surprise to see her. It was her Birthday and I'd wanted to see her. Funny how I see my friends from all the places we have lived when I go to the Temple. I love it! That is a very good place to meet. We couldn't quit hugging each other. We haven't see each other since she returned from England over a year ago, she said. NO cameras in the Temple so no Picture. This is my Birthday Cake...my Visiting Teachers brought it for me when they came and Kidnapped me on Thursday. We got to go and see inside Karen's house that they are building. Really I've been CELEBRATING all week. This is what my Secret Pal at Quilt Guild Brought for me.

Thursday night at the Relief Society Dinner Wendy brought me this...is she trying to sweeten me up? And...I swapped out the Fat Quarters so I could mail out the packages for the Birthday on the 13th, so I got to see mine. This is just part of them. See those squares of Australian fabric? We have a swapper from Western Australia in our group. Don't know what I'll make with them, yet.

It's been a good mail week. I won this BAG from the New Year's Cyber sew-in. Heather sent it to me. She asked if I wanted Red or Purple...duh! PURPLE, Please!

Then on Friday when I was expecting a package from Arizona, there in my mailbox was this... more surprises from AUSTRALIA! a Calendar, some "Gum Tree" leaves and a nice card with Emus on it. I also got a card from Paul's parents. Hoping that AZ package comes today. The Facebook page has been busy all morning and I've received many phone calls already. I am feeling the Love... Thanks to all my Family and Friends! I've had my Birthday Smoothie. Now it's time to do what I want to do...SEW!