I always look forward to my days off because I want to do this or that and somehow I can never choose what I want to do first or I get sidetracked by something I didn't plan on doing or had to do (like laundry) and when I look up the day is gone. Oh well.

I guess I will put my roast in the oven and curl up and read until it is ready! LOL

It is cool and dreary (cloudy but not raining) here today so I guess if I was going to lose a day, today is a good one to lose!

I had hoped to be stitching today but by the time I gto finihsed playing on the computer,went to help my MIL shower, and ran some errands the day seemed to be about gone. I am at the point where I am thinking of a hot bath and PJ's.

I found something today that I would like to share. An Army of Women This is what is says on it's site.

The Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation and the Avon Foundation, a global leader in breast cancer research, joined forces to launch the Love/Avon Army of Women.

Our revolutionary initiative has two key goals:

To recruit one million healthy women of every age and ethnicity, including breast cancer survivors and women at high-risk for the disease, to partner with breast cancer researchers and directly participate in the research that will eradicate breast cancer once and for all.

To challenge the scientific community to expand its current focus to include breast cancer prevention research conducted on healthy women.

Join us in this movement that will take us beyond a cure by creating new opportunities to study what causes breast cancer—and how to prevent it.

Its easy to join and you choose your level of participation. Check it out.

We took MIL to the doctor yesterday to have her post op and everything is going nicely. They put her in a nice neon pink fiberglass cast and she is moving along well. We are hoping that this is the answer to at least one of her problems.

I am off today and have some errands to run and calls to make but I want to stitch some too. The weather has turned cooler so I feel more like playing around. I purchased the Wendy KC designs Bee Collections 1 and 2 and they luckily found some cute Bee fabric so I may give that a go. I am also working on Emie Bishop's a Quilter's Garden which is a lovely hardanger piece. This is off her site. I have over half of the outlining done. It is a relaxing piece to work on right now but I am sure that will change once I have to start the cutting and wrapping!

I have been playing on facebook and connecting with old friends which is a lot of fun. It can really take up some time though when you get messing around! LOL

Ok, I guess I should get moving. Day light is wasting!!

We got to take our long awaited trip to Hilton Head. I thought we might not at the last minute when after a year of hemming and hawing, the doctor's finally decided that they needed to operate on MIL's foot immediately. We managed to get it scheduled for this week and get all the testing in so we got to go AND got to leave all our burdens here.

Hilton Head is an amazing place. It was great because the beach was a short walk across the parking lot, there was plenty for the boys to do when they weren't on the beach, it was not crowded at all and the sea food was amazing! We had fresh off the boat shrimp which has probably spoiled me forever. The she crab soup at the Crazy Crab at Harbor Town was amazing too. We had a restful week of exploring, playing and just plain old relaxing. Considering we didn't get our annual trip to New York this year, we really needed it.

We came home to MIL's health issues, job interviews for Tom, Tommy having drill and Mark getting sick... We are trying to hang on to the glow though!

I am still around but my life has taken on an uncontrollable momentum. I am now working full-time in the meat department. It's not bad. Lil is still trying to settle into her new home. We still don't have the house cleaned out so we can get it onj the market but with the current state of the economy, it probably doesn't matter much.

I haven't really been sewing, just haven't been in the mood but now that the weather is getting cooler, I will probably get back into it. I have been reading a lot and working on my family tree. I am trying to get everything put back ino it since I lost everything when I lost my computer. I am up to just over 4000 people and am not finished yet. That's 30 years of work that now is backed up 3 ways to Sunday!

Tom still hasn't found a job and I am beginning to gt a little uptight about that. We are both getting too old to be job hunting.

We had the remanents of Hurricane Ike visit Sunday with up to 90 mph winds the area suffered substancial damage. Fortunately, we only totally lost one tree but lost most of our one and only pear tree, half an apple tree and another huge portion of a maple that is WAY too cloes to the house. Our electricity was out for about 18 hours which was remarkably good considering a lot of people STILL don't have power.

Well I need to get another load of laundry going...

We got Tom's mother moved into the retirement community and I am hoping she does ok. She is so used to sitting around that it is hard to get her moving. I hope she finds some things that interest her and she begins to get a life rather than just existing.

I am still in the meat/deli department and like it a LOT better than what I was doing so that is a plus. Having to work all my weekends is a minus though. Life is about trade offs I guess.

I am on week 3 of Lexapro and I don't know if it is helping or not. I am on a very low dose and I haven't been on it very long yet so we will see. I think if I could get some stuff in my life under control it would be better... Well I made the job change and I got Lil moved. If she does OK there, that will be another load off.

I haven't been doing any crafting or sewing. Computer prblems have been plaguing me and frankly I just have not had any interest. That's not good but maybe on my days off if I don't have so much running, I will get back in gear.

I have been working in the meat department now for just over a week and the results are pretty remarkable. I still don't look forward to going to work, (that would have me worried!)but I don't dread it any more. I keep busy, the day goes quickly and I can see what I am accomplishing. I hope that I am really contributing to making that department run. I know it is a lot easier on our meat cutters for sure.

I was off yesterday as was Mark (since it was primary day here in KY) and we got quite a bit done and now have plans to do more. I have had hostas growing along side the house for 20 years but there wasn't any demarcated bed there. Yesterday Mark and I bought some nice brick edgers and enlarged the bed out, just about doubling it. We also bought a hand cultivator since it is way too close to the house with too many big plants in it to do the rota tiller and when we were done, I put in 3 dozen lily of the valley plants which are one of my favorites and something I have wanted for a long time. The bed primarily gets morning sun so they should do well there. This morning after examining our work again, we decided that we are getting more edgers and instead of making one large garden for tomatoes, peppers etc, we are going to break it up into several smaller ones with the edgers making the edges. I like the idea and want to leave for work earlier this morning so I can get more edgers. We are using a really common type so years from now we will still be able to replace them if necessary. Now I just have to decided what we want to plant. I want one bed just for herbs so I will probably start there. Again, it is really nice to be able to see the results of your work!

OK, so today was what most people call a day off. I didn't have to work at the job that pays me to be there and accomplish tasks for them. I did have a doctor's appointment scheduled and MIL informed me that her doctor sent her a letter telling her she needed to come in and get the results of her tests... (never good when they call you in) but that was all I had scheduled for the day. The day off starts at 5:30 when my husband wakes me while he is getting ready to go to work. I doze off again until 6 when DS's alarm goes off. I get up before him so I can use the bathroom before he gets in there and locks the door for 30 minutes.

As soon as he leaves, I get in the shower and get dressed so I can leave early for my foot doctor's appointment since I have to have MIL at her doctor's appointment 1 hour after my scheduled time at MY doctor. Miracle of miracles, I get in within 5 minutes! They still don't know exactly what is wrong with my foot. The major pain is gone but now it is very sharp and localized. A week's worth of steroids is prescribed I go back in 3 weeks but no more cast.

I am out of the doctor before 9 so I decide I am going to hit the big W and get my groceries and my birthday present to myself a bright red Zune. I decide to drop my prescription off before I shop. Well, go figure, a new girl in the pharmacy. I wait more than 5 minutes while she takes care of the person in from of me, then she takes a good 10 minutes to put my information into the computer only to THEN tell me the prescription will take 30 minutes or more to fill. Great, I now have about 20 minutes before I absolutely must leave to get MIL to the dr. I get the prescription back but can do nothing about the lost 15+ minutes. I run through and pick up my groceries and then go to get the Zune which is $15 higher than the price on line. Turns out they don't honor the online prices. I can order it online and have it shipped to the store for free but I can't just walk into the store and pick it up for that price. What a crock, you KNOW it isn't actually shipped to them, they get the order, go grab one off the shelf and call me that it is in. They won't budge and neither do I, I leave without it. I head for check out and wonder of all wonders there are only 2 lanes open. So I wait some more. I finally hit the parking lot 5 minutes later than I wanted.

I called Tommy, I am running behind, make sure g-mom is ready to go and move the car out of the garage. I get to the house, the car is still in the garage, the lawnmower is parked so close to it, I can't even get to the car. Move the mower, move the car, pull the other car into the garage, get MIL in the car and off we go. We make it to the doctor with 3 minutes to spare...at least until our appointment time. We now wait for half an hour before we get called back. We then wait another 40 minutes until the doctor gets to us. Turns out, they never said anything in the letter about her coming in to get her results, in fact everything was fine and that is why they sent her the letter. That will teach me to actually see any messages from the doctor before I schedule another appointment. Turns out though that she has a sinus infection so she is on antibiotics again.

I have to go get her prescription filled so I drop her off to get her nails done while I hit the grocery and pharmacy. By the time I get her home, get everything unloaded and feed her lunch...it is 1:00.

I get home, fix some lunch and settle down in my lawn chair with my book and the dog has a massive seizure. It must have lasted 20 minutes all told. She came out and went back in twice. I hate those. She does not deserve that.

It is now 5 PM and my day is about gone so I think I will try and savor the last few hours before the crew heads home. No more days off until Sunday. *sigh* it's a good thing too, working is less stressful! :-)

much to my disappointment. Traveling with the MIL was rough to say the least. Stupid me booking a flight out of Louisville when they are Code Red because of Derby Weekend (OMG)it is just awful when the handicapped are treated like major security threats because they are in a wheelchair or wearing a cast... (although I do understand the necessity). Also a huge :-P to the ignorant persons working a Louisville Airport for not listening when I explained I was traveling with a handicapped passenger in a car with a handicapped tag and telling me I could park right next to the airport doors and not out in no man's land where the shuttle never shows up, (isn't wheelchair accessible anyway as we found out going back)and who can't understand when I say someone can't walk, that means they can't get on a plane that isn't wheelchair accessible without assistance! Good grief...

On the flip side, it was wonderful to be with my family, excellent that I got to see a myriad of cousins that I don't normally, phenomenal that my cancer battling SIL is doing better and beyond compare that I got to see all but 3 of my nieces and nephews this trip. I will post some pix later. I had a wonderful girls night out with my 7 yo niece and I never knew there was so much pink in the world...or at least at Michaels. And a spent some quality time with my head in the engine of a '66 Chevelle that can kick the ass of anything on the road. Not sure about that Sonoma truck though, just not my choice to play with... LOL

It is always very hard to come back to this. Well the washer has beeped so I'd better go dump everything in the dryer so I can go to work. Talk about depressing. I do believe it is time to seriously job hunt. That job is sucking the life out of me.

I am off to NJ. I cannot wait but I know even with all my traveling today (plane, train and automobile) today will fly. Yesterday mom told me that my cousins Matt and Linda are in NJ until tomorrow so tonight hopefully all of us (my mom, my brothers and their families, my cousins and their families) will all be going to dinner when we get there. What fun. I know I won't have any trouble sleeping tonight!

OK, time to get the boy up and moving and finish packing. See you in a week!!

These are such fun... Too bad I have to go to work :-(

I finished a card today for my step daughter who just finished cosmetology school. I just love it.

I also put the finishing touches on some ATC's (Artist Trading Cards) and posted them on the CoC board. All five were gone in a matter of hours. I finished up 4 more tonight but haven't posted them yet. These are the sze of baseball cards and really fun to do.









That's probably about it for today except for finishing laundry. The temps are supposed to drop and it's supposed to rain. We may have yet another frost, lucky me, I just put out my mandevilla and one of my clematis is ready to bloom... *sigh*

Thank the Lord I don't have allergies because I would hate to miss this. Everything is in full bloom here. I came home and as I pulled in the driveway, the sight took my breath away. The pictures don't do it justice and wish I could share the scent. My windows are all wide open. We are supposed to get rain tonight so we will start losing petals but oh my, it is wonderful right now.

This is for the Tea Bag folding challenge. The fold is popping diamonds, floating squares. The tile is Rosa's. The smaller flowers are the same tile just cut into quarters.

I wish you could see how these just pop off the page. I had a nice time playing with my cards today. I could have done without the 4 hour forced hiatus but, oh well, tomorrow is another day.

Not too bad considering how much time I have either worked or had to runaround... Looks like it is going to rain so we will probably stay home and I can stitch.

The first one I destroyed. I had it really nice before I went to bed last night and when I woke up this morning, thought of something I thought would dress it up a bit and of course, screwed it up. So you get this one instead.





The 3D piece is from The Lilac Garden. There were 3 different colors of butterflies on the sheet so I am sure I will think of something else exciting to do with them at some point. This is my entry into the General Card Challenge at Circle of Crafters.

I may have my teabag challenge card to post later.

We are supposed to go to theInternational Kite Festival in Georgetown today but we are still debating that. More later maybe!

It is called a diamond fold. I have the card made but o.f course, the piece I had planned on putting on the front of it is way too big so noI have to figure something else out. It was fun learning thought so you might want to give it a try. I will post a picture of mine as soon as I get it finshed.

Here is the youtube video that taight me how to do that. It was very simple really.

Thank goodness since it is the first day of an open house at Sam's and it will be nuts with anyone able to shop even if they are not a member. I do have to work tomorrow though so I am sure I wil get paid back for being off today. Tomorrow will be a LONG day since I have to get up a 4 to take DS#1 to Battle Assembly and then go to work at 9. I get off and 5 and have to go pick up DS#2 at my MIL's. I am sure by the time I get home, I will be ready to drop.

We started this morning on a roll. There evidently was a 5.4 earthquake in southeastern Illinois about 5:30 this morning and it rolled right on up here. It only lasted a few seconds and there was no damage but we felt it. Mark slept right through it. I was already awake though.

I have made good progress on Desert Star. I have finished all the little squares around the edges and have started the first of 4 rounds of stitching around the border. If you look at the star from the other day, the borders will go to the point on the outside squares so I have a bit to go. I am enjoying it though. Last night I was just too tired to stitch since I worked early and then had running to do, came home and helped DS#2 put together a wheelbarrow and fixed dinner. (yummy stuffed salmon, sauted aspsragus and mushrooms and fresh strawberries for dessert)

OK, I am going to get some stitching done this morning before I go get my MIL. I need to take her to get a picture ID made for the trip.

I fixed this the other night for dinner and decided that I wanted to share the recipe. It actually came from the Betty Crocker web site. The only thing I do differently is double the sauce recipe as it is delicious... Actually the sauce would be perfect over pound cake or angel food as a dessert as well. Use fresh lemons and not the bottled juice. It really does make a difference. Enjoy !!

Lemon Ginger Chicken

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (1 1/4 lb)
1/2 cup Original Bisquick® mix
1/4 cup Progresso® plain bread crumbs
1 tablespoon grated lemon peel
1/2 teaspoon grated gingerroot
1/2 cup water
3 tablespoons vegetable oil

Lemon Ginger Sauce
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup water
3 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon grated gingerroot
1 drop yellow food color
Lemon slices, if desired


1. Between pieces of plastic wrap or waxed paper, place each chicken breast smooth side down; gently pound with flat side of meat mallet or rolling pin until about 1/4 inch thick.
2. In shallow bowl, mix Bisquick mix, bread crumbs, lemon peel and gingerroot. Pour 1/2 cup water into another shallow bowl. Dip chicken into water, then coat with Bisquick mixture.
3. In 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Cook chicken in oil 8 to 10 minutes, turning once, until juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut (170°F).
4. Meanwhile, in 1-quart saucepan, mix lemon juice, 1/4 cup water, the sugar, cornstarch, gingerroot and food color. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until thickened and bubbly. Pour sauce over chicken. Garnish with lemon slices.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): Cook chicken in oil 11 to 13 minutes or until meat thermometer inserted in center of chicken reads 170°F.

Not only did I get pictures taken of a bunch of my cards but I also got a lot of stitching done on my canvas work. Yippee!

My cards: These are by Penny from CoC












These, I had bookmarked on my desktop computer and since that has decided to take a vacation, I can't tell you who they are from.













Last but not least, my canvas work. This is Desert Star. It is part of the regional quilt series from From Nancy's Needle. I need to finish the squares in the corners and along the outside and then there are several rows of borders to do but really, it is about finished. I would judge it at about 75%. I am going to try and get it finished so I can take it to my mom's when I go and we can get it made into a pillow. I had forgotten how much I loved this pattern so I am really glad to get back to it.