Anniversary DAY

 Holy smokes today is the anniversary day of our wedding!  It's a big one too!  60--sixty years! 

 What gift to you give for sixty years of marriage???  I have no idea!  Looked it up and it's Diamonds--well, I declare  Diamonds—means, I won't get any because that is not my favorite stone.  Of course, we usually don't exchange gifts, except on rare occasions--On our 40th while living in Venezuela, we bought matching 18 carat gold wedding bands, .  His has already been repaired--but, it can be repaired not like some of our disagreements--all he needs to do is say "--you were right!"  How many times have I heard that?  

On our 25th, we bought a spa!  Used it quite often--now, it sits empty with no operational motor--oh well, we did get some good years from it.  Other years, we just said "happy anniversary" as we woke, give each other a kiss and went about our day. Just another ordinary day--

On our 50th, we took family to Vegas as we renewed our marriage vows with Elvis in his Chapel of Love--quite fun.  Maybe, we'll do it again when we reach 75 years!  Wouldn't that be a hoot??!!

You see, our 60 years have had some ups and alot of downs, but we are happy to be blessed with another good year to celebrate. 

We're getting up there in age; some days, my whole body aches; we have difficulty using our hands to tie the laces on our shoe , need help getting up out of a low chair; bones crack when we bend over--sense of each day moving forward in our old age!

Don't get me wrong--I like-love my old man!  He can stay around for a long time--he can continue to be bothersome but I'll take him; besides, I don't want to break in a new one!

Congratulations to us!  And here's to another 10 years!  

May I? Yes, You May!

 Do you remember that game?  It was a game of control--wasn't it?!  The game also taught social skills within different age groups.   Mother, May I?  Yes, you may!

Once I began this blog post for month of May quilting blocks, I couldn't resist looking up that game--wonder if it is still played today?

Working on May blocks is slow--here, it is May 16 and I've not done all the blocks I thought I would!  Trying to keep up to date on the tops I sewing on--BUT, I did get some tops quilted--not many though--it seems life gets in the way.  

Blocks for another patriotic top is in the works.  I sew until I’ve finished the pieces that have been cut—back 

To cutting again. 

Sixteen  piece lender ender block has finally found a setting!

Several blocks had already been linked—then I stumbled across the setting which gave the top more life—took old Jack to rip the blocks apart!  Still have several other leader--ender blocks to organize into a top--the right setting hasn't pop up yet.  

Here comes two YES two more free blocks to make!  The first one began today and these are always interesting and quick to make.  The first step includes the cutting instructions--and it's patriotic!  and it's a table runner!  It comes from Fort Worth Fabric Studio

First block instructions will be May 22!  Yay!! for the red, white and blue!

Another free topper comes from Fat Quarter Shoppe

Haunted Halloween Mystery begins June 6--shop for the kit or gather your spooky Halloween fabrics!

Mother, May I?

Yes, I may!!

See red

  Recently, a friend was dyeing with this fabulous bug--Cochineal!  That tiny little thing can give a variety of colors on your yarn.  I have a bin filled with those precious jewels

but haven't dyed with them in years!  Look like tiny raisins but these pin head size dried insects are hard as a rock!  When soaked in dye bath, they burst forth with color. 

 My friend pushed me to get back into the dyeing game--so I pulled out all my RED books and poured over them.  It was a good nudge back into color of the most importance to the world.

No color has fascinated the world through the ages than cochineal.  

Sorry I don't have her book--next purchase maybe!

So many books written about this one tiny little insect that brings so much life to color RED
 

Soon, very soon, I hope I can post photos of my recent cochineal dyeing

Let’s touch!

 The other day as I was driving into town, I spied a young couple, walking on the sidewalk—they looked to be teenagers.  They were holding hands; she on the outside nearest the street, he on the inside near the lawns.  I assumed they had walked from high school. 

 Right in the middle of the block, he stopped and moved her to the inside and he took the outside to the street!  I'm cheering!!  Yay!  That kid does have some manners--someone taught him well to show respect, love, concern for your love one. Touching is good!  That act 'touched' my heart and sense of love!

Touch is many things--but in the above instance, that touch was one of the sweetest things I'd seen in awhile.  I touch to feel texture of cloth, roughness of buildings, stiffness of fabric, sensation of cold or hot,   How do we teach a baby 'not to touch' a hot appliance of surface?  They can get close to touch and back away--and say "Hot"!

Today, I'm touching lots of fabric--I'm pressing the cloth for a long arm quilting day!  There will be lots of touching involved as the needles moves over the texture of the quilt top.  If there is a problem with the stitches, we can touch and feel the difference in a good stitch or a bad stitch.  

After the birth, a new born is placed skin to skin with the mother so they can bond.  Our grand daughter did not have that touch after her baby was born--he was whisked away immediately--he was taken to NICU for his CDH condition.  The mother was crushed!  She wanted that touch!  It was a week before she could place that baby to her chest.  

During the day, you use your fingertips to touch every object that you use.  In each fingertip, there are over 3,000 touch receptors!  Why is touch the most sensitive sense? The sense of touch originatees in the bottom layer of your skin called the dermis. The dermis is filled with many tiny nerve endings that give you information about the things your body is touching.

Touch! is all important!  touch someone today! and often!

Mojo? What is MoJo?

Who is this Mojo person?  My grandkids love COJO—Cody Johnson—#1 to them in country music.  But, I’m not sure they know what or who MOJO is!  Give them a few years, that old MJO will hit them! 

Well, I was hit with no MJO—for several weeks.  No knitting mojo at all! Now——I’m back!! 

I’ll pulled out the bag of blue wool yarn—ready to see/remember what was in it

And the bag even contained a pattern, Bonus! Oh dear, the pattern in the bag is for a hat, which will (maybe) use the rest of the yarn.  Guess I was being optimistic by adding the hat pattern.

Extra bonus—stitches already on needles! 

Yes, I said needles!  

The start for hubby’s socks!!  Yay!  I’m putting my MOJO to work.  Knitting these plain socks, no pattern is needed—until I reach the heel; here I need some guidance.  Never remember how many to the middle of heel.  Also, need pattern to finish toes—it’s the dreaded Kitchener stitch!!

So, off we go!!

Kentucky Derby Taste Day!

 Kentucky Derby!  We're hosting a Kentucky Derby Party!  Years ago, we attended the actual Kentucky Derby Party in Louisville, Ky--it was a dream come true!  Never thought we'd be there in person on that day!  Locally, one of the wineries host a party but this year we decided to have our own--after all, we have HATS! to wear and wonderful tasty food to eat!

In my research for Derby Day recipes--I remembered the foods we had while in Louisville for Derby Day--Kentucky Hot Brown--yum!  Every restaurant had Hot Brown on their menu

An open faced turkey sandwich topped with bacon, covered with Mornay sauce.  Simple ingredients that you might have on hand

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In the slow cooker, we will feature-Kentucky Burgoo--a stew like dish=

=Burgoo has a rich history--

Some history about Burgoo

first became associated with racing when the dish was served at livestock sales in the early 1800s. A horse-racing tradition began as a means to convince people to buy the animals, and these events became wildly popular gathering places for friends to catch up and for politicians to connect with supporters

Of course, there will be Mint Juleps to Taste.

We don't have the fancy cups but did find pewter solo cups!!

For dessert--it's a must to have Derby pie.

Oh, there will be other treats to sample--each guest is bringing along their favorite Kentucky product--maybe, just maybe, there will be many Kentucky Bourbons to taste!!

I have no idea which horses are running, but it looks to be a lovely day with friends along with delicious tasty foods!

Eyes And Ears

 Our senses are the greatest part of our body!  We have many opportunities to enhance those senses—for my eyes they are many great, interesting, teasing rewards—lately, these two books have taken center stage—

Jennifer Ryan has given us two different looks into the lives of WWII women.

“The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir”

The men are away fighting and the choir is void of men’s voices; the vicar has called a halt to the songs.  Women of  Chilbury Village decide to carry on the singing!

“The Kitchen Front” gives us an insight into cooking in a food rationed kitchen.  To offer some uplifting courage to housewives, BBC radio program, “The Home Front”, is holding a cooking contest.  What better way to earn some money to assist with their challenges?  A story that takes four women from different walks of life to a competition that might create conflict or togetherness. 

And boom!! I was back into WWII again.  There are way too many stories that we never heard about this war!  One night last week we watched “Greyhound”, a movie about a international convey of 37 ships on a mission across Atlantic Ocean to deliver soldiers and supplies to Allied forces.  Intense!  For me, an unknown story of remarkable bravery and lost souls fighting for freedom. 

My ears behold stories of mystery, intrigue, energy, stories of old, love and romance—

Two podcasts that will engage your hearing sense are:

Murder me on Monday—a mother/ son take of murder from days of old—this from UK. 

How about classic literature? 

Craftlit has recorded many classical books that are public domain—Jane Austin books, Charles Dickens, Robert Louis Stevenson, etc.  

maybe books I wouldn’t read on my own but Cratlit gives us a chance to hear these tales along with some crafty news.  Up now is “The Three Musketeers”—

Come along and tantalize these two senses and maybe, you will use your other senses—taste, touch, smell! 

Z= THE END!

 I did It!  I made it to Z!  Not sure all my previous blogs are worth anything but to me, it's challenge, I completed. 

Challenges are goals we set to finish; at least, I try to achieve!  The month has flown by!  Our journey achieved many deadlines, accomplishments, sweeping goals and positive outcomes! 

We celebrated four birthdays; a successful walk with family and friends for CDH babies, the homecoming of our great grandson from NICU, where he resided since his birth on February 17.  Joyous occasions to celebrate!! 

We gazed at the dark sky as we sipped delicious wine; we even finished our taxes on time!!; the most blessed event was our family gathering to welcome another Easter Day. 

Indeed it was challenging April with many opportunities. 

Yesterday!

 Yesterday!   

X

• X marks the spot!
• X In Greek, the language of the New Testament, the word Christos (Christ) begins with the letter "X," or chi.
• Thought to be the most powerful letter in the alphabet, the letter X is used in many areas of life, from astronomy and science to algebra and spirituality. 
• The skull and crossbones symbol has long been associated with danger and death, 
• is believed that the X can ward off evil spirits 
• a value that is not yet known
• included at the end of a message and means kisses.
• The twenty-fourth letter of the English alphabet: from a western form of the Greek alphabet.
• What a letter to mean so many different things!

Walk To Save A Life

Recently, we organzied a walk through the neighborhood for a dear cause--Our great grandson,

JD, Jerry Duncan, was born with CDH  (Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia)  He is doing well after his surgery and finally came home from NICU after two months and two days.

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) occurs in an unborn baby when there is a hole in, or incomplete formation of, the diaphragm (the muscle under the lungs that is responsible for breathing). This hole allows the abdominal organs (eg. spleen, liver, intestines, stomach) to move into the chest, and prevents the lungs from developing normally because of the lack of space to grow. The defect can occur on the left side, right side, or both sides. The defect is usually discovered on ultrasound before the baby is born.

We had a nice turnout for this event and will likely do this every year to support all CDH babies.

Here is photo of our little CDH boy--JD!

 

Voodoo Queen

There is a great tale about the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans, Marie Laveau.

Visiting New Orleans, it is a must you go by Marie's tomb, located in Louis cemetery #1

.

A little aside here--my brother visited us in NO, driving a brand new car, which he parked right outside the gates of cemetery.  As we walked through the tombstones and came to Marie's tomb.

The belief is that one must break off a piece of brick from another tomb, spin around three times, scrape three X's onto the tomb, and do some sort of knocking on the tomb. Then an offering should be left at the tomb and your wish will be granted. X's that are circled are said to mean that the wish had come true

My brother said " I don't believe in this" and he walked on; coming back to his new car--it wouldn't start!   He tried and tried--it still wouldn't start.  We said to him, "better go back to Marie's tomb, leave

 an offering, knock three times and place your X's, spin around 3 times

He did that!  Went back to the car and it started!  

!

Read about Marie, she is an interesting person.

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Unusual People

Do you read books about unusual people and unusual topics? 

Of course, there have been movies made about the following people; somehow, reading the books are more enjoyable.  If you have ever visited Denver, you can tour the home of Margaret Brown--very interesting story tour.

 Margaret Brown, posthumously known as "The Unsinkable Molly Brown", was an American socialite and philanthropist. She was a passenger on the RMS Titanic which sank in 1912 and she unsuccessfully urged the crew in Lifeboat No. 6 to return to the debris field to look for survivors.  Molly Brown", was an American socialite and philanthropist. She was a passenger on the RMS Titanic which sank in 1912 and she unsuccessfully urged the crew in Lifeboat No. 6 to return to the debris field to look for survivors. 

Born: July 18, 1867, Hannibal, MO

Died: October 26, 1932, Barbizon Hotel, New York, NY

Children: Lawrence Brown, Catherine Ellen Brown

Spouse: James Joseph Brown (m. 1886–1909)

Siblings: Mary Ann Collins, Helen Tobin, Daniel Tobin, Catherine Bridget Tobin, William Tobin, Michael Tobin

Parents: Johanna Tobin, John Tobin

This book is so earth shaking!  It's hard to believe this fellow met so many obstacles during WWII.  There is also a movie.  Unbroken! 

Louis Silvie Zamperini was an American World War II veteran, an Olympic distance runner and a Christian Evangelist. He took up running in high school and qualified for the United States in the 5,000 m race for the 1936 Berlin Olympics, finishing 8th while setting a new lap record in the process. 

Born: January 26, 1917, Olean, NY

Died: July 2, 2014, Los Angeles, CA

Spouse: Cynthia Applewhite (m. 1946–2001)

Siblings: Pete Zamperini, Sylvia Zamperini, Virginia Zamperini

Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, 

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead--  There are many books about this event

Isaac Tatem Hopper was an American abolitionist who was active in Philadelphia in the anti-slavery movement and protecting fugitive slaves and free blacks from slave kidnappers. 

• Born: December 3, 1771, Deptford Township, New Jersey, United States
• Died: May 7, 1852, New York City, New York, United States
• Spouse: Sarah Tatum Hopper
• Children: Abigail Hopper Gibbons

Trivia

 Remember the game Trivial Pursuit?  Our family enjoyed teasing each other with questions from that game.  Now. It seems to be making a comeback, especially in pubs and bars.  Get a group together, give yourself a cool name,  make special matching t-shirts, be ready to dazzle the other groups.  Prizes are small things or just the knowledge you knew all this trivial stuff! 

Trivia' comes from the Latin 'trivialis,' meaning "found everywhere, commonplace." One meaning of 'trivia' is "unimportant matters." But as valuable as scholarly knowledge can be, trivia sometimes gets a bad rap.

Trivia facts can be recalled faster than important things by my mind.  The old brain will come up with theme song from some 1970’s TV show But can not remember the neighbor’s kids’ names—which you hear shouted often!  Trivia is useless facts—for example:

 Fun Facts and Trivia

• It is impossible for most people to lick their own elbow. 
• A crocodile cannot stick its tongue out.
• A shrimp's heart is in its head.
• It is physically impossible for pigs to look up into the sky.

Isn’t that fascinating trivia?!  When does that info come up in a conversation—like, never!  If you want to gain control of conversation, pop out one of those useless facts! 

By answering questions and learning, you're improving your cognitive skills. Retaining information about topics you're interested in is like an exercise for your mind, allowing you to expand your intelligence and improve mental capabilities.

Soooo, there is something good that comes out of knowing trivia!

Sew With Me

Sew much to sew, sew little time!  A few new sew alongs that I plan to sew.  A friend has asked me to make a quilt for her Little Sister Program.  I'm thankful to have an outlet for my twin size quilts.

Walkabout is a wonderful reminder to move about at least 30 minutes a day and sew at least, 30 minutes a day.  The clues are added each day but easy to do. Sew with me on this top.

Boutiful Charity is offering this top--What a perfect opportunity to serve  a charity with this top!

Sew Preetiquilts is sponsoring another quilt along to benefit Mercyful Quilts--gives quilts to their terminally ill patients to bring some measure of comfort to the person and their familyas they go through the process of dying.

There are always charities that will accept your quilt donations.  And it keeps me and you sewing!

Main Resu

Recipes!

 I love cookbooks and recipes--maybe not so much cooking!  There is something about opening a cookbook to see amazing food photos!  Would my dishes look that good?  Probably not!  Some of my favorite recipes come from my southern books--I have a favorite in almost every book I own.  Of course, I haven't tried All the recipes in the book--but wouldn't that be fun??!!  Maybe later on, I'll pick one book and go from beginning to end.  

Recipes come in all means—you can find a food recipe online easily.  Since, I can't carry those books with me everywhere--I resort to the internet.

Several of us are dishing up a meal for the participants of a walk.  What will we serve for lunch buffet?  There will be brisket, smoked by son—his recipe always varies—the seasonings include salt, pepper, lemon pepper, ??, else.  How long he smokes or type of wood—no idea—I just hand him the brisket and the next day we have smoked brisket!  We will serve flour tortillas instead of buns.

Daughter is preparing Southern baked beans—

always delish!  This recipe could be a meal in itself because of ground beef--she makes hers in slow cooker as it cooks alllllll day or night long.

My recipes for buffet include Mexican Street Corn Salad 

Since food will be served over a period of time and outdoors, I wanted a recipe that didn't include mayo.  You can find roasted Mexican corn frozen so I don't need to roast the ears of corn.

The other recipe I'll make is pasta salad--there are so many good ones in the cookbooks; I'm gleaming  from several.

Above recipe (quick and easy pasta)  includes peppers, tomatoes, zucchini (won't use that--nobody would eat it), black olives,  pepperoncini, mozzarella balls, sliced scallions, curly pasta and uses no mayo--you can add almost any veggie to this recipe--will be fun to create for the walkers. 

Of course, there will be sweets--brownies, cupcakes, cookies.

What’s your favorite recipe?