TANA Basket Donation

I finally finished turning the kiss into a needlecase. The finished project will got into the TANA basket for Share A Stitch in Nashville. I think it's supposed to be a secret but at this point I don't think many people look at this blog so the secret is still safe. I hope the ladies at TANA like it enough to put it in the basket. I know they say that whenever you make something you see all the faults but noone else does. Let's hope that's the case with this one. I wouldn't be a bit offended if they didn't want to use it. I actually like it enough to keep it for myself. So I guess if it does go in the basket you'll be seeing another one in the near future for moi!

Track finish!

Nick finished in 2nd place in the 200 meter relay! I was so proud of him. It's his first year at track and, ok it was the slow group, but it was 2ND PLACE!! He was so happy and I was so proud of him. He was so nervous about it because he had only ran the 100 meter before and his coach just volunteered him for that race.

I don't think he likes this photo because the sun was in his eyes but it was the only one that turned out. The only other thing I had was the video of him doing the long jump. He still needs to practice more on that. He got 12 feet which was pretty darn good. First place was 16 feet. Well, it is his first year.

Display and Bingo

My EGA group, Tri-Area Needle Arts has a spring stitching display at the United Bank in Ceredo, WV. I have two items in it. Jill and I set it up on Tuesday and I think it looks pretty good.

Know anyone who likes Longaberger Baskets or Bingo? If you like both, you'll enjoy TANA's Longaberger Basket Bingo. It is on May 9th. Doors open at 5 and the first game is at 6. It is being held at the Tri-State Fire Academy in Huntington, WV. Tickets are $20. This includes 20 games of bingo and door prizes between each game. If you would like a ticket or know someone who would, you can email me for further info. j.ratliff@live.com

Latest stitching

My latest stitching ventures. I made the bookmarks to be donated by my Guild for an adult literacy program. The apron is for my daughter. She used to work at a daycare and they wore aprons to carry all their stuff in it. She likes to wear it to carry cleaning or crafting things in. I had to model it for the photo but she likes wearing it at home.

Zoo

Another mini-vacation with the grandkids. We went to the Columbus Zoo and got some great photos. The weather was perfect and the girls were on their best behavior. That doesn't happen often that they are both in sync with each other. We had cotton candy and the works. My daughter got a new camera and the photos are excellent.

Conquering my fears!!!

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Pictures above: Me, my husband and granddaughter Alyssa on a balancing thing; son Nick driving a space shuttle; and granddaughter Emma showing me her bottle.

We went to my daughter's house in Columbus to celebrate Alyssa's 4th birthday with a trip to COSI. I was the only one brave enough to go on the high wire and I had to get video to prove that I did it!

Friendly bird

About a month ago I got a new pet, a cockatiel I named Alfred. (You know, Hitchcock The Birds) I first put him downstairs because I thought his cage area would be easier to keep clean down there. About a week ago I moved him upstairs. He loves being upstairs but he gets ready for bed before we do. Around 9 he starts chirping, just a little at first. If I don't do anything he finally just chirps constantly until I put a large towel over his cage. Then, he's quiet until morning. It's funny. He loves the new hanging snack thing I put up for him. He has his own little personality and he's a lot of fun to watch. If I go on youtube and find birds singing or chirping he thinks they are in the room and chirps back to them. I'd like to teach him to sing but I can't whistle so I went to the pet store and bought a CD that has parts of several children's songs being whistled. I guess the theory is that if he hears it often enough he'll repeat it. I'll try it and see how it goes.