Depression

I don't know if I'm just being petty but my heart is breaking. Sunday is Father's Day and my daughter is planning a big party inviting several people. There was no party for Mother's Day. Am I making too big a deal out of it?

It's Been Years

OK, so I'd forgotten this blog existed. Since I last posted, a lot has happened. I now have three granddaughters and another grandchild of unknown sex on the way. My daughter is very busy. She got married recently to Gene Cox. I finally got the divorce on paper and am now a free woman :) I bought a house, out in the country, that I LOVE! I moved in on Halloween last year so I haven't had a chance to see my place in the summer. When I do, I'll post pics. I love it in the winter. I can only imagine how beautiful it will be this spring and summer. Nick is doing better. He's in school in Indianapolis and just started a new part-time job. I'm so proud of him. I'm still a librarian and still believe it's the best job I've ever had. I'll post some current pics next time. It feels good to be back.

Surviving a Concussion

When someone you love suffers a concussion it is much harder to deal with than anyone knows. Not just the victim but the entire family suffers. A person with a concussion has a broken brain. There is no medicine or surgery that can fix it. It's hard for the victim because they do not have good decision-making skills and sometimes go with their feelings. It can be embarrassing or even dangerous for them. They can go to their locker at school and pack up to go home only to discover it's just lunch time. They can decide to sneak out of the house but instead of going out a door they will jump from a second story window onto concrete. It's hard for the family as well. They now have a person whose health and well being they are concerned with who has now become almost a stranger. That person will get angry at you at nearly every opportunity. They will close up within themselves and ignore you. Everyone needs to be patient, caring, loving, concerned and always watchful. It's an emotional roller coaster for all involved. May God give us strength as he carries us through the valleys.

Time Flies and Flies

I can't believe it's been six month since I've posted. Maybe I can get back on a schedule and post regularly.

At the end of August I started a part-time job with the Boyd County Public Libary at the Kyova branch. Week before last I was promoted to full-time Circulation Specialist. Needless to say, I love this job. I love books and people who like to read. I love movies and enjoy talking to people who love movies. I've always known that knowledge is power and it's fun to be at the center of place where all those resources, and many more, are available.

I love inspiring people to read. There is a young boy who comes in every week looking for AR (accelerated reader) books. He was holding a magazine with wrestlers on it. His mom asked him to put it back and I told him he was allowed to check it out if he wanted to. His face lit up. It had never occurred to him that he could just read something fun.

Another evening, an older gentleman came in and said his children bought him a Kindle. He wasn't sure if he would like it or not. He likes turning the pages of the books. I told him that I love real books too, but that I keep my Kindle in my bag and whenever I'm at the doctor or at football practice I can have hundreds of books right at the tip of my fingers. I could see the lights coming on in his eyes as a whole new world of reading opened up to him.

I'm still stitching but not as much as I have in the past. I go through "spells" where I itch to stitch something and I always have something handy.

Tomorrow night is the TANA meeting. It will be a busy day for me. 9-5 at work and then meeting the girls for dinner and then the meeting until 9 or 10. I'm so glad I don't have to work Tuesday until 1pm.

Alyssa started Kindergarten this year and is loving it. She enjoys riding the bus and coloring pictures. She colors pictures better than most adults would.

Nick is playing football for the Ironton Tigers again. He has a driver's license. (I've colored my hair three times). He's doing great in school.

I think I will go finish a coffin from last month's TANA class and then read until The Walking Dead comes on.

Good night all!

Royal Wedding Party

Becky and I went to Jill's house after the Secret Sister Reveal Dinner. We all wore our tiaras, while holding our wands and Jill gave us bubble rings. We put them on when Prince William put the ring on Catherine's finger. When they were walking back down the aisle, we blew our bubbles.

We stayed up until almost 1am stitching and watching the news stories about all of the tornadoes in the south.

We all set our alarms and were up at 4am. Becky mades us a breakfast casserole, which was delicious.

We watched every minute of the Royal Wedding. It was so romantic! I love all of the old traditions. The closest thing we ever had to royalty were the Kennedy's.

We took a nap after the kisses were over and slept until noon. Then we celebrated again with the chocolate mousse tuxedo cake. It was layer after layer of yummy!

Spring is here!

Stitching at A.C. Moore in Barboursville.

Let's hope so anyway. I wish the rain, rain, would go away. I can't complain too much, though. Staying inside on cold, rainy days gives me plenty of time to stitch and read the new stuff on my Kindle. Have you read UR by Stephen King yet? I think it's only available on the Kindle. It's very good. (like everything else he does.) It's about a guy who buys a Kindle and he gets a pink one. (No, they don't come in pink. That's part of the story.) He gets a look into alternate dimensions...that's all you get. I know you hate me, but you really should read it.

This is the piece I finished from the TANA class taught by Liz Alexander. It's a pincushion. I gave it to my stepmom, Carolyn, and she loved it. It looks like it was made for just that spot.While I was visiting them, we made a trip to Wally World and found the cutest little kid-sized Snuggies for the girls. Aren't they just adorable?
Becky and I are all dressed up and ready to cheer for Big Ben and the boys. Too bad they let us down.

I loved the pincushion so much I had to make more. I think I will make one them in different colors so I can change for the seasons or holidays. This one looks like Christmas.

Happy 2011

What a wonderful way to start the new year...stitching with the girls at Pat's! The Village Sampler was open New Year's Day so Becky, Lanna, Drema and I went to the stitch-in there. The large, front room was already packed with stitchers. In front of the register, Pat was teaching hardanger to three ladies so that left the round table in the back room. There were four seats and four of us so it was perfect. We were also next to the room with all the food, so that was great, too.
Lanna brought a beading project but brought the wrong color of red so she started a project for Becky. It was a beautiful kit that Becky was going to buy. Lanna started it so she really did have to buy it. (She was going to anyway, but it was funny.)

Becky finished her challenge piece for MMNA and took something old and made it new.

I finished my December hardanger card.

Drema was working on stamped pillow cases for her preacher's wife. They were really pretty. She wasn't very happy working on them because she doesn't like stamped projects but she was doing it for a friend so she liked that part of it.

Lanna and Becky found a pattern they BOTH loved. I thought I was going to have to intervene but they managed to work it out amongst themselves.