Last Day Of The Month

I can hardly believe July is over!  Oh my gosh, summer barely arrived and it's already almost gone!  The grandchildren go back to school in less than 3 weeks! 

We've accomplished a great deal in the past couple of weeks.  The vegetable planter has been rebuilt, the lawns have been cut in half and removed to cut down on water usage and increase edible garden areas for vegetables and fruits, our kitchen has had Rev-A-Shelves installed in the cabinets for easier access, half of our master closets have been converted to shelving units and updated, the office closet has been rebuilt, my craft room has had shelves installed, and our garage has been cleaned with new shelf closets installed and the rest cleaned! 

Whew - a ton of stuff done in such a short period of time!  I wish I could take credit for all of the work - but I really was only allowed to point where every thing was to go and the rest was done by our son who drove out from Colorado, our youngest grandson, and our gardener.

This week I will be staying with my three youngest grandchildren while mommy and daddy are vacationing in Hawaii for a week!

I will be updating more later this week - thank you for stopping by!  I will also be updating on my post regarding the Grow Camp and the resolution of the fiasco we had with the terrible melt down.  (See prior post.)  And, I'll catch up on all of the goings on!

Blessings,
Donna

Peach, Mango and Strawberry Jams!!

Wow, it's been a great year for tasty fruit!  With the crazy weather we've had this spring and summer (so far) our fruit has had lots of blemishes, which means lots of tasty fruit at great prices.  Strawberries were again 88 cents a pound today!  If I hadn't already put up about 80 pounds of fruit - 40 or so in jam and 40 or so in fresh frozen - we'd be picking up more than just a few pounds to munch on this week!

Mangos came in at 2 and 3 for $1, so - yep - I put up a lot of mango jam.  Oh my goodness, it is really tasty!  I love jams with big chunks of fruit!  spreads so nice on fresh warm bread!  Yummy!!

Last week, my daughter in law brought me over a large crate of fresh peaches she was able to pick up for $6.  SIX DOLLARS!!!  Oh my heavens - Elise, my oldest granddaughter (8 years old) helped me and we put up 12 small, 15 medium, and 12 large jars of peach jam.  5 batches,  20 pounds of peaches just in jam and we had a big bowl left for ice cream topping or just eating!!  There's nothing like fresh fruit picked that day or a day or two before. 

Of all of the jams this year, Elise and I agreed, the peach takes the prize, hands down!  It tastes so good - oh my gosh!  I wish I could give everyone a spoonful through the screen!

I'm sorry for the farmers not being able selling their fruit for top prices because of the late frosts and freezes, but blessings for us getting such tasty fruits for so little in price!  Now blueberries - I'd really like to pick up another 20 or more pounds of blueberries for the freezer.  It's a bit late in the year for them, but one can dream!

I pray everyone is having a safe and wonderful summer vacation.  I've been enjoying my grandchildren and the great weather we've been having!

Blessings,
Donna

GrowCamp Greenhouse Meltdown

Oh, how we wanted a small greenhouse, mostly to try to grow some vegetables all year.  We also wanted to be able to get a head start on the growing season by growing our seedlings out doors in the greenhouse, then to the ground after the freezing weather and frosts had finally warmed up.  It was built last summer (early summer) and we were delighted with the results.  We had fresh tomatoes and bell peppers through December and the freezing weather really hit hard this year (for our California area)!  The Grow Camp Greenhouse system seemed too good to be true!

Last year, towards the end of the growing season, I did notice a slight bulging on one of the ends of the base unit.  When I called the company, they hadn't heard any similar problems and said they didn't think it would hurt the integrity of the greenhouse.

This spring, we asked our gardener to refresh the soil with Amend and we made sure the water system was ready to go.  We purchased some of our plants, and lots of seeds.  Because we, like most of the US, missed spring and had a roller coaster of weather, and many nights hitting lows not conducive with growing or sprouting seeds, we kept waiting for the right time.  All of a sudden, our temperatures hit 100 for a couple of days, then back down to very cold, warm, then cold.  (Like everyone else!)

A few weeks ago, we decided we'd waited long enough, the weather finally settled down and the plants we had been taking in and out of the garage for sun and water were begging to be planted - so in the ground they went.  We were getting our seeds ready to sow in the Grow Camp - and couldn't believe our eyes!

Yes, this is a gigantic melt down!  We had a few days at 100+ degrees, but that is normal for our area!  We cool way down at night, with our coastal influence, and we'd read many reviews of owners who lived in the deserts and other weather extremes and read nothing like this!

As anyone who has purchased or is looking at purchasing this greenhouse system will attest, this is neither a flimsy nor cheap greenhouse.  Grow Camp Greenhouses are pricey, but would have been worth it except . . .


I will say, after only one phone call to Costco, explaining the problem (and keeping all of our receipts having the order number, invoice number, original paperwork to go along for proof of purchase) our problem was turned over to the Resolution Department.  We were told to expect a phone call to see how this would be taken care of.  Instead, I received an email from them, asking us to have the Grow Camp boxed up and it will be picked up in the next week.  I had requested a full refund, and have been promised by Costco it would be taken care of.

We've always heard Costco has an excellent return policy and will stand behind what they sell.  And, if they do what they've said, I will be one who will sing high praises here - I can't say the same thing about Grow Camp Greenhouse Systems, who has not answered any of our messages or emails.  I've noticed there are other online garden supply companies who are now carrying this product.  I do hope they stand behind this product if it happens to any one who purchases from them.

In the meantime, we're back to square one - and seriously looking at the old fashioned brick, raised garden bed.  For now, a smaller crop to be harvested before any cold weather begins in the fall>

Many blessings with any gardening you are doing!  I love growing little bits of this and that!  A few herbs, salad mix, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and lots of zucchini (for zucchini bread!)   Oh yum!  I hope everything grows quickly!

Blessings,
Donna

From Pieces to Night Tables

I love yard sales, Estate sales, barn sales, rummage sales, block or neighborhood sales - I just love going through all of the stuff, junk as some people call it, to find treasures. 

My daughter is an expert at this.  She has a creative streak going through her with a pair of eyes that can find the inner beauty of a piece, or to find something in pieces and see it recycled or re-purposed.  Clean it, paint it, sand it, cut it up and make something else.  She's crazy good!  Amazingly talented.

I also love the hunt, to find something and turn it back into something useful, beautiful.  I've been on the look out for a pair of night tables for our adult guest room.  Not knowing quite the direction of the room yet - it was painted and now after a couple of years, we're not liking the color - so before I make the duvet cover matching the window dressing I've already made, I thought if I found some tables, I might just find a direction.

When I found these two tables a couple of weeks ago, my sweetheart rolled his eyes.  He is not like me - he does not like "used" furniture.  And, he took one look at these and thought I was crazy.  You see, I don't know about you, but I have wip's stashed everywhere!  I'm going to get to them all - as soon as I ...  I know I'm not the only one with projects all over the place!  I loved the dark cherry wood finish and the green marble tops.  When I took a look at them and I knew what had happened to them and just how to fix them.  After negotiating a great price, $15 for both tables, my garage sale buddy and I loaded these babies up and took them home.

Here they are - once I figured out the one table had been put together completely upside down, I removed the legs, turned them over, knocked off all of the pieces of wood from the marble (which had been glued on by guessing where they fit), glued all of the legs on properly, sides on the right way (some were upside down and backward), cleaned the crust of dirt and dust using a bit of elbow grease.  Then applying some good furniture polish and polishing the marble - well, as you can see, my little night tables look pretty darn good!

                                                                                                          
Last winter, my grandson helped me make a king size headboard.  He helped cut the wood, we added a sizable amount of padding for comfort, and covered it in a black suede type material.  It has a very simple curve and will add a lot to the room as well.  So, this time next month, the headboard will be hung (my Colorado Kids are coming out to visit and help with some things around the house) and I'll be on my way to finding the right color to put on the walls.  I think if we simply use a light gray, it will blend the room a bit more and everything will look in place.

This week when my buddy and I hit the sales, I'll be looking for pictures for the walls and a couple of larger lamps!  We'll see what we find!

Have fun with what ever you're working on!
Many blessings,
Donna

The Way We Celebrate Our Independence

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness.  You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism." 
~Erma Bombeck

I copied this from the Cricut Chirp Newsletter.  You gotta love a country that celebrates like this!

Most everyone who knows me, knows I'm a Patriot through and through.  Are we perfect as a people? Nope!  (Only One is perfect.)   Most of us try really hard to be good Americans, good people in general.  There are knuckle heads in every country, including ours.

If you happen to see a US Service Member, or a Veteran, be sure to say, "Thank you for your service to our country!  Because of you and those who serve with you, we are free to celebrate today!  My family and I appreciate your service and we're so proud of you!"

What ever you do this weekend, however you celebrate our independence, stay safe, have fun - most of all be proud to be an American!  I know I am!

Blessings for a wonderful holiday weekend,
Donna 

A Happy Birthday!

I celebrated my birthday over the weekend, and had a lovely time!

Our good friends drove down from Fairfield to stay with us, and cooked a birthday dinner for me!  How lovely is that?  They drove many hours, brought all of the ingredients, even a small camping grill, cooked and served dinner for Don and I!  It was lovely, and yummy, and so thoughtful of them!

They made a new dish from 'Fine Dining' which was an Italian vegetable pasta dish.  All of the veggies were grilled separately, tossed with grilled Roma tomatoes and olive oil, served over linguini.  It was delicious!  I made fresh sourdough bread and a yummy sourdough chocolate cake (yes, I made my own birthday cake - and enjoyed every bite!!)

Sunday morning I made them a breakfast of fresh fruit (blueberries, strawberries and mangoes) and a new recipe for me, Blueberry Scones, which turned out to be the best scones I've had.  They were sweet, soft and so yummy with fresh blueberries!  (all of my recipes are from the King Arthur Flour website)

Last Friday, my youngest granddaughter, Leila, spent the day with me.  We were drawing pictures together and she asked me how old I was going to be on my birthday, I told her 59.  She said, "well, you know, when you turn 100 then you will be getting old, Grandma." God bless the little ones!  I don't feel old, so I'm not going to act old.  I'm only 59, after all!

Blessings and enjoy this wonderful new week,
Donna

For Someone Special

This is a word album I finished for a wonderful friend!  She is so kind and sweet, always so concerned for my health and well being.  Always asks about my family, how my garden is doing and my crocheting, as well as my other many hobbies.

I have a few little details to finish before I send it off to her. 

This is my first word album.  FRIEND.  It took a long while because I wanted to color coordinate it and after this, I will do what so many others I have seen on YouTube do, and that is to purchase a new paper collection so everything matches. 

There are many tags tucked away for her to put in special photos and to journal.  All the pages are different and have lots of goodies packed away. 

 
I made my own flowers by watching so many talented ladies on YouTube.   They are so good at teaching the rest of us how to make so many wonderful things.

I also crocheted a butterfly and have that flying through the pages as well. 

There is lace and ribbons, beads and do-dads.  I love working with different fibers, so this first album has a little of everything in it.





I can hardly wait to get this in the mail to her.  I'm hoping to have it mailed and in her hands in about 2 weeks.  We never know how fast the Post Man will deliver mail, though, do we?  I have a few other items to pick up and put in the box before it goes on its way.

Thank you for taking a peek, and I'd love feed back - now that I've finally figured out how to post my photos!

Blessings to all,
Donna

Summer Has Arrived!

Today is the second day of Summer and boy has it arrived!  We've had a few days now at 100+ degrees, but we are expecting some relief - 99 today, down to 96 tomorrow, then 91 or so for the next few days after.  Low 90's is perfect.  Very warm, but usually not too hot and we can get by with just the fans on.  The air conditioner makes my bones ache so much!  I just stay clear of the vents! 

My garden in loving the warm weather.  All of a sudden the squash, cucumbers, tomatoes and peppers are so happy!  They are growing like weeds!  And, speaking of weeds, they are trying to grow right along with them! he he he!  It's a constant battle to keep them from taking over sometimes!  I think we may be harvesting a couple of tomatoes at weeks end.  Only a couple of small ones.  We never did find our patio tomatoes, so we'll make do with the pear tomatoes again this year.  These are supposed to cluster.  So far it's a cluster of 4 or 5 on 2 branches!  I think I may need to get the Miracle Gro on them!  Jump start after not having much of a Spring to get ready to grow.

Don went out this morning to check the water lines around the yard.  With this heat, we have to stay on top of the water lines to make sure we haven't sprung any leaks or rips in the lines.  He found our Grow Camp Greenhouse system we put in last year has melted down into a very large W in the middle and the top of the system has collapsed!  I had some slight concerns last year with some bulging on the sides, but the company was very unresponsive, so I simply called Costco this morning, we purchased through them, and they are offering to take care of calling the company for us and will offer a new one be delivered or our money refunded.  I'm very impressed with the customer service!  $600 is nothing to sneeze at and hardly a price to pay for only one year of service from a greenhouse system.  They will be getting back to me in the next few days, and I'll let you know how this turns out.

So, since the greenhouse won't work for my veggies this year, I may try potting my beets and carrots, lettuce, along with the herbs.  The peppers and tomatoes, and the cucumbers we planted in the Grow Camp last year, lasted until December or January.  So, I was really hoping for some row crops in it this year.  Plan B!

I have finished many of my projects.  I've finished a beautiful "Friend" album.  I will be showing photos of it later.  I have figured out how to download photos now.  Yeah!  How many months, or years, has it taken me?  I started, and finished, a cowl last week - no photos of that one - I no sooner completed it when I tried it on and it was huge!  I ripped it out and will reuse it on another.  I did leave a comment on Red Heart about it too.  It was exact to the measurements on the pattern, and was very simple and easy to complete.  I love cowls, and would rather wear them than a scarf most times.  I don't have to worry about the darn thing coming off or hanging in the way if I'm doing something.  I love to keep my neck warm, with my spinal injuries, it helps to keep the pain down.

That's it for today.  I'm busy downloading 800 or so photos I've taken since Christmas!  I want to get some new pages here on my blog, too.  I'll be back later to post some of them!

I wish every one a safe and happy summer!
Blessings,
Donna 

Memorial Day 2011

Today begins the long Memorial Day Weekend ~ a remembrance of the men and women who died while in service to our country.   We owe a lot, no - actually we owe everything, to these proud service members who gave the ultimate, their lives, so we remain free.

When you think about it, how many are willing to do the same?  Are you?  Am I?  My answer is yes.  I had this very conversation with my eldest grandson, Ryan, a couple of years ago.  He was 17 or so, and he asked me what I thought of the war, and after quite a discussion, when I told him I would pick up a gun, march to the front lines and stand proudly, and yes, fight and kill if necessary, any foe that tried to take my country, my homeland, harm my family.  Yes, I would.  Do I want to?  No, I don't think any right thinking person wants to take another persons life, but in war and it's them or me, I would have to.  He said, "It's OK, Grandma.  You take care of cooking the food, I'll take care of protecting you."   I was very proud of him, very proud.

This was of course in generalities, but I would hope he would, that any one in my family would.  We have a rich heritage to goes all the way back to one of the first ships that originally landed on these shores and helped established the original colonies.   My roots go back to the original settlers of this country, of America.  I am a proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).  I have descendents that fought during the American Revolution.  Several, actually.  And in every single war since - to protect our homeland or to help others earn the freedoms we sometimes take for granted.

Memorial Day is a day to remember all who have fought and died in service, or while in service, of our country.  All of my mother's brother's, my uncles, and my father and many of his family, fought during World War II.  All but one of my mother's cousins, has passed away.  Their graves are all marked with military headstones or are buried in Veteran's Cemeteries.  Flags will be placed on their graves, and the graves of all known military service members beginning today in remembrance of their sacrifice to our country.

When I meet a person anywhere who is in uniform, wearing a members cap, or retired cap, I asked if they were a member of the service and thank them for their service to our country.  My entire family has seen me do this, and I pray by this example, they too will walk up to a complete stranger, reach out their hand, shake,  and say, "Thank you for your service to our country.  I want you to know how much my family and I appreciate your service and dedication to all of us, keeping us free and safe."  How many grown men have I seen with such appreciation in their eyes?  Many, many.

Every Veteran's Day I send all of the living relatives or friends I know who served, or are serving, a card thanking them for their service.  My Uncles called me every year, and with tears flowing they would tell me, "no one has ever taken the time to thank me.  I can't tell you how much this means to me."  Every year when that call came, I cried too, because why was I the only one that ever remembered?  Don't we all do this?  I guess not.

When you see a veteran or a service member, stop and extend your hand and let them know how much you appreciate them.  How much it means to you to be free.  You'll be surprised at the response.  And, at the same time, remember the families, the wives and mothers, husbands and fathers.  They keep the home fires burning.  They do the job of both mom and dad, raising the family, taking care of everything.  Thank them - without them, our service members might not have the strength to keep going. 

To anyone who reads this, if you or a loved one is serving or has served, THANK YOU!  I appreciate what you have done for my family and I.  Please let the others you serve with know there are many of us who think of you, pray for you and truly appreciate your sacrifice for our country!

Many blessings,
Donna

First Step in My New Blog Facelift!

Oh my gosh!  Finally!  I have slaved over my computer trying to make changes to my blog!  Now, stop laughing!  I can actually hear you and heard a couple of you fall out of your chairs and you're rolling around on the floor laughing!  This is huge for me, HUGE!  When it comes to working on my computer, especially even thinking about working with any code, my spine melts and leaves my body.  Not kidding - so stop giggling!  I can usually do anything once I put my mind to it, so I don't know why computers scare me so much.

Anyway, here's my first step in my blog facelift!  I love it!  I am so proud of this - isn't it pretty!?  Now I need to learn how to install blinkies and buttons and all of the other thingies that we can put on them!

I have to thank a lot of people - first my sweet husband who sat patiently with me for a long time, much longer than I thought he would, before finally saying this morning, when I was going to change everything he helped me with last night, "you need to figure this out by yourself, this is your blog!"  Hmm, sounds familiar, he told me that when I first started this blog!  So, I followed the awesome directions from the ladies at  Makin' Cute Blogs (makincuteblogs.com) for the 30 Minute FREE Blog Makeover!  And, once I put my mind to it - it was as easy as the directions said!  So, thank you, thank you, thank you!!!  Next is Rachael at The Cutest Blog On The Block (tcbotb) for the free blog code.  I love, love, love it!!!  These folks are wonderful for people like all of us who can't, for what ever reason, do this and they share their talents with us out of the goodness of their hearts, so thank all of you!

I am mentally exhausted after spending most of the day looking through all of the hundreds of blog layouts that are available, so tomorrow, or sometime over the weekend, I know I still have a lot of work to do on my blog.  But, I also know I'm on my way to having as beautiful a blog as you all do!  I'm really proud of myself!

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!  Thank you for stopping by to take a look.

Many blessings,
Donna

May is Going Fast!

Oh my gosh!  Time is going by so quickly!  This month we celebrated Mother's Day rather low key.  Which was OK for me this year.  I heard from all of my children and spent a lovely day with my husband.  Talked with Mom a bit, and just relaxed!

The relaxing was very nice as I had my little ones for a week!  I love them dearly, and bless you all who have children late in life, but I'm still tired, actually I'm still exhausted!  They have more energy than I remember having, and my little mini me, Leila, has only one speed - GO - from the time her little eyes open in the morning until it's bed time and we turn off the light and close the door, she is off and running.  And, no more naps!  She's not a baby any more!

We had a wonderful time with them.  They each painted a canvas picture for their rooms or Mom and Dad.  They love when they get to paint with all of my acrylics in my outside studio.  I have hundreds of bottles of different kinds and colors of paints and they so enjoy doing something special like going through all of the colors and painting with my big paint brushes!  Little artists, all three (as were the two older ones who are too old now to come paint with me!)  Next time, I would really like to break out the gesso and moulding compounds and teach them to use texture in their art work!  The girls also did some scrapping and sewing.  Isaac even took his little sis out and they tried to journal all of the lizards in the yard, according to size, colorings, markings, and names (of course).  They are all growing up way too fast! 

This week our youngest son will fly in from Colorado!  Unfortunately his wife will not be coming and the trip will only be for the weekend!  Would love for it to have been longer, but later this summer he'll be back out!

My afghan is almost finished!  Only two more rows and it will be complete.  I really love it.  I didn't think I would like it this much.  After all, it's made up of all of the bits and pieces, little balls of yarn not enough to do another project with, but I just couldn't bare throwing away!  And, it is lovely.  By the end of next week I should have pictures up.

I am really loving baking with the King Arthur Brand flour and all of the other goodies they sell.  My newest is sourdough pretzels!  Oh man are they delicious!  Hot from the oven, nice large soft pretzels.  They heat up well in the microwave or toaster oven, too.  Tomorrow I'm making another sourdough chocolate cake.  Yummy!!

I've been working on getting my blog updated and that should be done by the end of the month.  It's been a lot to look at.  There are several wonderful sites out there that have many designs free and for sale.  I just have to make decisions on what background goes with which buttons, and other functions I would like to use.

It's late and time to retire.  Thanks for stopping by, and blessings to all!

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!

We started are day with praising the Lord!  Isn't awesome that we live in a Country where we can worship our Lord, Jesus Christ!?  In a Country where we are all free to worship in any church, of any religion we care to.  Marvelous!  I love being Christian, I love my Lord!

My son, Albert, Karla and the children came this morning and had a home baked cinnamon pull apart bread, fresh strawberry and fresh fruit brunch then the kids went out for the Easter egg hunt!  Some were hidden pretty well, some in plain sight!  Some of the ones right out in the open were the last to be found!  The kids had a blast and we had fun watching them!

Karla has taken Albert away for a spa night for his birthday, and the children will spend the week with us!  We're so happy to have them!  We plan on taking walks to see the deer, sewing classes for Elise, making rock figures and painting faces on them to look like animals, painting (I bought each a 12x16 canvas to paint) and lots of other crafts.  Oh - they're going to help me with the garden, too!  We have lots of plants and seeds to plant!  Good times!  They are out of school the week after Easter each year, so it works good for us.  We enjoy them so much.  Our daughter's two boys are already grown - 18 & 21 years old this year.  Too big to come play at Grandma and Grandpa's!  We were blessed though to have them for extended visits too, when they were wee ones! 

Time to throw the ham in the oven for dinner.  Just made 6 salads and 2 breads for Easter dinner.  So, I'd better get things heated - need more of a schedule when the wee ones are here!

Enjoy your day, enjoy your holiday what ever it might be.  If you are with friends, enjoy time with them.  If you're with family, make new memories and share your love with them.  Time goes by so quickly so do let a moment be wasted, let bygones be bygones,  love each other, live fully, life is way to short not to!

Happy Easter, Happy Spring   

Easter Is Around The Corner

My goodness!  Where is time going?  It's only 5 days before Easter!  FIVE DAYS??!!  Holy Cow!  Well, it is, so I need to stop stressing about it and just get stuff done!  What needs to be done, you ask?  Well, we will have our son and his family over for Easter, hide over one hundred eggs for the kids, (yes, over 100, I think it's almost 130, but I'm not telling anyone!), have dinner, then my daughter in law, Karla, and son, Albert, will go off and spend some time at the beach celebrating Albert's 40th birthday, we get to keep our wee ones for the rest of the week!  Oh, I can hardly wait!  I love having them.

But, before they come for Easter (Saturday night) I have 16 pounds of strawberries to put up in jam, 12 pounds of oranges to put up in jam, make dinner ahead of time (we're having a ham and cold salads with home made breads) and the desserts, put the office back together (it's been in the living room for the past month while we cleaned, then got a big project that needed to be completed before we could move it back!), get the house cleaned up and try to relax a bit (oh yea, right!) so I can entertain the kids for a week. 

What was I think about by buying all those strawberries for jam?  They looked so good, and the weather has been so Topsy Turvy with warm, sunny days then cold, rainy ones, we're not sure if this will be the only crop or if there will be a normal one in May.  It is early for strawberries, usually not for several weeks.  But, I'll take them when they're here!  And, on sale for $1 a pound, again - an unheard of price!   We froze 18 to 20 pounds two weeks ago.  That's why I'm thinking the crop is early.  We only have a few jars of jam left from last years crop, so timing is great!  Then I'm trying my hand at orange jam this year.  I've made marmalade before, but this is strictly orange jam, fruit of the orange only.  No lemon, and no rinds from either.  Yummy!  I made two loaves of Sourdough Rustic Bread last night, and will make some white bread Saturday for the kids next week, then try my hand at something new, a cinnamon breakfast bread and some rolls for dinner.

We're trying something new for Sunday Easter dinner.  Cooking the ham on Saturday, serving it cold, with cold salads on Sunday.  Sounds good to me.  Cinnamon bread, hot out of the oven for breakfast, Easter Egg Hunt, then dinner when the sugar rush wears off!  I'll make the salads on Saturday, too.  That way, we just visit on Sunday with the little time Albert and Karla are here.  40 years old, when did he grow up, have kids of his own, get to be 40?  I think it's the time flying thing!  he he he!

Still working on the hexagon afghan.  More than half finished though, so it's coming along.  Need to finish my Easter cards and get them in the mail, birthday cards need to be finished too.  My other daughter in law has a birthday on Friday.  Kim is a doll.  I love both of my daughter in laws.  I am very blessed.  I have always felt like they were daughters, like my daughter is to me.

That's it for today!  I wish you all a lovely and blessed Easter.  Enjoy having family together, hiding and hunting eggs, but most of all, the blessing of our Lord, Jesus Christ.  He died, baring all of our sins, arose from the dead, ascended in to heaven - He did this to save us. 

Happy Easter, Happy Spring!

Blessings, Donna

April Fools Day!

Tomorrow is April 1st ~ March came in like a lion and out like a lamb!  Started the month with storms, rain, winds, freezes and now ~ boy, things are sure warming up!  We uncovered our citrus trees, gave them a good dose of water, God is providing the warmth and sunshine and every one of the trees is taking off ~ growing like crazy!

The Mandarin Orange has 6 oranges that are almost ready for harvest - YUMMY!  Plus is has several oranges in various stages of growth, from a fingertip size to the size of a ping pong ball.  And several new flowers.  The Lemon has one almost ripe, and many in various stages as well, and hundreds, I'm not kidding - hundreds - of flowers!  The other two oranges have flowers this year!!!  Yeah!!  First year for blooms!  And, our problematic Key Lime actually has a few blossoms, too!  This is the most critical time for the citrus here.  One good cold snap or heavy winds and all of the blossoms fall and no fruit for months can even try to form!  They usually bloom heavily twice a year.  So, I'll be praying over my little trees for the next month or two!!

The weather has gone from 50's during the day to 88 degrees today.  Oh my gosh, it was beautiful!  Tomorrow it is supposed to cool down to low 70's.  But, no rain and lots of sunshine is wonderful!   I even get to start seeding our garden tomorrow.  Yeah!  And, hopefully, our nurseries will have some tomato and pepper plants soon.  Hmmmm, maybe I should just start my own from seed.  I did buy some last year.  Maybe I'll do that tomorrow to in small pots, that way if we get a cold spell, they can be rushed in to the garage!

I bought the prettiest material yesterday to make aprons, rice packs, and some other miscellaneous projects I have have under my cap. 

I've made a lot of progress on my latest afghan project, too.  Four rows, of 15, completed and all of the middles of the hexagons are done, it just needs one final row which attaches them together.  I'm hoping by the end of April!  That way, I'm not putting unrealistic goals up!  The slippers I started - well, I pulled the yarn and rolled it back up.  Did not like them at all once the soles and tops were on - so I'll look for another pattern.  Then they'll be great!  Started a scarf for my son's birthday in late April. 

I've also almost completed 4 pages of a really cute layout I won from Monique Griffith Designs.  It was originally a 2 page 12x12 layout, but I prefer 9x9, so I've managed to cut it in such a way that I'm getting 4 9x9 pages!  Pretty creative if I do say so myself!  I've also managed to complete 4 or 5 cards for special people in my life.  I love crafting and feel so blessed when someone makes something just for me, so I just love giving to those who I care about and are special to me.

I've also been baking up a storm with my King Arthur bread recipes.  The Sourdough Bread came out wonderful!  Looked just like the picture!  I then went on these past couple of weeks making Rustic Sourdough Loaves, Chocolate Sourdough Cake.  Oh yummy - it was great!  And, a White Sandwich Bread - oh it's like heaven on earth ~ right in my kitchen.  I'm having a blast!  This Easter, we'll be having fresh rolls, homemade!

My Fibromyalgia has been really bad - 5 weeks for this latest flare.  I so want to have an afternoon pain free.  Oh, let's be honest here ~ I was this monster would just walk out the front door and drop in a hole, never to be felt again!  It will be better soon, it always does subside some, so I'm just praying it gone!

That's it for tonight!  Wishing everyone a wonderful warmer month, full of sunshine and new flowers, gardens in bloom, lots of new projects to start!

Many blessings to all of you!  Be as bright as a flower and let others be a flower in your life!
Donna

Spring is Coming Soon

I am so ready for Spring to arrive!  It's been a very cold and rainy Winter, and I can hardly wait for warmer weather, sunny days, walking the neighborhood and just generally getting back in to the swing of things.  I feel so much better when the weather isn't so chilly and damp!

It looks like the temperatures and real feels will be above freezing now, so we'll be taking off the plant blankets and get ready for Spring plantings.  We had our two planting areas filled with a soil amendment as well as the small green house and rototilled.  This year we want to remove some of the lawn areas and plant our citrus trees.  We've been babying them for four years now and we finally have fruit on the Mandarin Orange and Meyer Lemon trees.  The lime and two other orange trees haven't produced yet, hoping this year.  But, when we plant them in the ground, we will need to make a tent structure to cover them during the cold winters.  They are all dwarf trees and we plan on them staying under 8' or so high.  We may also put in a second, and bigger, green house.  It's easy to talk about what we want to do and harder to get them up! 

I can hardly believe my blog will be 2 years old this month.  I do plan to utilize this more this year and start getting photos up.  There's always so much to do and it's easy to forget writing here!


I'm finishing Lavender/Rice Comfort Packs for my mom.  Sending two large and two small ones.  They will help her achy bones and muscles.  She, like many of our elderly parents, suffers with arthritis all over.  She also has spinal problems and some bionic parts (knee and hip replacements) and has many aches and pains.


Also, still working on the Hexagon Afghan.  It's coming along beautifully!  I've used so many left over yarns!  Actually, like many of you, I save anything over about a yard long, rolled into balls of various sizes.  I really find it hard to believe I am almost depleted of left over yarns and will be using only full sized skeins to finish it up!  There are already over 40 different colors I've used in this afghan!  I counted today how many I have and how many will be needed for the bedspread - I've completed 134 and will need 195, so 61 to go.  My sweetie told me, "you'll have that done in no time!"  He's great and always positive in my hobbies!



Other craft items - well, cards, of course for all of the special days - Birthdays, Anniversaries, Valentine's Day, Get Well - all of the everyday events.  The Comfort Packs, my first Sock Monkey (I'll talk about him another post in a couple of weeks with a photo),  a few pin cushions, the Hexagon Afghan, and many different little things.  I need to get the new serger and sewing machine out and begin working with them.  I want to make some new table place mats and I think the serger will be perfect for this project!  Fun, fun, fun!


I had the chance to spend a whole week with my little ones.  They are growing so quickly.  My little Lisey is sewing her first project, all by hand.  She received an American Girl Stuffed Animal project and I taught her all of the hand sewing stitches.  She was doing a great job.  She is very detailed oriented and everything has to be just perfect, so these types of projects will be perfect for her.  I think she would really enjoy embroidery, too.  That's another art that is very detailed.


I was so blessed to win two different giveaways on two different blogs!  One from Monique Griffith Designs, a beautiful layout kit for my Cricut, and a copy of the first Cricut Magazine from Creative Critters Cricut Club!  Two different contests!  What a blessing!  When I finish the layout, I will post it.  It is just perfect as it is one of children in the garden and I have the perfect pictures of my all of my grandchildren at different times throughout the last couple of years that will fit on this wonderful layout!  I would love to share it!


I'm also going to try my hand at sourdough bread!  Both of my sons are making these beautiful and tasty works of art.  One gave me some starter which is growing beautifully in my fridge!  I have my ingredients coming from King Aurthur Flour, then I'm good to go!  I just hope there aren't too many pounds attached to this bread!


My Fibromyalgia has been really acting up.  This flare is going on two weeks now and is the worst one of the year so far.  I'm going to start a second blog on my fibro journey.  It's a very misunderstood disease.  And, until you are diagnosed and understand what this monster is, you start to wonder if you are crazy and a hypochondriac.  It's horrible and debilitating, and if I can help just one person figure out what this monster is in their life, I will feel blessed.  When I first read an article about fibro, I sat down and cried - I cried because I was relieved, I realized I wasn't crazy. 


On a lighter note - I wish you all a wonderful Spring!  May your gardens be free of weeds and grow only beautiful flowers!  May all of your projects come out the way you want them too! 

Be happy, be blessed, and a blessing to others!
Donna

Time Is Flying By!

I cannot believe it is already the 19th of January!  Our weather is glorious ~ 65 to 70 degrees, warm and sunny, just a tad breezy.  And, no rain in sight for the rest of the month (according to our weather guesser!) 

Our citrus trees are producing fruit this year!  We've had a lemon or two the past couple of years, and a couple of Mandarins, but they're still young trees.  We have at least 15 lemons on our Meyer Lemon tree of various sizes, the Mandarin Orange tree has 6 nice sized fruits.  The other two Orange trees, Washington Navel and MidKnight Valencia have buds - and they haven't dropped, so our fingers are crossed.  The Lime tree though, man oh man, all it ever grows are 5' saplings with 2" thorns!  All are dwarfs and in huge pots.  Our big decision this year will be shall we plant them or keep them in the pots?  I really should plant some beets and lettuce, maybe a few herbs now in our little hot house.

I am working on a few projects.  I'm crocheting a scarf made with a cozy chenille, a tea cozy, and starting two afghans!  One afghan will be my driving project.  I am also getting some cards finished up and need to do some sewing repairs.  My little granddaughters bring me their stuffed animals that need repairs!  Maybe I should paint a "Grandma's Toy Hospital" canvas!  Wee ones are so appreciative of the little things.  Such a blessing!   Oh, then I need to pick out a nice project so I can learn to use my serger! 

Christmas is all put away.  I just love leaving the tree up as long as I can.  Today I brought in all of the boxes and carefully wrapped each ornament.  There are so many treasures.  I have some that hung on my Granny's tree, several the children made me as they were growing up and even a couple my older grandsons made for us.  I love holding and remembering each memory!  Under our tree is the Nativity set my Granny had under her trip for many years!  I remember laying in front of the tree playing with the figures as a little girl.  When my daughter was born, Granny passed it along to me.  All of my children and grandchildren have played with the set!  A few still have the 5, 10 and 15 cents marks with the "Woolworth" store stickers where she bought them in New York.  One of the sheep and the donkey have a broken legs.  Maybe I could mend them with some polymer clay?

Please remember our soldiers who are away from their families and friends serving our country.  Dear Lord, please bless each one and keep them safe!

Have a glorious weekend!
Blessings, Donna

Time to Start Sewing Projects!

Today my new Brother Sewing Machine and Serger arrived!  I am so happy!  It's time to get the material out I've been picking up the last two years and start sewing.  I have drapery material for our master bath and bedroom, some beautiful fabric for a duvet cover and skirting for the guest bed, plus tons more.

I'll set up the old machine right next to me for my little granddaughter to learn to sew.  She's so excited!  She even tried out some basic stitching over the holidays and was very good ~ making her little sis a bag with some goodies in it.  She really enjoys it and at 8 is old enough to learn - that's about the age I first started sewing and I've done fairly well.  She is such a joy to have with me, she listens very well, and tries to do exactly what she's shown.  I'd like her to learn we all make mistakes and it's OK.  I can hardly wait for Spring break to have her here to work with me.  (Big brother and little sis with be coming, too.)  I have some material and patterns for her American Dolls.  Exciting!

Blessings, Donna

Happy New Year!!

Welcome 2011!!  The New Year is officially here on the West Coast!  So, to all of you "HAPPY NEW YEAR!"

I'm so ready for the new year to begin!  A new beginning, a fresh new start to a brand new year!  Do you make a list of New Year's Resolutions?  I usually do, sometimes I over state what I would like to accomplish - oh darn, let's just say I almost always over state what I would like to get accomplished!  I do the same thing when I make a list of daily things, weekly projects, monthly lists - so why on earth would a list for the new year be any different? 

But - If I don't make a list, I have nothing so shoot for.  Kind of like that old saying "Shoot for the moon.  Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars."  ~Les Brown  I love positive quotes.  But it is true, isn't it?  If you don't set goals, don't shoot for the moon, just going along in life, if you miss, if you fall down, I suppose you'll end up face down in the mud!  OK that settles it, don't care what everyone else does, on to my list!

What ever you are planning, what ever you want to do, I hope you do it.  I pray that all my family and friends have good health, happiness around them and prosperity in the new year and beyond.

Enjoy your day today.  I know many will be watching football games, the Rose Parade, movies, playing games, visiting with family or friends, eating this and that with the idea it's just for today - right?  I know we have friends coming over early in the morning and we're planning on munching breakfast ~ yummy fruits and sweet breads ~ lunch ~ veggies and cheeses ~ and assorted meats, cheeses and desserts for dinner.  We will roll our friends out the door, to their car that night and then the first thing on the Resolution list starts!

Here are a couple of more quotes I really like ~ 
God gives us dreams a size too big so that we can grow in them.  ~Author Unknown 
and everyone's all time favorite ~ 
Try not.  Do or do not.  There is no try.  ~Yoda in The Empire Strikes Back 

A Day of Creating

Today I will be making Happy New Year gift plates for those we didn't see in the two weeks before Christmas.  Homemade fudge and mini cheesecakes!  So, two of my favorite things - cooking and baking; and giving to others.  A happy day!  We will be seeing many friends and business acquaintances both Thursday and Friday!

Later in the day, I would like to try a new crochet pattern for a butterfly.  It is just darling!  Yesterday I made a cupcake bookmark that just turned out adorable!  I will post both when the butterfly is finished.

Have a wonderful day. It looks to be beautiful today after a night of rain and chilly weather, and we do need rain here in California!  Both tonight and tomorrow night it looks to be a real feel in the teens - chilly for sure!  Then more rain on the weekend.

Many blessings, Donna

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all... Isn't this just the best time of the year?  I love Christmas!

Today I will call family and friends to wish them the best of this season, spend time with the love of my life in front of the fireplace (it's a bit chilly here and going to have a bit of rain this afternoon) watching some Christmas movies.  I made our Christmas Lasagna yesterday, so it has set up nice and will be yummy!  Cookie dough is in the fridge so we can munch on warm cookies, too.  I will start our pumpkin pie shortly so it has time to set up nicely.

I'll think back to times when the kids were young and it was so much fun, or when I was a kid and I had a blast with siblings and cousins.  I just love Christmas, the old memories, making new ones, the food, family and friends!

Speaking of family and friends, I wish all of you a Merry Christmas! 

Many blessings, Donna

Christmas 2010

Christmas 2010 has already been the most memorable Christmas in many years!  For me, Christmas is anytime we can get together during the holiday season.  It doesn't have to be on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.  It's during the season when we can be together and remember why we are celebrating.  Not the gifts, not the commercial part of it - it's family, the memories we make together.  2010 has been one of the best ever!

Having both of my sons together for this Christmas celebration warmed my heart!  It's been so long since our youngest son, Jeff, and our daughter in law, Kim, were home for Christmas, oh my, I could hardly wait until they arrived!  We celebrated a week early, but Christmas is when we celebrate it during the season together.  (Our daughter and her family had prior commitments.)

This time together were the best four days I've had in a very long time.  We watched our three youngest grandchildren in their School Christmas programs, and our eldest granddaughter sang a solo, without accompaniment, "Happy Birthday, Jesus."  She was right on key and sang beautifully.  It was the only solo of the entire program!  And, she kept it a secret from Grandma.  I sat with tears of joy listening to my little Angel! 

We then celebrated little Leila's 5th birthday with Mexican food and presents.  Her favorite?  Playdoh Puppy set.  She loves dogs of all breeds!  Mommy even made "pupcakes" for her classroom celebration!  They were just darling! 

Then it was on to our house.  We celebrated with a big turkey dinner and all the trimmings on Saturday.  Leila helped me make cookies, Auntie Kim helped Elise with sewing lessons, and Isaac stayed with Dad and Uncle Jeff playing games on the big screen when he wasn't making Uncle Jeff's special Star Wars gift (an At At made from boxes and paper towel rolls, tons of silver duck tape and aluminum foil.)  Mommy got to take a much needed nap then helped me with the cooking and cleaning, as did Kim when she wasn't teaching (a great multi tasker!)  Grandpa took time away from work and watched some TV and made sure everyone was comfortable.  He had a great time watching all of the kids, big and small, having a fun celebration.  We all talked, played games, and just enjoyed each others' company.

I wish you all a wonderful, fun filled, memorable Merry Christmas!  May God bless you all!

Blessings, Donna

New Flip Camera

Oh My Gosh!!  Last night we went and did some office shopping, a new shredder, ink for our printers, photo paper, and a tons of other office stuff.  As we entered the store, the young lady at the table asked us if we were business members and asked us if we'd like to enter a contest for three great gifts - the new Flip Video Camera, a Desk Top Shredder, and a new Office Chair.  Don said, "You enter, you're the one who always wins!" 

And guess what, Staples called this morning and I thought maybe we'd forgotten something or my printer stand was unavailable.  But, nope ~ I won!!  And, I won the new Flip Camera!  Pretty cool, huh?  I just had to share!  Just in time for the grand children to perform in their Christmas plays!

Merry Christmas and many blessings!  Donna

Christmas Time is Coming

My most favorite time of the year - Christmas!

I love this season.  The hope it brings, the feelings of family, of love, of warmth.  Here in California, we don't get snow, well most of us don't get snow.  The warmth I speak of is of is warmth from the heart.

For me Christmastime is the time for reflecting what the season, the reason for the season, the meaning of the first Christmas as it pertains to Christians truly means ~ Jesus' birthday.  The hope it brings, true hope, of everlasting life and love.  As a Christian, I believe without seeing.  We all believe what we want to, and isn't that the most wonderful thing about our country?  We are free to believe what we want to believe, freedom of religion, not from religion. 

I also love all of the lights, trees decorated, Santa and his reindeer, Snow people everywhere.  I just love Christmastime!  In the center of every tree or display in our home though is a Nativity scene.  The focus should always remain what we are celebrating. 

We do give presents, mostly to the kids, although I do still give Mom a gift each year.  In the almost 20 years Don and I have been together, we have never exchanged gifts.  We took the burden of "how to top last year" off of the table our first Christmas, as well as our birthdays, and our anniversary.  The joy for us is giving to others.  We always try to give to those in the community that are struggling, too. 

I made part of our gifts this year, and some of our cards.  Next year, my goal is to make 100% of our cards, and more of our gifts.

May you all have the happiest, Merriest Christmas ever!  May God bless you and your families.  May you find peace and hope in your lives, in everything you do. 

Blessings, Donna

Last Day of the Month

Can you believe tomorrow is the 1st of November already?  Where did this year go?!  

Last week my new Bind It All and 3 new Cricut Cartridges came!  Yeah!  I'm looking forward to making mini books and word albums with the BIA.  It's so cool.  I can't think of another thing I need in my scrapbook and card making area.  A few things I want maybe, but, need - not a thing really!  I can't wait to try it out and make my first mini book!  I won't be until later in November or December, though. 

November will be a busy month.  First I will be visiting with my wee little ones, then our teenage grandson will be coming over to help us with a few of the heavy duty chores and finish getting all of my Christmas decorations up.  Mid month I will be with my mom helping her through yer another surgery, getting home just in time to have a Thanksgiving dinner with our dear friends Pam and Joe.  And then ~ you guessed it ~ we will be at the end of yet another month!

Don't forget to vote on Tuesday, November 2nd!  This is probably one of the most important elections we have the opportunity to vote in  ~ So get out there and vote!

Voting is a privilege that gives us the right to speak out for or against our politicians, what they do and what they don't do.  We must always remember ~ the power for the direction of our country, our lives and the life we wish to have our children and grandchildren to lead, starts with us.  Please join my husband, Don, and me and pray for our country and vote for the candidates who believe in our Republic, our Constitution and our Declaration of Independence! 

Blessings, Donna

Newest Afghan is Completed!

The newest of my creations is finally completed!  Last night I tied off and weaved in the final strings (ends) and will block it, take photos, and wrap it up!  Someone already laid claim for their gift early this year when I first began.  So, surprising him will be a delight!

This one is a simple granny square stitch.  Very basic and very easy.  Instead of going around in a square, for an afghan, not a baby blanket, it is crocheted in a rectangle.  I loved breaking up the pattern with two additional colors that coordinated with the darker green.  I used the pattern I saw from Bernat called "Blue Afghan" and it is considered a beginner's pattern because of it's simplicity.  I called it my "Traveling Afghan" because I could work on it in the car whenever we went somewhere and I had an extra half hour or more, and it was super easy!

I know this will bring many years of warmth, and love, every time it is used!

Thanks for taking a peak!  Many blessings, Donna

Crocheting is so Relaxing!

I love crocheting! I remember the first time I crocheted, I was only about 6 or 7 and I was sitting on the floor in front of my Granny. She was always busy doing something. Today is was crocheting. I remember she was making doilies with variegated lavender pansies and I was fidgeting with the basket of threads. I asked her to show me how to make a flower.

She had me sit up on the chair next to her, gave me a steel crochet hook with a teeny, tiny hook and I remember thinking it reminded me of a Bobbie Pin that had been bent open. She explained with great care how to hold my arms and hands, how to hold the hook and how to hold the thread. It was shades of pink and I remember thinking it looked like my BaBa's hydrangeas in the yard. She explained how to make the knot, the chain and the stitches. First making hers, then holding my little hands helping me make mine, and then we did it each holding our own. Of course, it took a good long while, but I remember in the end, I had a beautiful little variegated pink to rose red pansy!

I skipped outside to brag to my sisters and cousins I had just crocheted a pansy with Granny! "Did not!" "Did to!" They all went in and looked at it - some thought it was cute, some poopoo'd it, and my cousin Bobby pulled it out and gave the thread to my Granny. I just looked at him and said, "Don't care! I know how to make them now!" and I went outside and cried. He never knew, and he's lucky my Granny scolded him and made him go to bed. I was waiting to give him a good sock in the nose!

I didn't crochet for a few years, then did it now and then, really started back up when my own children were born. I love making afghans. They really are my favorite to work on and I love doing them!

I will post some as soon as I can, I have some photos of some the ones I've done over the years. I am so grateful for our photo equipment these days. No film to develop. Do overs are instant, and we have them in a permanent file where they won't fade!

If you don't know how to crochet, have someone teach you, or simply look online. YouTube has wonderful teachers with how to videos to teach every stitch available.

Blessings, Donna

Memories are wonderful ~ we should pass them down to our little wee ones.

Obsessed with Scrapbooking: Hello Thursday! Cricut Quarter Note, Wrap It Up, Paperlace, Sesame Street Seasons, Ornamental Iron and Car Decals

Obsessed with Scrapbooking: Hello Thursday! Cricut Quarter Note, Wrap It Up, Paperlace, Sesame Street Seasons, Ornamental Iron and Car Decals

New Tools!

Yeah! Today I was able to do a bit of ordering to make my card making and scrapping easier, more beautiful and oh, so much more fun!

Cricutmachine.com had a wonderful Black Friday sale, a brand new Expression, two cartridges, the Etching solution and brush, vinyl sheets and tape, and lots of other goodies! A $499.00 value for only $189.95. I am so, so blessed! Then as if that wasn't enough, I purchased several Sizzix embossing folders and my first Glimmer Mists sprays and glazes. Oh my, I can hardly wait! And, then my wonderful husband and I got to talking and was asked if I wanted to get my additional Juke Boxes, they have been on back order everywhere for months, at Amazon.com along with additional mats and blades? Silly question, right! So I am all set for Christmas cards, scrapping and all kinds of gift ideas are popping up all over my brain! I'm doing the happy, happy dance. And, my girlfriend bought hers, too. So now we can try new ideas out like crazy!

Blessings, Donna

I just had to share! I am so thankful to be so blessed!

Changed the name and set up of my blog ~

It's amazing to me how long it takes to set up these blogs. I've changed the name, changed the format, added lots! Heaven's sake, I spent hours - but for tonight, I'm finished! I will figure out just how to post some of my creations, make different pages for different parts of my blog. It will take time, but it won't be another six months!
Blessing to all who stop by! Donna

A New Year, A New Blog

Well, I cannot believe it has been over 9 months since I started my blog and then nothing! Well, with my New Year, comes my new hope that I can start getting this darn thing going!

It's going to be a better year. There's lots to learn and lots to blog about. I can't wait to get started.

Today is card making day - and my Cricut is calling. I will post my cards later today!

Blessings to all, Donna

I've Started - Now What?

Well, I've frustrated my husband to no end to help me get this set up. I know absolutely nothing about setting anything up on the computer. I just want to turn it on and have it go. Well, he wouldn't do it for me, but I had a ton of questions anyway! Good thing he's so good hearted when it comes to me. He did help me - I had to do the input, but he stood behind me and helped!

So, now this will be all up to me. I want a place I can put up my creations, my ideas. A place I can put my journal, a place friends and family can gather and see what I'm up to, and tell me what they're up to. It will be fun to see how I progress with this blog. I've seen so many great ones.

See you soon!