Easter Fun at Fiedlers

Easter was a nice quiet time. I dyed eggs and made Easter cookies the day before which was enjoyable even though I did it alone while my better half watched TV and wondered why. I just can't get enough fun in my life I guess besides Easter isn't complete without bunny cookies and colored eggs. Karen usually does it with me but she said she was dyeing eggs with her group at the nursing home so I figured she would get her "fix" there. Michael and I decided to go to early Sunday mass instead of the Saturday Easter vigil since neither of us was participating in the service. Karen and Daniel came over which was different since they now live in Hopkins (David and Venessa went north). They brought a new dice game they had learned to play called Farkle. Very fun! My mom seemed to enjoy the time more than she has in the past. Sometimes she doesn't want to make the effort but with the snow gone, the sun out, and no one playing cards at the "home" she was more than willing to make the trip. She even joined in on the game after dinner. All in all it was a very good time. Btw, the pics were taken with my new camera!

On the Shores of Camp Lebanon

Just got back from my spring trip to Camp Lebanon. Always a very enjoyable, fun-filled relaxing time. I also figured out how to make an actual quilt. An instructor walked me through the ins and outs of the 9-patch pattern. Very easy and I did fairly well on it. it was a little different as I went on Sunday and came back on Tuesday. It felt like Sunday on Tuesday, etc. but no matter. had a great time but how could you not with all those wonderful fun friends!! When I got back I happened upon a book at Half-Price-Books that was specifically about making 9-patch quilts. However I may find an excuse to go over to Kathy's to have her help me finish it off. Good enough reason, don't you think!?

A Little Bit of Everything

I have never been a very good quilter but found out recently that I favor abilities in applique and hand work. I recently took a batik quilt piece I had done and decided to turn it into a wall hanging for my mom. Her apartment has all white walls and needed something besides pictures. I added beadwork, applique, and some cross-stitch hearts to it and turned it into something a little different. I was pleased with my finished product and had fun watching the Olympics while attaching my various beads. The turquise ones were actually a necklace I bought real cheap at J.C. Penny's that I broke and added to some other beads to bring a larger color balance to the beadwork and the star in the upper L corner is my applique piece that shows up in various places throughout the quilt.

On My Honor

I was on my way to Target the other night when my mom called me and said that there was a scout troup visiting Mainstreet and could I come over and enjoy meeting them with her. I didn't want to go thinking "I got too many other things to do" but thinking about all the friends I have that no longer have their mothers anymore I decided to humor her and join the girls for a visit. When I got there there were about 12 9-yr-olds in the dining room eating what else, Girl Scout cookies and talking with the elderly ladies that had come in to see them. So cute, I almost forgot how cute a 9 yr-old can be. It happened that they were from the same troup I had been in, meeting at Woodlake Lutheran Church where I use to hide in the pews from the leader (I have never liked being in a controlled environment). I enjoyed answering their questions and asking them to tell me about all their badges and trips to camp. They were so full of life with their bright little faces and the whole world before them. It turned out to be alot of fun. My mom enjoyed "showing me off" like when I was a kid and we all "scarfed" down Thin Mints and Lemon Savannahs. Those were the days! The lady in the middle has been a Girl Scout for 40 years - still on the roster. Sorry the picture isn't any clearer. I'm still learning how to take pictures with my phone:(

What a Deal!

I bought this little shelf at Savers, a discount store that gives the money back to the Epilepsy Foundation. Michael hates putting up shelves which requires a hole in the wall so I thought my computer table is big enough if I found just the right size, etc of shelving. I got real lucky for three dollars and 95 cents. I love how it fits in and it's movable as well so I can dust it off. the top of the shelf holds my small collection of miniture fans.

Sugar, Sugar

Sorry about not blogging for so long. I haven't really had much of a life outside of working and cleaning, etc. Sometimes I go somewhere fun and forget to take my camera. The other day Michael and I stopped in a candy store that he had read about. It's called "Sugar, Sugar" but it should have been called "The Baby Boomers Haven for Sweets". It's a little hole in the wall in Uptown run by a woman eauntrepreneur selling candy that you can't find at your local Walgreens. Stuff like Satellite Saucers, Lik-M-aid, those little wax bottles with an unknown colored sugar substance in them, Clark Bars and my favorite, licorice. I'm talking the hard stuff (again not the stuff you buy at Walgreens). She had 5 different kinds of licorice, most of it not twisted! It was a fun time just talking with her.I figured with the economy the way it is she was taking a big risk with her little store but she said for the most part people still love sweets even though times are tough. I think that is why Shirley Temple was such a hit during the depression. Helps you forget you are struggling.

Never judge a book by its cover

Haven't really thought about what to blog about for awhile. so much is going on here with M traveling so thought I would muse about a past event that stands out for me. When I was a kid I had always wanted to marry a cattle rancher so I could live in the great outdoors. I loved horses and went horseback riding every Sunday after church without fail. I couldn't imagine a better life. Anyway, my folks decided to visit some friends of theirs that lived in an upscale suburb of the Twin Cities. I didn't want to go since I thought it would be alot of sitting around listening to the adults talk. They had 3 children so I figured that would help even though I was extremely shy as a child. Anyway, I was in seventh-heaven. Their kids were friendly, their house was like a mansion, and most of all they owned 3 horses. I will never forget that beautiful fall afternoon getting to ride their horses and have so much fun with their family. I thought these kids are soooo lucky to have this wonderful life in a gorgeous house in a beautiful area of town PLUS horses. To my 11 year old mind they were rich. Little did I know that their father was an alcoholic and a number of years later lost everything that I was enjoying that one particular day. After growing up his children had him committed to an alcoholic residential facility and he eventually died from his drinking habit. Looking back on it after I became an adult I realized that my life wasn't so bad.