Dear Dana....

I thought you might all enjoy seeing our new Wisconsin Winter Wonderland.
Last weekend brought 6-8 inches of snow.

The kids had a blast outside. I watched from the window and heated water for cocoa.



Bri, Leia, and Nathan made their first snowman of the season.

Basil watched.

They set off into the woods to find adventures.



And Micky tried to figure out why everything was suddenly white and cold!



If you ever want a taste of the great 'Up North'....

....we would LOVE for you to be here to enjoy it with us!

Dear Dana....

Remember me? You know, the one who had really good intentions for this blog, who has tons to say to you, though she just can't seem to make the time to do it? Yah, that's me -blush- It's a good thing we also have email, or I most definitely would have been going through 'Dana Withdrawl' by now!

I *love* those pictures of Sam! Every time I look at them they bring a smile, and ultimately a chuckle too! He's quite the character, that boy! And speaking of boys, I sure wish I could borrow a couple of yours right now, as we're in the middle of haying our fields! Duane and Paige have been doing most of the work, with Duane doing the cutting, raking, and baling. The first load he did dropped all of the bales on the ground so we then had to go back around and Paige picked them all up and threw them on the wagon while Duane stacked them. I had the easy job of driving the tractor. After that load, Duane built a shoot for the baler so it now drops the bales right onto the wagon and Paige has to ride on it and stack them as they come out. Brianna and I have both taken turns at throwing bales off the wagon when it's full, as Duane and Paige stack them in the shed. We've only done a couple small areas so far, but even that was hard work! The rest of the hay has been cut and is drying now. Tomorrow will bring the LONG, tiring day where it all needs to be finished. A couple extra sets of hands sure would be a blessing!

My current excitement is that I hit my 30 week mark today! I finally feel like the end is in sight, where we will soon be able to hold this baby in our arms! At the same time I'm feeling anxious in all of those 'last minute' preparations, wondering if I'll have time to get it all done, while still managing the rest of harvest time as well. I AM happy to report that after my little scare of baby's sleepy day last week, that he/she has been back to it's rolly-polly, jumpy-bumpy self every day since. I don't know that there could be a greater feeling right now -smile-

Well, that's about all I have time for right now. I have lots of chicken meals on the menu over the next week and a half, starting with Chicken Tetrazini tonight! In order to do that, I need to get a turkey cooking, then make some granola, get out to the garden for a bit, and then try to tackle a couple more organizing projects! At least the weather has cooled down for all of our baking and outdoor work this week! That's a HUGE blessing!

Hope to talk with you again sooner than later!
Love,
Cathy

Dear Cathy

Who are you calling strange?  OH well, if the flip flop fits... lol.

I finally have Sam pictures to share with you...I said "Hey Molly, run out and get some pictures of Sam with his glasses for Miss Cathy" and this is what she came back with...

Yes... and that would be why we call him Silly Sam...

More later,

Love,

Dana

Dear Dana....

Hello stranger!

The last few days have been spent playing catch up here. With the bug that was flowing through the house we decided to take the week off school. Now that everyone is feeling back to normal, having that extra time was nice to take care of the loose ends that didn't get done earlier in the week. We were able to complete some much needed cleaning projects, but also play extra games, and rest too. Paige completed knitting a sweet blankie bunny for baby, we have both finished our quilts, and are now each working on a blankie bunny. I'll have photos of the bunnies up soon, and hope to have the quilt pictures up tomorrow. I made the weeks worth of wheat bread today, as well as granola. Both of the dogs got brushed out (it's sticker season here....yuck), and Bri, Leia, and Nathan cleaned sticks out of the yard. I weeded the flower bed, and helped Duane rip some boards that he plans on using to make our upstairs bathroom cabinets (yay!). Paige and I tied up more of our growing tomato plants, then ran to the farm to get milk. Ahhhhh......a LOL! While I was helping Duane Nathan was standing at our campfire chairs, playing and watching. The next thing I know, he's not moving. He had fallen asleep standing at the chair, with his head in his hands on the seat. I thought about getting the camera, but as he was standing there his legs would start to relax and he would then jerk to lock them straight again. LOL! I couldn't bear to leave him in that position any longer and carried him to the house. And, speaking of Nathan.....he's slept through the last two nights. YIPPEE! Actually, none of the kids have had nightmares, and everyone has slept really well. Praise the Lord!

Oh...I have to tell you about the big excitement for the day! Paige was out hanging clothes on the line when she heard some rustling in the chicken yard, then the dogs started barking. She went over and found a fawn trapped inside the fence! She tried to herd it towards the gate, but it was scared, confused, and kept going the wrong way and crashing into the fence. Poor little thing. I heard the commotion and peeked out the window to see her pulling the fence back to give it more open space to escape, but it again ran into the fence. I grabbed the camera and headed out the door to help, and then I see her walking towards the opening, carrying the fawn! It was making this sad bleating noise, but was surprisingly calm as she carried it out into the clearing near the woods where she put it down and it was finally able to run into the woods.

Once she turned around I saw that there was a rip down the whole front of her skirt. Apparently the fawns hoof somehow caught on it as she was putting it down. Her comment, "Well, good thing I was wearing a barn skirt!" LOLOL! As you can see in the photo, she had been out hanging clothes bare-footed. You can also see that the inside of the chicken area is VERY overgrown. She came out of there with thorn scrapes on her legs and feet, and was covered in welts from walking through the stinging nettle. I've been wondering, would *I* have done that, or would I have went into the house to get shoes first, knowing all of the thorns and nettle was there? OR, would I have went to get Duane, since he was home. Well, not her. She didn't even think twice. I love that girl....and she sure loves the country life!

I had more to say, as well as responding to some of your post and answering your questions, but I better run for now. Duane started a campfire outside so we're going to have dinner over the fire! Brats, beans, and sauerkraut. Yum!

Talk to you soon-
Cathy

Dear Cathy

The photos of the photos in the girls room :)

She's so talented!!

Dear Cathy,

You are so sweet!

We are all fine.  No one else came down with HFM.
No, never found the contact and my eye was sore until Saturday, I didn't wear contacts again until Sunday.  Did I tell you my eye doc office ordered me some new lenses to try that have 'handling tint' so you can see them!  Won't that be much better and easier than clear lenses!

I have barn pics to share.  I'll do that after breakfast.  It's almost done.  Mr. Lonnie is coming this afternoon, weather permitting, to finish up the roof and hang the doors!

Sewing... not so much...

Allergies, mine are better.  Molly and Nehemiah were fine until they handled the kittens yesterday :(

Molly's birthday was good, I suppose.  She's so easy to please...  We had some of her photos printed and bought frames for them.  I'll take some pictures for you.  She now has a 16x20 over each bed and a collage of nine frames with flower pics on the other wall.  And one 11x14 photo beside MV's bed.  She has one other gift that should come in the mail this week.

Nehemiah is sleeping well.  Now if only I could... last night I was awake until after 12:30... couldn't sleep because he was snoring...  I finally woke him up and told him he was snoring and he said "I haven't even been asleep yet"!  LOL

Molly just went to get Nehemiah dressed and she pulled out a red diaper for him.  She didn't say anything about the diaper but he said "Oh red diaper"... :)  He's something else....

Normal stuff is good... I like normal... I'm so glad you Mom is willing and able to spend time like that with the girls!

I love your pics!  Tell Paige she did a great job.  You are a lovely pregnant Mama!!  I'm glad for the good report!

LOL on the tub hair! 

So you skipped the rx completely?  Good call... seems like she didn't need it after all?

Molly told me about the cobbler!  Sugar overload?...

Oh, speaking of... Carolita has a Blueberry Bread recipe that is supposed to be fabulous.  I haven't made it yet.  I'll put it in our cookbook!

I need to have a plan for today... if I don't I just flounder from one thing to the other.  Monday is our 'day off' from school. 

Talk to you soon!
Love,
Dana

Dear Dana....

You have all been on my mind. I am.....

Wondering how Sam is feeling. Hopefully back to normal by now.
Wondering if anyone else came down with the bug, and praying not.
Wondering how your eye is, and if you were able to find your contact.
Wondering how the barn progress is coming.
Wondering how the sewing projects are coming.
Wondering how your allergies are.
Wondering how Molly's birthday went.
Wondering how Nehemiah has been sleeping.

For the most part, we've pretty much been up to 'the normals' here. Cleaning, laundry, farm stuff, schoolwork, etc. My mom made it over to work on that crocheting with Bri for awhile on Tuesday. They had a good time, and she's talking about coming back over again today.

Paige took my 25 week belly pics on Wednesday. I have to say, I've not been good about photos this time, but she's keeping me on my toes. Duane and I went in for my check up yesterday. I think a lot of it is extra fluid, I'm not real thrilled with the weight I'm gaining. I guess the most important thing is that my BP was normal, there was no protein in my sample, and baby measured and sounded great =)

I spent this morning out weeding and hoeing the garden, and I have the blisters to prove it! If I showed Duane, he would tease me about having 'girly hands'. LOL!

Let's see, what else? I cleaned all the hair out of the tub drain this morning.......if you wanted to know that. It's kind of a gross job, but somebody has to do it, right? And, I figured that since hubby doesn't really contribute to that wadded mess, that it's not really fair for him to keep doing it.

Did I tell you that I had Leia in for a strep test yesterday? The doctor thought for sure that it would be positive. In fact, he was SO sure that he wasn't even going to DO the test at first. Imagine his shock when the quick culture came back negative! He wanted me to start treating her anyway, though I told him that I would instead wait to find out what the 72 hour test said before giving her antibiotics. I spoke with Duane last night, and he agreed with that plan as well. She still has the icky, patchy, sore throat today, but after two days of fevers her temperature is finally normal today so I'm encouraged by that. I've been giving her Vitamin C, and I'm getting ready to start a big put of 'Virus Killing Soup' as another boost for her (and everyone elses) immune system now. Today is also bread baking day. Three loaves of wheat, and two of white for Nathan.

Oh, speaking of baking. Did I tell you about our blueberry cobbler? Let's just say that I WON'T be sharing that recipe! LOL! It was TERRIBLY over sweetened. I would say that we could *easily* cut out 2/3 of the sugar in the recipe, though it was so gross that I'm seriously not even sure that I want to try it again! Just the *thought* of it LOL!

Well, I best get hopping! Praying for your family this morning, and sending hugs for all!
Love, Cathy

Dear Dana....

I mentioned yesterday that my mom made a surprise visit. I didn't know it until I got outside, but my step-dad was with her. They had just come from the huge blueberry patch that they have been visiting all season, with some of their bounty to share. Actually, lots of their bounty to share. Two and a half gallons of freshly picked wild blueberries!

We cleaned blueberries for two and a half hours last night. Of course, we made sure to snack on plenty too. We needed to keep up our energy so we could continue cleaning you know -wink-
I froze 2 gallons last night, and put the rest in the refrigerator with plans of blueberry cobbler, muffins, and pancakes. YUM!

My mom and Ed are talking about bringing the girls out later this week to do some picking of their own. Maybe I can talk them into bringing me too. I'll take all the blueberries we can get! Especially since our strawberry patch was a dud this year, and my mom's raspberries didn't fare any better. I'd love to stock the freezer with berries for the winter, to use in baking and cooking, and I'd *really* love to start making our kefir fruit smoothies for breakfasts again!

Sorry to be so short, but I have to run! While they were here, my mom also surprised us by letting us know that she planned on coming over today to have lunch with us, and work on crocheting a baby hat with Bri. I can't crochet past a chain, and even that is ugly when I'm done! LOL! Bri looks forward to these times with grandma. Actually, all the kids do. Even though they live just 15 minutes away, we really don't get to spend much time with them at all. Anyway, we're trying to get as much school work and clean-up done as possible before she arrives.

Praying you have a blessed day today!
Sending hugs,
Cathy

Dear Dana....

Guess what? I received a package this afternoon. A very lovely package full of surprises that made me ooooohh, and ahhhhh, and smile! A package that also made the girls ahhhhhhh, the biggest girl to become very excited, and sent Nathan running for a naked baby doll! LOL! Thank you so much!

The diapers are absolutely precious! So small and sweet! I can't wait to be able to use them on a *real* baby!

I wanted to use my new 'blessing' mug right away, but it's another warm day here so I decided to wait until tomorrow morning. With second thought, one doesn't HAVE to use a mug for just warm drinks, right? I think I'll use it NOW, and sip some water or iced tea =)

Thank you again for the books too! I'll read 'What He Must Be' right away, and see if Duane or Paige would like to as well, then get it back to you. As for 'Preparing....', I peeked though the beginning, and the love letter in the back, and am anxious to get started going through it together!

Ooooh, the girls just yelled that grandma is here. Gotta run.......

Dear Cathy,

I was prompted this morning to read Matthew 18.  When I read verse 19 I had a thought...

Matthew 18: 19 "Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven."

Now I don't want to take this out of context and presume it some sort of "magic formula" but this is what stood out at me -- Jesus himself is saying it is important for us to share out prayer concerns with others so that they can pray with us for the things that are concerning us.  How often have I not wanted to 'bother' others with my piddly little concerns?

He cares.  And he wants us to share our concerns with others who will pray with and for us.

Have a blessed day. 
Love,
Dana

Dear Cathy,

I have pictures to share of my Happy Place :)

This is the door between the guest room/sewing room and the open space with the computers, door to the bathroom, laundry room, pantry.  Um... how to orient you?  That door is on the east wall.  The curtain to the left is a storage closet for craft stuff.  We have the door but it hasn't been hung .....yet.....

Looking left, the futon and the shelf on the left with Matt and Jennifer's stuff that is still here.

Now your back is at the door and you are facing west.  Those french doors open into the back yard.  See the brick column?  There and to the left was the garage opening.

The dresser with Matt and Jennifer's stuff.  That cabinet holds the snaps and all the embroidery machine stuff.  See on the top, back left corner... Your orange diaper awaiting snaps.  blush.  Hanging on the back of the bookcase--diaper, trainer and bib patterns.

Now your back is to the futon.  Directly in the foreground is a work table.  That's Molly's machine, MaryVance is using it to make a quilt.  Under it are three drawer things with patterns and various sewing supplies.  That shelf to the right has hairbow making supplies on the top shelf, the second shelf is a tote of fabric for the children to use and the bottom tote is mending --- blush.  The large cabinet holds more supplies for sewing, knitting, crocheting and all the scrapbooking stuff.

Your back is to the french doors.

Standing in the corner with the larger cabinet.  My sewing L and fabric shelves in the background.

My spot.  Sewing machine to the left, serger ahead.  I don't like the way the fabric shelves block my view of the doorway but I can't see any other way to do them for now.  When Matt and Jennifer move their stuff out of the dresser we can put it in storage and then maybe put the bookcases flat against the wall.  Or something?

My cutting table.  Right now the ironing board is there because I'm working on that quilt I told you about.

How's that?

Off to finish those wipes.  The bread will have to wait until tomorrow.  Matt just called.  He's coming back with steaks to grill!

Mmmm..

Dana

Dear Dana....

I'm hoping that you can help me come up with some creative solutions for a problem that I have.
You see, Nathan has this wonderful car rug that that he loves VERY much!

The problem is, we purchased it used and the rubber backing isn't in very good condition. I thought it wouldn't be that big of a problem, but I'm finding that I try to keep it packed away more often than not just because of the mess it leaves behind, but if I do that, what's the point in having it at all, right?

We don't have the room to keep it out all of the time, and just the friction of it moving around on the floor during play, or even simply the unfolding and folding of it leaves a trail of small backing pieces everywhere. Do you have any ideas of a way I can eliminate this problem, and still keep the rug?

Dear Cathy,

I will tell Sam that.  His glasses are only for his schoolwork.  His natural focal distance is way out there.  That means doing up close work, like writing, has been very difficult for him.  He gets frazzled and his brain just gets tired.  :(  I'm hopeful these will really help as he is going into 9th grade this fall and will have a much heavier load than he is accustomed to.


Sorry, I didn't finish the story, did I?  Matt decided $500 in the hand was worth more than maybe more in the bush.  :)  So, yes, he sold it.  And you are so smart!  Yes, another litter of black and white kittens!  They are about three weeks old!  Sorry about the 'college female entertainer' word... I forgot about the girls reading this... I'll go edit it out. 


Worked on the wipes some already.  They are almost done.  I got sidetracked making cornbread for lunch!  :)  Then after lunch the children and I were talking... and now here I sit.  I need to bake but can't really do that until the kitchen lunch chores are done.  I did get all those little odd and end pieces put away.  I guess I could take pictures now! 


The Barn... no I didn't finish that story either.  The barn is about 240 feet from the house.  Here is a mid-before-ish picture:

I'm sure Molly has some 'during' pictures.  I need to ask her to post them.  We also have a storage building that is about 20 feet from the house.

 

The storage building is 20x24.  It has a dividing wall.  The front half is "workshop" (and I say that very loosely... it's the Pit of Despair - roflol) and the back half is storage (furniture, out of season clothing, luggage, coolers, strollers, etc...).  The plan is to fix up the barn and relocate the workshop and storage stuff out there.  The left side had no floor and the right side's floor was termite destroyed. 

So we removed that floor and completely rebuilt and and built a floor on the other side.  Molly hasn't downloaded those pics yet.  When we get the floors painted and the front wall and doors built then we can move all of the workshop and storage stuff there, and...  Oh and I failed to mention that the roof needed some work too.  It's all done now.

And... we'll fix up the storage building to make a living room, bedroom, dry kitchen space for Matt and Jennifer.  They'll still have to come inside to use the bathroom and kitchen.  But they'll have a free place to stay while they save money for their own place.  They married so quickly and so young that they really didn't have time to "prepare" and we'd like to give them that time.  We'd do it for any of our children :)

So, tell me again.  These quilts you are making, are they for your children?  I got lost in there somewhere. 

Wow!  That sounds like a fun time at your Dads! 

It's always humid here.  If we waited for low humidity, we'd never mop or paint or anything - LOL  Last I checked it was 71%.

When you decide what you want to do for diapers you let me know!  If you decide to go the pocket route we'll get you all fixed up!  I'm only selling the ugly stuff at first!  roflol

I wish you were here to help me with my knitting.  I will probably never try longies again.  I just don't get the whole 'short row' thing...  It's okay though, I have enough :)  I am still working on the blanket I started for Nehemiah.  I don't knit on it very often though.  Only on long trips.  Only when it's not hot outside... which is why it's taking me   f o r e v e r!  LOL

(((Cathy)))  Thank you!  You are a dear friend to me!  I thank the Lord for you!

Love to all... that bread won't bake itself...

Dana

Dear Dana....

Awwwww....tell Sam not to think about the fact that he looks a tad differently than he did a couple of days ago, but to focus on the fact that he's still the same wonderful boy-man that he always was -wink- Paige says that she was self-conscious when she first got her glasses as well, but then quickly realized how much more clearly she was seeing things. At that point she determined that it didn't matter what others thought about it, but that the benefits she was experiencing was worth it!

Guys and trucks, guys and tractors, guys and chainsaws.......I think it's just one of those things that we'll not ever understand -giggle- *Gasp* I have to admit I became a bit bug-eyed and drop-jawed when reading of your second potential truck buyer (and that I'm really hoping that Paige doesn't read this and now ask what a stripper is! ROFL!) Paige, go ask your daddy.....just kidding ;-) I do pray that the Lord *somehow* uses his trip out to your home, and in meeting Matt and the boys, to prick his heart and cause him to seek truth.

What a fiasco with the next guy too! Especially after he said that he had the $600 before even coming! So, it's 11pm with a $500 offer......you can't stop the story there! What happened next? Hey, maybe they were all so excited because they thought it was a magic money truck! Did Sam find $20 on the seat? Or maybe it was a baby animal, or a stinky animal, or a dead animal. Yuck! A bees nest? No.....it was another litter of black and white kittens!? LOL! Ok, ok, just tell me already!

It sounds like you have quite the sewing list there! I'm sure that having things more organized is going to help you out, both in motivation and time management! I bet that sweet mama was embarrassed about her mistake. How nice that she's still having you make the items for her friend though. I know they will be precious....I can't wait to see those photos! Paige and I are hoping to finish up our quilts this weekend too, though today is a school and 'chore catch-up' day, and it sounds as if we may be at my dad's for a lot of the day tomorrow. This weekend is the 34th annual World Championship Watercross races there, and they always have a spectacular fireworks display on that Saturday. My dad lives on the lake where all of the events take place, so we'll most likely drive over to visit for the day, and then we watch from their back deck.

Your barn project is really coming along, isn't it? Did you ever tell me what your plans for it are when you are finished? I know you were hoping to have that storage space, but will you also use it for any of your current, or future planned animals? The painting sounds like fun. It's been so humid here that if we tried to paint *anything* it would never dry. In the same regard, my floors need mopping terribly, though I know that too would be a hopeless cause. I did clean out my pantry and mop that floor this morning, but even that small space took over an hour to dry. I know that if I did all of my floors it would not only add more humidity to the air, but they would immediately be covered in mud from everyone (including the dogs) tracking across it before it had time to dry.

I'm continuing to pray as you make decisions regarding Wonder Unders! If you do decide to go the ebay route, let me know once you have fabric lots set up for the sell off. As you know, we'll be needing a full newborn stash here very soon and, second to getting diapers and accessories from our favorite 'Auntie' would be making them ourselves. However, if that's going to be the case we better get busy or we're going to have a nakie butt baby here! Yikes!

Well, I'm off too. I need to finish up a few school things with the girls, fold some towels, and finish a couple other minor things around here. Then I think I'll go sit in front of a fan and work on my latest pair of longies for babe!

Oh, I did want to address Molly's reaction to my "about you" paragraphs. My first response was to LOL! Then I sat and pondered it more and I have to say that I'm sticking to it! My thought process as I was writing that was in all of the times that I have turned to you, seeking guidance and advice in difficult situations. You have *always* been slow to speak back with me, asking for time to ponder your response, and take it to prayer first. I have respected, appreciated, and admired that quality in you for a long time. It seems that the occasions that has happened, have also been the times when I have allowed my emotions to get the better of me, times that I have felt too beaten down and weak to pray for myself. Just knowing that you were/are seeking the Lord's wisdom over human response has been an incredible blessing to me. For that, among many other things, I thank you =)

With much love,
Cathy

Dear Cathy,

I'll have to really talk Sam into a picture.  He's self-conscious...


I love the sewing desk!!


So sorry about the stormy weather.  Glad y'all are all okay!


Matt has this old 91 Chevy S-10 that he finally decided to park and take off his insurance.  It's been sitting here for a couple of months so I suggested he put an ad in the free paper.  It came out yesterday.  I/We/He had nine calls yesterday on it.  The second guy that came... was an entertainer for college females... Matt said he was very proud of his profession.  He was very skinny with earrings and tattoos and a meth-head.  Sam and Luke were out there with Matt.  I think it went over Luke's head but I had to explain to Sam what a e.f.c.f. is... oy!


Then this other guy called.  It was dark already, but he wanted to come.  Said he had $600 in cash.  He really, really wanted to come so Matt said 'ok'.  He didn't get here until after 9:30.  He offered $400.  Matt said no.  He offered $450.  Matt said no.  He really wanted the truck.  He left.  Matt stayed a little while and then he left.  About five minutes after Matt left he called back.  Tony called Matt, Matt called the guy.  They came back to our house.  Guy offered $475.  Matt said no.  He finally offered $500.  It's 11pm now.  The guy has only seen the truck in the dark using headlights from his truck.  It's such a piece of junk... I don't get why all these guys were so excited over it?


The driver's side door doesn't open unless you know 'the trick'.  The driver's window is stuck in the 3/4 up position.  The truck needs an O2 sensor... and who knows what else.  Anyway, when the first guy called and we knew he was coming over, Sam went out the open the doors and air the truck out.  Guess what he found??  You have to guess.


Did I tell you I got an order last week?  A homeschooling mom here emailed and said "Do you remember that baby quilt and toy you made for my Aaron?  I love them and would like you to make a set for my friend's baby.  The shower is July 25."  aawww... except I have no recollection of making a toy for her baby.  Now what?  I was embarrassed but I told her and asked for a photo.  She sent it yesterday.  I didn't make it!  LOL  Whew!  I'm not going crazy after all.  Molly helped pick out the fabric and I got the top done last night.  I'll get some pics done today. 


Speaking of today, the boys are going to paint the barn floors today so hopefully tomorrow we can start building the walls and doors.  The barn is open on the east side.  One side was already open, the other side was closed in with a doorway but the wall was in bad shape so we took it down.  It's all covered with tarps for now.


What else?  Oh, yes.  I finally made it to the grocery yesterday so today the boys have to do the meat and I want to get the next week's baking done.  MaryVance is the kitchen helper for today.  Luke is going to do school.  Molly is going to be me.   LOL  Hopefully we can get a lot done.  I'd like to get this quilt and toy finished this weekend too.


Oh and I'm working on a family cloth order.  This lady sent me $35 and said "Oh just make however many you can with that money, I don't care about prints..."  I didn't do the math until I went in the sewing room to start cutting them out.  67 wipes.  THUD.  I'm about halfway done.  And I still have an old hairbow order sitting here... why am I putting that off?  I just have so much to do... and I keep forgetting or remembering at the wrong time about them.


The buffet is still covered with stuff from the old sewing area that needs to be moved to the new sewing area.  I have to find homes for all of that.  And there are about six boxes of 'Wonder Unders' fabrics and supplies sitting in the dining room.  I had them all boxed up for Ruth.  Now what?  Where am I going to put them??  And what am I going to do with the business?  Decisions, decisions.  I think the first thing is going to be trying to sell the fabric in huge lots on eBay.  If that doesn't work then we will do the selling patterns and diaper kits route.  I think that will be fun and easy and okay.


Okay, I better get off here and get busy.


Oh yeah, I wanted to tell you... Molly was reading your About Dana section and she cracked up at the 'slow to speak, slow to anger' part.  She said "She really doesn't know you very well, does she?"  LOL  Oh dear... I am slow to anger but I am not slow to speak... -blush-


Love to all,

Dear Dana....

First of all, I would have replied sooner, but we've had a number of storms that have blown through here today, and have been without power for the last 6+ hours. We made the best of it, doing school work by oil lamp, lighting candles in the bathrooms, reading, playing games, etc.... The people that used to live in this house just stopped by and said that we had 4 inches of rain!

Anyway, you're very welcome. I'm looking forward to spicing things up here by leaving the 'rut' and trying some of your recipes as well!

No, I hadn't yet heard about Sam getting glasses. I think that warrants a picture so we can see for ourselves, though I have to say, I do believe he was looking like quite the young man even before ;-)

Did I ever share our latest Freecycle find with you? Duane picked this sewing cabinet up for me a few weeks ago. It needed a fierce scrubbing with bleach, and it's certainly not the prettiest thing there is, but it will do nicely until Duane has the time to make the one that he's been planning for me.

I'm not sure that I like the added clutter in my dining room, but I definitely love having the machine so accessible now, versus having to go to the basement. I'm finding that we're getting a lot more sewing and mending done with it here, as Paige or I can work while still being a part of what's going on with the family, such as our Quilts for Kids projects that you can see sitting there!

Another nice feature is that it has the spring mechanism that allows us to drop the machine down and close it all up when not in use. Well, at least we'll be able to once Duane finds the right size hardware to attach it -wink-

It also has handy little pegs in the drawers for extra bobbins....

....and thread.

Yes, simple pleasures make me giddy -smile-

Sending Hugs,
Cathy

Dear Cathy...

Thank you for the yummy recipes.  I can't wait to try them!  I made a recipe page for us, I thought that would be an easier way to organize things.


Did I tell you Sam got glasses for reading?  They came in the mail today.  He looks like a man with them on.  Maybe I should knock them off?  LOL


I had cornbread, coke and chocolate for lunch.  They are all 'c's so that makes it a balanced meal, right?


Need to make my shopping list now.  I'll share the menu tomorrow.


Love,
Dana