Snow

Well, Juno came through and hit Chicago and Ohio. We didn't get a flake. The kids in Brooklyn got a snow day but nothing like they expected. John drives near Philadelphia and southeast NY so I am sure he is happy too. Amy wanted a snow day to finish her bathroom but she didn't get it.  On a whole everyone is happy. (except Amy)

Mindy

This morning we received a phone call from the puppy department at Leader Dog for the Blind. They said, Mindy, the last puppy we raised has been career changed.  Apparently she does not react well to new situations.  We can pick her up at 4 this afternoon.  I can't tell you how excited we are. We liked this dog so much it was really difficult to give her up. Hubby is getting her crate out of the attic and finding her favorite toys. Mindy has had a complete physical and passed and been spayed and given all her shots.

Throwback Thursday

Hubby says that on Thursday I have to do a post from the past.  His favorite story is from when I was working as a controls engineer. I was working at a plant in Pontiac,Michigan.  My brother was a machine repairman at the same plant.  It was fun because he would come over and talk to me once in a while during the day. The skilled trades had an office in the center of the plant which I went into to use the phone.  My brother was in there so he said very loudly, "Hey this is for skilled trades only." I answered just as loudly," Hey Mister, button your lip." You should have seen the reaction on the other men in the office.

Pillows

The other night we watched a nature program on television. One about predators. They showed all the mites that live in your pillows and eat dead skin cells and stuff. So I have been putting my pillows through the dryer on high heat for an hour. I personally like to sleep with only one pillow, in fact I can easily sleep without any.  Hubby has a Temperpedic pillow that he likes and in the summer a different "special" pillow.  When Mary or Martha stay over they use several pillows.  When I was having trouble with vertigo the doctor wanted me to use several pillows to elevate my head and I had a terrible time sleeping that way. Apparently pillows are a very personal choice.  When we stay in a motel with a king sized bed they give us six pillows, 3 firm and 3 not.

Water Aerobics

At least four times a week I go to water aerobics class at the YMCA. You would think I would lose weight but unfortunately when I get home I eat everything in sight.  I suppose it is still good at keeping me flexible and improving my balance.  I have also made some good friends through the class. I took swimming lessons last fall and can now swim with even putting my face in the water. The best part is the classes are early in the day so I have to get up and out of bed a little earlier than I normally would.

Taking Care of Mom

My Mom is 97 years old.  She is really doing well. She can get around her own apartment without a walker and only needs it when going out or to the dining room.  She gets a little mixed up about days of the week and ends up going to church on the wrong days, We have ordered a clock for her that will tell the day of the week, month and time. Everyday nurses aides come and give her medicine 3 times a day and at noon take her blood pressure. Lately they call me to say its high. Mom has made it clear she does not want to go to the hospital again. From prior experience when she does go to the hospital for high blood pressure they leave her in the emergence room over night and send her home. One doctor told her that her warranty was up. Another said that they do not have much data on 97 year old people. So if she says she is feeling fine I ignore the high blood pressure. It is hard to know what to do.

The Full Bath

Hubby is very conservative.  He would paint all rooms white or maybe beige. Our big bathroom is beige, light beige, but our art work livens it up a little. I just finished the cowgirl bath and it will hang next to the big Vargas drawing.

Done with the Doll sewing

I have finished making 12 American Doll outfits for the Cameo Quilt Guild silent auction.  I am glad my two granddaughters are only three years old  and will not get the A. G. dolls for at least three more years. I have patterns for doll shoes but decide to order them from Nancy's notions. You can tell I am old fashioned because I thought the red plaid dress was thin so I made a half slip for it.

Mom is Cleaning out her Cupboards

Lately Mom is on a binge to get rid of stuff. She liked to sew and do crafts when she was younger.Now I don't think she can see that well or ,maybe, she doesn't have the dexterity.  Really I think it is mostly she doesn't have the concentration span. She liked dressing old fashioned dolls and painting figurines. She also liked painting t-shirts and sweat shirts. Unfortunately in spite of all the crafts I do, those are not the ones I have pursued. She used to do a lot of sewing and has given me boxes of thread, fabric, buttons,zippers, and lace. I can never part with those kind of things.

Making Doll Clothes

Like I said, "I hyperfocus." Everyday I work on doll clothes.  I did buy an 18 inch doll from Michaels and I have finished a few outfits.  I will need to order shoes.  I have patterns to make them but I am not too willing. The leotard was the hardest and turtlenecks are the easiest.  I thought it might be cute to cut out a doll shape out of poster board to display the outfits on.  I am not giving away the doll.

Estorbo

For several years Hubby and I would eagerly read about Estorbo, a cat from Brooklyn, New York.
Estorbo was black and really did not have the best disposition, but his owner had a real gift for writing and photography.  She wrote about Estorbo as if he were speaking in a Spanish dialect and supplemented his stories with fantastic photos. Estorbo died last fall and left us with a real feeling of sadness.  I remember when Kitalog's poodle died. I felt like I had known him and felt a real emptiness and his passing.

A Christmas Tree Skirt

After three years working on it, I finished my Christmas tree skirt.  It was a Dimensions kit. I bought about five kits with big plans to give them to the kids.  So far I have done two of them. I don't like working on 11 count cloth but at least this one was a white background.  The first one I did had a dark blue background and it was very hard to see the holes. I have enough cross stitch kits to last three lifetimes.

An American Girl Doll Basket

In April our quilt Guild, CAMEO, is having a quilt show.  They are also having a silent auction and have asked people to donate baskets of something or anything to auction.  I bought a little suitcase and in the last few days cut out 12 outfits for an American Girl doll. Most of the fabric I had from sewing for my granddaughter, Kameren's, dolls. I still have to buy some pink felt for a poodle skirt and some fake fur trim for a coat. A few pairs of shoes would complete the picture. I think I might buy myself an inexpensive 18 inch doll so I can try things on her.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all.  The Christmas tree is down and the outside lights are put away. Last night the fireworks in the neighborhood were big time.  I expect to see a hole in the street where that last stick of dynamite went off. (no our doing) All the New Year Resolutions are made, mostly the same as every year, play the piano more, read more, lose weight etc. I also plan to blog more regularly. We always start big and then tend to fizzle.