I'm Baaack!!

**********

We're back from our big trip,and we had a blast! We drove twelve hours straight to get to Stillwater, OK, where we had a great afternoon reunion with some of DH's 1960 classmates. We also spent time with his Dad and step-mother, who we had not seen for nearly 10 years. We had dinner at Joseppi's, where I had the best potato soup I have ever tasted! DH also went to a tree-growing seminar at OSU. I made the decision to go shopping while he was gone, but of course he had the car. So I walked to a nearby shopping center that had a Hobby-Lobby in it, then ate at a Mexican restaurant. The walking caused my heel spurs to act up, and I had sore feet the rest of the trip.

We then drove to Fayetteville, AR where we stayed with my sister and her husband. All six of my siblings were there, as were many of my nieces and nephews. We are a rare family in that we always get along--no fights or major disagreements. We also enjoyed visiting with my DDIL and two granddaughters and grandson. We are glad they have gotten to know us better, especially my GS who we had not seen since he was a baby.

We also had a brief afternoon reunion with the few aunts and uncles I have left at a beautiful lodge at Lake Wedington (below.)

We then drove to Tyler , TX and spent the night, then toured the Tyler Rose Garden. It was gorgeous! The roses were in full form, although I think DH enjoyed talking with the gardeners in the Idea Garden more than anything else. That's DH, below.


Then back to Corpus, where my DS and DDIL had been taking care of everything for us. We could not have gone if they had not been here to visit my MIL every day, take care of Copper, and water the plants.

~~~~~

Back to creating! The PID Swap Yahoo group is doing a swap of ATC's of Sarah, the lovely image shown below. These are my contributions, done on wood blanks, with an old Texas map torn up for backgrounds, rubbed with Tim Holtz Distress Inks to dull them down, then Sarah was applied, then map-based transparencies were laid over all.

~~~~~

These are the NIA swaps I got back so far (one still to come!) Upper left is by Sarah W. from Australia; upper right is by Elena V. Lower left is from Gabriele H. and lower right by Debbie L.
I think they are all wonderful!

~~~~~

And now the Halloween ATCs I got back. This one is by Kim S. and uses an encaustic wax coating, very cool!

These two are both by Dianna M. who also hosted this swap.


Lower left is by Lorraine R. and lower right by Elena V.


Lower left by Eileen B., and lower right by Shelly W.


Aren't they all great? Boy, am I in a Halloween mood!

~~~~~

I finished this pillow, which took longer to gather the materials for than it took to make! It is from a pattern in BH&G Holiday Crafts 2005.

~~~~~

This birdhouse was made by my Secret Angel to replace the one I never received in the earlier swap. I've shown front and back views here. Thank you so much, Angel!

~~~~~

I have had a bad cold since our return (actually, it first showed up in Tyler.) I haven't felt much like creating this week. I do have everything I need to make my Christmas cards this year, but it's a little early to start on them. I still have grocery bags to work on, too. And my sister showed us an easy quilt pattern that I'd like to try soon, so stay tuned for more pics, I hope!

**********

News from afar

**********

We sent my DS in Iraq a package on the 22nd--it arrived on the 29th! Seven days is not bad at all for halfway around the world. He sent me an e-mail to let me know how much he appreciated everything we sent. My DDIL also called me to tell me he had received the box. It was wonderful to hear from both of them.

I will get to see DDIL and my grandchildren in another 10 days. They will be at the family reunion that DH and I are attending in northwest Arkansas. I can hardly wait! I don't know what is more exciting, seeing my siblings or my DDIL and grandkids. It will be a looooong trip, but well worth it to both of us.

~~~~~

I have been trying to get some projects finished before we go. I made five of these ornaments from a pattern by Nancy Taylor called "Comfort and Joy." The fabric looks the same on the back, but the 'bead and button soup' is only on the front sides. They look a little lumpy right now, but will even out as the fiberfill settles. I only need to sew on some ribbon to hang them by. They are made with four patches, and I intend them for Christmas use, but in these colors I think they would look good year-round. They look especially Easter-ish to me. I have 36 bird ornaments cut out and ready to stuff in the same colors.

~~~~~

This wall-hanging is from the 2003 issue of BH&G Holiday Crafts. I used wool pieces from the skirts and jacket that I cut up. It looks off-square but that is just how it is pinned onto the back of my couch. It is about 14" x 18".

~~~~~

I also have a couple of small kits to take along on the trip--a cross-stitch bookmark that is half-finished, and some templates and hexagons for one flower for a Grandmother's Flower Garden block. I will take the bird ornaments as well if I can get them far enough along to sew the wings on and attach the bead eyes. They are supposed to have strings of seed beads to hang from, but I'm not sure I want to try working with seed beads in a moving car! That will have to wait until we get home, I think.

Copper has become very attached to us, crying when we leave him at home, and following us around from room to room. Although my younger DS and DDIL will be here taking care of him, I worry about our absence being too traumatic. After all, he was a rescue from a shelter, so he has already been abandoned once. I'm sure he will get lots of attention while we're gone, though.

DS and DDIL will also have to take care of my MIL while we are gone--that entails visiting her home every day and bringing her something to eat, and giving her the medicinal patch every day. So far she seems to be okay with our leaving her, so I hope she will give them no problems. Changes in routine tend to upset her. She is looking more frail these days--she is not eating as well as she should. Her appetite has improved but she insists on eating fast food, even though I have bought microwave meals for her. She has an appointment with the neurologist shortly after we return from the trip, and I am anxious about what he will say. I hope that he will see the same changes we have been seeing, because I feel she needs 24 hour supervision. We shall see.

**********