Summer Switch-R-OO

This week, the middle of July -- the weather in Iowa has been unusually mild. Gorgeous, even. Clear blue skies and cool temps. 50 degrees at night, and 70's during the day....??? WHAT'S UP WITH THAT??

Meanwhile -- the people living in the Seattle/Tacoma area (where I have many wonderful friends) -- have been enduring (and non-stop bitching about) some sweltering 100+ temperatures...

Linda B. posted this on her Facebook page...outside temp 109????

Which only proves what I have long suspected. If there is a God -- he has a wacko sense of humor.

He sent the hot humid Iowa summer weather to Washington State. And we got what you people were planning on....

I've gotta take another look at this religious thing...

Movies We Both Enjoy

Also -- having a DVR has changed my television viewing habits. I cannot remember NOT having a DVR...

Right now, I have 9 movies in the que.  Lilly calls these, "movies we would both enjoy".  My rule is, no cartoons or Princess movies. We watched Parent Trap last weekend, and we both loved Goonies,

In this movie, Lillian learned that even though a person may look scary and abnormal, they could still be good and kind...and it's what's on the INSIDE that counts...

Pretty in Pink, (there was sewing! remember that classic from the 80's?), Matilda, Black Beauty, Fly Away Home...anything where the kids are the hero's, or they have to think their way out of a situation.

And, of course, we love ANY STORY ABOUT DOGS...this one was a winner!

Even though Lillian is only 5 years old, she and I both enjoyed Akeelah and the Bee...

Lilly and I had a lot to talk about after watching this movie.

I Am Grateful for....

Thinking about what I'm grateful for...on a daily basis -- hummm....how can I not mention -- Television!!

Who am I kidding?? Nobody enjoys the vast television wasteland more than me. Please don't send me an email telling me I should be ashamed of myself. I am not. As a matter of fact -- I refuse to be judged.

I am addicted to crappy television shows -- here is my 2014 summer short list:

• Sister Wives (I think polygamy should be legal everywhere...maybe even required in some places -- except it would be one wife with multiple husbands in Alaska)
• American Ninja Warrior (who comes up with these obstacles?? Soooo weird...)
• Breaking Amish (you've gotta love 350 lb. Mary slinging back vodka shots in all her Amish garb...including the white linen bonnet...)
• America's Got Talent (is having a great year!)
• The Goldbergs (the BEST show on television right now -- I feel like I am living a parallel life)
• Real Housewives of New York City (I am totally a Heather fan)

• Fixer Upper (on HGTV -- I love these Texans)
• Hoarding (this show makes me feel good about my housekeeping) 
• Real Housewives of Orange County (What do you think Shannon's husband does for a living?)
• Naked and Afraid (one very odd show -- I cannot believe it is BACK for a new season...hey, if some woman is willing to get naked in front of a strange man and walk into the wilderness, it is my job to watch)...

Writing this post made me happy...is that a bad thing?

OR -- maybe it just proves something I have long believed....the real key to happiness is lowered expectations...

Because the way I figure it, I also love Downton Abby -- but if I waited for THAT kind of television, I'd only be happy 8 days out of the whole year.... 

Is Today Tomorrow?

Okay, okay...I wrote a post saying I was going to blog tomorrow...which should have been Tuesday. Then, I didn't do it...so the big question was, "Is today tomorrow?"

I've been thinking about that all day. Like most questions, there is not one exact right answer. It's a matter of opinion...or perspective....

On one hand, of course today is not tomorrow. They are two very different things. But, on the other hand -- every today used to be a tomorrow. And, obviously, every tomorrow will grow up to become a today.

You can see why I haven't been blogging....

My thoughts keep getting wrapped around the axle (Sandy used that phrase at breakfast, and I've been wanting to use it all day...)

So, what have I been doing with all the time I've NOT been spending on my blog? Well -- there's Pinterest, of course. Hours of mindless entertainment...some pins are funny, some tasty, some are even wise...AND SOME EVEN MAKE YOU THINK...

Here is my list of simple things that make me happy....

• The smell of my coffee, brewing first thing in the morning...
• White, crispy cotton sheets, dried on the line...
• Having a project to sew.
• Having somebody to cook a meal for.
• The pubic library.
• Books on tape.
• Having my own car...which I can drive aimlessly around, listening to a good book on tape...eating BBQ potato chips and Casey's bacon pizza...
• Monday is my Carrie Day....and she cleans my house.
• Tuesday I wake up in my clean house, and go to breakfast with my clubbers.
• Local music theater...more about that later...
• Having a puzzle table set up in the living room ALL THE TIME...

On Thursday and Friday I have Lillian and Warren. We cook, play, go to concerts with my friends, work on art projects, make things, do puzzles...they think I hung the moon...one smile can carry me for a whole day...

Before starting any baking or cooking, Lily says, "WE CAN'T FORGET OUR APRONS, Grandma!"...

The New Normal

Thanks for all the emails and messages.  Wow...THIS HAS BEEN SOME BLOG BREAK, EH??

For the last couple of weeks, my life has been full of stuff I did not want to blog about...

But, I am on the track now where I am focusing on the important part of that sentence..."my life is full"....

The key is to focus on the good stuff.  And I have so many wonderful things in my life. People to see,  places to go, things to do.... 

Take this blog, for example.  I have missed coming here and writing posts about nothing in particular...for no reason whatsoever....except that I need to write.  If I don't write, my day is a little off-kilter...

And I've had enough of those kinda days...

So tomorrow I'll be back.  Thanks for your patience -- thanks for your notes and emails.  I've missed you, too.

A Blog Break...

Best made plans and all that...

Last week, I was supposed to go to Shipshewana -- and I posted some blogs in advance of that trip, thinking I would be gone...

But -- as it turned out, I did not go to Shipshewana.

On Monday night, my dear friend Bert's husband died unexpectedly.

I cancelled my trip. 

Then, my Uncle Melvin died on Thursday....

I'm glad I was home.  But, of course -- I am sad.  So I'm taking a blog break.

TONIGHT --  ask your husband what his wishes are -- and tell him what your wishes are.   It is a very difficult conversation to have...but trust me -- a ten minute talk NOW, when you are both feeling well and in your right minds will save you days of worry later on. 

Where does he want to be buried?

Put together a single file with all the important information about your wills, insurance policies, bank accounts, retirement plans, mortgages, loans, funeral arrangements, etc.

Make sure you both know where the file is.  Write each other a letter, seal the envelope, and put your letters in the file.

Do it right now....

Three finished cushions

Thanks for all the emails about my GREAT ZIPPER CHEAT. No kidding!! Why didn't I figure that out about 30 years ago??

The porch sofa project is still coming right along. I love, love, love working on it. There are so many aspects of it that I love. Right now, I'm listening to a great book on tape in my sewing/studio/disaster/basement.

It is a very big project, and it is a lot of work. But I knew it would be -- and so far, I am loving all of it, learning a lot, and having a wonderful time...

This is the third cushion...

The three back cushions are all the same -- yet sooo different. I AM LOVING IT...

And here is what the BACKsides of the first three cushions look like.

AND -- take note of the new bench in the front of this picture. It was $5 at a local garage sale. And I am hoping I haves enough fabric left to reupholster it to match the sofa...