Kids With Character

Hannah and Robert made the paper.

Hanging Basket For The Birds

 Erin sent this to me last week by phone.  It is a lovely hanging basket at one of her elder clients house.  I did not even see the piece of bread in it until she pointed it out to me.  Well, she chuckled when see saw it, but I thought how smart of the owner.  The birds will love to peck and eat that slice of toast! 

At 11 o'clock it is not even 40 degrees.  I am ready for a little warmer weather!  Got 4 eggs today! 

Blanket Stitch Crochet

The blanket stitch (there is more than one blanket stitch, I found) I am working on Erin's afghan is in multiples of three.  So you would chain anything you can divide by 3 and add 2 for ending stitch at each end.  Chain 35 plus one.  SC in the second chain from the hook then going across sc chain 2 skip 2 stitches and single crochet across the chain.  When you come to the end, you will have sc and a 2 chain loop and a sc across the entire piece.  Second row is chain 2 counts as one dc then 3 double crochet in each loop.   Third row will be like the first one.  This would go really fast using only one color, but I am using pieces so I am changing colors each of the dc rows.  I am using a variegated yarn for the sc line as it presents different colors!  This makes a heavy pattern.  Would be great for dish clothes etc.

I read some blogs.  I read Margie's everyday and a few others once a week.  My favorite blogs are older women writers who don't do a lot and follow pretty much a routine.  I guess because I am that type of person is why I like them.  I want to say that Margie does A LOT.   She makes me look like a slug!  Donna often apologizes as she writes about going to the grocery or a walk in the woods.  Well, Donna it is just what I like to read about--simple recipes, simple days, love of little dog and your family.   I am simple and love simple things.  Glad some other folks do too!

Devotional today--I am not an accident!  God planned me!  He created me to be his friend.  How wonderful to be chosen and wanted!  Just as I am!  Wow, he made me just as I am!  He knows me through and through.  He knows my heart!   He knows my head!   He knows my hands!   He knows!  I want to do "good" today because He knows!

Blanket Stitch

 When it is cold, I love to crotchet.  Helen's afghan made from the scraps of yarn she sent me is on the bottom.  Next, is the blanket I made for Jonell's new Granddaughter--Carlie!  It will cover a baby bed.  Then the piece shown is one I am making for Erin.  At first, I tried a granny square to use the pieces of yarn I have piled by my chair.  It was really looking ugly.  I learned when if start a project if I don't like it I need to trash it as I will never finish!  I went on pinterest and found this blanket stitch.  I really like it and it is enabling me to use all those pieces of yarn.  I think I will be able to use most of the colors.  Don't know about the reds, but we will see.  I have to finish off each row so it is pretty slow going.  Erin may not get it until next winter as when it gets hot crocheting is over for me.

Sigrid wants a peach colored throw so after I finish Erin's I am going to buy yarn to make her one using this stitch.

Astrid is liking her new job and I think they are liking her as they keep calling to see if she can come in to work on days she is not scheduled.   She told me that the girl whose place she took got fired.  Usually kids get fired for not showing up to work.

Since last August, Larry has lost almost 70 pounds.  His side still hurts but he is doing so much better.  He has been selling some of his collected Farmall equipment.  I hope he continues.   He has over 15 Farmall tractors.

My devotional was about God's love!  He does not love to get something in return.  His love is complete and everlasting.   I bet you know someone who shows you "love" but it is just to get something in return.   We can think of someone we love enormously and then imagine a love 1000's of times greater.  We can not even fathom it!  I want to do things my Savior will be pleased seeing me down finishing a little job for Him!  But whether I do "works" or not he still loves me!

Help me Lord today be worthy of your free gift to me.   Let me give a free gift to someone today!

Super Bowl Sally

 Little Red cooked a feast for the Super Bowl evening.  Trying to recall all she fixed and carried to her Pop is hard.  But there were tacos complete with everything you would want to go on a taco.  She had homemade white cheese dip, salsa, guacamole dip. She baked a stuffed hot pepper wrapped in bacon, I think (did not try it as I was afraid it would give me heartburn) but these looked superb.  Oh, yes, a homemade cheese ball with all types of crackers to dip.  She brought almond covered chex mix, a fruit tray, lemon bars, two types of dip for the fruit.  It took three tables to hold it all.   Larry and I are not big football fans, but oh, how we enjoyed this super bowl!!  Glad we got Little Red interested in cooking when she was just 4 years old.  It stuck.

 I saw this recipe and thought of Erin as she really likes meatloaf.  I am going to try it.  I don't know if I can put 32 Ritz crackers in...but I will do my best to close my eyes and add it.  I found the recipe on a Blog I visit.  The lady who writes it is 92 years old.  She tried it and did not put the topping on, but I think I will add it.  I will have to wait until I go to the store as I do not buy Ritz crackers generally and will have to get some!

Cracker Barrel Meat Loaf

Phinnie did not like the Super Bowl as Pop kept making him lay on a rug and be quiet and still.   He did not understand why all these visitors could not spend some of their time petting his head--especially Astrid who he adores!    Once I gave his a pig skin treat and put him in his crate.   He pouted and would not touch it.

 Our cousin Kenny passed away Feb. 3.   He was born the same year as Fleta.  As a young boy he developed epilepsy.   All his life he had to take strong, strong meds to control the grand mal seizures!   After both his parents passed away, his sister became his guardian and he was placed in a group home.   Doctors discovered a small tumor and removed it--no more seizures!  What if....I know we should not wonder, but what if this was found when he was a young boy of 8 years! 

Help, Sisters

Jonell sent me this through the mail.  It says--Rudd girls minus Lorissa!  Lorissa was working that day.  OK, I think it is Cindy, Jonell, Barbara, Frances Sue, and on right is Mary Ellen.  Where is Esther Fay?  Who is seated in white jacket.  Maybe Esther is not in the picture and Jonell just did not explain thinking I should know who all these ladies are!  Well, I don't.   Help, Sisters!

I went to the library yesterday and got a stack of books.  One is a memoir by Harvey Young, who was superintendent at one time where I worked.  I worked with his wife for 20 years.  He was born in the 1920's.  I am reading and enjoying it, but only because I know the cast, so to speak!

It is cool day.  Only 35 degrees now at 11 o'clock. 

Greta got silly putty all over her comforter.   She blamed it all on brother Clayton.  Erin used hand sanitizer and got it all out.  Erin said the alcohol in the hand stuff was the key.  Greta said Clayton sat on the putty and caused it all.  Erin was under the weather one day this week and stayed home.  She stayed in the bathroom until Greg took Greta and Clayton to school.  She said Greta would have had a fit to stay home with her.  I recall loving to take a day off and spend the entire day alone at home! 

I have not read my devotional yet and am going to do that now!  Hope you have a great day!

Moon Girl

Someone at Sig's school took her photo today as she dressed for "moon day".  Her necklace says moon child! 

I went to High School at one and brought Ingie home.  She is pretty stopped up.  Maybe an extra afternoon will help her conquer her cold. 

February--At Last

I went out this morning and took a photo of the blue, super, blood moon.  My camera is cheap and I know my picture will not be that great.  My moon looked brownish not red.  It was really huge--closer to the earth.  A blue moon is merely the second full moon in one month.  We had a full moon January 1st and this one was the second making it a blue moon!  It only occurs once every two to three years.  The red is a shadow from the earth!  Super moon means it is closer to us making it larger.  All three together is a rare occurrence.   Last time it happened was in 1866!

When I think of the song Blue Moon, I think of Billie Holliday.



Helen's phone completely died.  She got a new one yesterday by mail.  Glad she is back in business.  Fleta loaned her one of hers!  Helen said this phone is a little bigger and she likes it!  I recall when Iphone was making their phones smaller and smaller--smaller was where it was at!  Then, they started making them bigger and bigger!  Next, guess they will return to smaller and smaller!  Helen found joy in getting her new phone I could tell. 

I have a book by Hagee about the four blood moons!  Patsy sent it to me!  It is very depressing.

Joy!  My devotional today was about finding joy through our Lord.  If we search for joy, we will find it.  It is when we stop looking for joy, that it goes completely away.  I remember Patsy told me she could find no more joy just before she passed.  I want to find JOY today.  Joy may come with the smallest pleasure--seeing my little Finches enjoying their food, Phinnie barking to be petted at my feet, Larry saying my chicken pot pie was soooo good.  Joy for me today will include a warmer temperature!   I see the sun!  I see the Light!  Doom cometh, but I am riding in a chariot bathed in the Light of my Lord!  He cares for me and I am blessed to have His guidance!  If we want to find something--what must we do--search every corner!  Don't give up looking until, alas, there it is!   Joy!

Arkansas Sphinx

 Astrid and her friend Logan hiked to the Arkansas Sphinx yesterday.  It is in the area of Pilot Rock.

 These two are Astrid's pictures she sent to me by phone.  That is Logan sitting in the "eye" of the Sphinx.  It was a nice day for a hike.  Today should be a little cooler, but spring is on the way.

Astrid is liking her new job at the healthy smoothie place--Tropical Smoothie.  She is still doing her old job at the gym, too.  She signed up for DECCA, a work program at school.  She can leave school at noon and gets some school credit for working.  She had to drop AP Spanish and will only graduate with Honors not High Honors, but I know she is happy with her decision.  She likes earning money and is a little tired of the drama associated with High School.  She is growing up--will be 18 in April!  Seems impossible!

Basketball Today

 Clayton and Greta both played basketball today.  Both scored some goals.  Well, Greta scored a bunch.  Erin said she was a "bit of a ball hog".   She did not pass much and shot every time she got her hands on the ball.  Erin said she lost count of Greta's goals.  I say "go Greta"!!!  This basketball is sponsored by the Baptist Church.  Greta got the offense award for her play today. 

Poor Little Greta

Is sick!  Her eyes are matted in the morning and she is stopped up.  She went to the nurse at school today with a headache.  If she had had a fever, she would have gotten to come home.  I hope her ears don't get infection. 

 Clayton fixed this for Erin to hang in her office.  It is painted on a record.  Clayton is very artistic.

It was almost 60 today, but I have froze all day.  I am ready for spring!

Large Print Books

 Above is Clayton's size 10 shoes--worn to rags.  Below his new ones in larger size.  He is in the 4th grade.  Wow, his foot is going to be more than one foot!

 I have not been having much luck finding books to read.  When I went to the library yesterday, I decided to check the large print books.   The new ones and old ones are all mixed together.  I found this one--"My Grandfather's Finger".   I think I read it about 20 years ago, but I am reading it again.  Swift grew up in East Texas in a place called Big Thicket.   His little village was called Camp Ruby.  Right away I got the feeling that this was a book like Rick Bragg would write. 

 Momma would be 97 today!   The above picture was taken before her sister was born.  Things I take note of--Grandpa has a tie tack, Grandma a bad perm, Grandpa's red hair is parted down the middle, I sort of think this was taken in California!

 My devotional today was about doing for others--like sin is not measured in this one is worse than that--good deeds may not be weighed by the Lord either.   A kind word may be as valued to Him as giving a huge monetary gift to a charity.  So we can please Him by doing good--even if we think it is a small act!  Below is the verse the devotional was built around.   King James is a little difficult for some to understand, but  it is my favorite translation.  The verse is from Corinthians 10:24.  Let me do some little good for someone else today, Lord.  Please do not put it on a scale and measure me against Mother Theresa!  I know I do not measure up to much greatness, but let me do LITTLE good works for you.   I am capable of that!

 Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others.

My Mother put her family before herself!  She was an example of selflessness.  She did her works in her own little Kingdom!  I know my Lord valued those deedS she performed.

Wal Mart sack hint for today.  Especially for Erin.  If you cook hamburgers in a skillet, after they are done, place a WM sack on the counter, put a paper towel on top, place your burgers on towel, put a towel on top of the burgers, press out the grease!!  Fix the hamburgers and throw the WM sack and greasy towels in the trash!!   There you go, Erin.   I did this last night.   No mess, no dirty plate!