Rock on Sister Suey

After my heartfelt tribute, I had to add a few pictures from the wedding reception. My baby sister Carol Sue was the life of the party. I have received countless comments - and countless chuckles - regarding her performance in the 'dance off' contest the DJs used to break the ice. Break it she did . . . Was it 'air guitar' she was assigned? I think so. My other sister Linda (in black & white) was also in the competition. She was asked do a River Dance, and she did a lovely one.

Little cousin Isabella was also a contestant with the Chicken Dance.

But Carol won hands down - can you imagine that?!

I will leave this quick post with a few other images from the reception.

Lots of Cricut! I was so grateful to have it. After altering 5 dresses and making 2, the paper crafts were a fun release for me. I just love that Cricut!

When It Rains, It Pours . . .

Remember the old saying that bad things come in threes? Well, the third shoe fell this week. On Monday my uncle had a stroke. He passed away on Tuesday. He was a young 65, in excellent health. I've learned that there are two types of strokes and this one, a massive hemorrhaging in the brain, could not be prevented or helped. It has been a harrowing week, however, as I've heard my dear Aunt Pam repeat many times over the past several days, his death was bittersweet in that he was an organ donor and thus provided the gift of life to several people. Particularly notable, his liver went to a 21-year old young man in Chicago who without the transplant was said to have hours to live. Doesn't that grab you? Many, many other recipients and beneficiaries as well.

I don't know what else to say except that if you are not a donor yet, please consider it. God bless.

Where oh where has the time gone?! We have been back home for a month now and I still can't believe it even when I say it! Being so busy has something to do with it, I'm sure. We took Tim, Jamie & Preston to the airport a week ago today after a two-week stay at our home. Here's a glimpse into those days . . .

Randy, his mother Helen, Tim & Preston, visiting at Granny's

Here's "KY-oh" (aka Kyle) and Preston at the 80 (our precious country getaway).

Tim, Jamie & Preston share a moment at Granny's.

Having a full house seriously limited my free time and thus my crafting opportunities, but sometimes it's just necessary (besides, I gotta get my fix, you know!) -- so I did manage a few fun things.

My nephew turned 18 - oh, I can't believe it! - so I had to make a special card for him. (He's not really my nephew, he's actually he's my cousin's son, but we're really close, he's always been 'nephew' to me.)

And I made a small makeup sized bag as a gift for a very special young lady. You know how some people just warm your heart? So it is with her. We got the most precious thank you note!

And finally, one of joys of summer. I don't recall another year when fresh fruit has been so plentiful and affordable! This was an exercise in patience -- I cleaned and prepared each fruit and froze the individual pieces before adding to the mix. There's pineapple, strawberries, peaches and blueberries. Judging from the way Randy swiped pieces each time he went through, I think I better get started on another batch of this!

Hope you have a blessed day wherever you are!

Class was good!

I had a group of the most lovely ladies and we had lots of fun. Or at least I did for sure! Everyone was able to get the jumper completed and some were able to get going on embellishments -- trim, applique designs, etc. There are going to be some adorably dressed little girls at Christmas time!

My only regret is that it's so far from home. Ya'll know I'm not so much a fan of driving and between class and driving it took the best part of the day. I left home at 10am and got home just a little before 7pm -- only to find out than that my sister had to take my dad to the ER in my absence. So I've been hospital sitting the last two days. My dad - oh my, what can I say? He has health issues but it's not just that. I don't know how to explain his situation other than to say that some people just have a harder time than others dealing with life in general. If you know someone like that, you will know what I'm talking about. My dad struggles with a lot of issues and every so often he crashes. This is one of those times. This episode has been going on sometime now. It's been a difficult time and reminds me to thank God every day for my sisters. I can't imagine how one could do it if you were an only child!

Well, I really didn't intend to share all that but if I seem distracted for a while, this is why. Keep us in your prayers. With God's grace, we'll get through it - we always do!

Canning, baking and sewing baby stuff

I've begun my annual slide into late-summer depression, feeling sorry for myself that summer is almost gone. Where we live, the cottonwoods are always the first to turn and their leaves are picking up a yellow cast. Ah, where did the summer go?!

This week I did more pickles and worked with apples - making pies and applesauce. I have more apples in the garage and I think I may can some apple pie filling. Tammy's grapes aren't quite ready but getting close - we're thinking grape jelly.

Along the lines of 'where did our summer go', I got the delightful task of picking up my charming little friend Maddi from her first day of pre-school. (Let's clarify that's this year's pre-school, she'd be offended if y'all thought she was a first-timer.) Maddi is one of Rusty's biggest fans and couldn't wait to get home to see him.

These are gifts for a baby shower this weekend. I've been sitting on that onsie phrase for some time now and this new momma has the perfect sense of humor for it! I picked up her colors from a registry page and found the perfect combination of brown and dusty turquoise - at Jackman's of course. Did I mention I have a teacher's discount card? (Yippee!) Reminder - you can double-click photos to zoom in.

Matching reversible bibs.

Another shower also this weekend:

This denim/bandana bag was a custom order. Can you guess the new parents are horse people!? The appliqued ponies are fleece so they are touchable-soft. I was pleased with how it turned out. Then I got the SWEETEST note ever from the grandma-to-be. (An adorable handmade note, I must add!) That is why I do this -- I am hopelessly addicted to the feeling you get from making someone happy. I hope that doesn't sound nearly as self-serving as it feels to say it!

What a week!

Busy and fun! Summer produce is in full swing here in Illinois and it doesn't wait for an "appropriate" time. Tammy and I canned spaghetti sauce this past week with her lovely fresh tomatoes and some of my overabundance of cucumbers became dill pickle sandwich slices. I had never made pickles before - I am so excited about these! Now I'm hoping the cukes keep producing because I'd love to do more of these. This week we'll be working on apples and grapes . . .

On Thursday Jamie & Preston arrived! They flew into St. Louis, spent that night with Amy at her apartment, then we picked them up on Friday morning and brought them to our home for the weekend. It was our first time to meet Preston and it was a fun and magical time.

Isn't he a cutie? We had so much fun!

Having an expanded household was certainly different though - when everyone was gone on Sunday evening Randy & I said whew! and we headed to the country for a camping night!

It was quite a hectic week - every free moment between canning and preparing for company I spent sewing for Preston. I almost made it! I finished the book gift after they arrived, while he was here sleeping. These are reversible baby bibs -

Doesn't every kid lug around a special pillow? (I'm thinking of you GG and your floppy!) Bright kid colors are so much fun. A one candle cupcake to celebrate Preston's first birthday on December 30th.

Every page on this "quiet book" has respositionable pieces. For instance, the bear's bow can be a bow tie or be moved to between the ears for a girly, momma bear look. The bird and cloud can be moved on the house page, as can the bumble bee and the worms. The front pocket can store the pieces - or something else.

Okay, this one was for Jamie -

I was pleased and relieved when she seemed to like it. (I struggle when I try to guess someone else's taste.) She did say this was her favorite picture of Preston, so that was a good guess!

So -- don't you agree, it was quite a week?! Catch you soon - J