Halloween costumes

Donna and Laif are going to their Halloween dance tonight.  On Halloween they will be giving out candy for the kids at Price-Ford in Port Angeles.  I think they make a cute couple.  On Halloween I will be giving out candy at our house. 

NICE WEEKEND

Eating lunch at Red Robin with Rachel and Michael and all their wonderful kids.

Last Saturday we met with Michael and Rachel and all the kiddies.  I cannot believe how big Henry is already.  We had a nice visit at Red Robin and then Michael and Rachel had to catch a ferry to start back to Idaho. I loved seeing all my great-grandchildren.

After everyone left we went to the Silverdale mall.  I went to Christopher and Banks and bought a nice pair of pants. I got twenty dollars off because they had charged my card twice when I was there last time.  That day they were having trouble with their computer.


We wandered through this neat store that has so many Oriental pictures.  I was tempted to buy something but I didn't.

Then Donna and I went into Penney's.  I had my birthday card from Penny's for $20.00 off .  I bought a handbag that was $55.00 but the handbag was on sale and then I got a discount for using my Penny's card.  With all the discounts the handbag only cost me $23.02. It is a nice handbag.  I picked one out quite quickly for me. I didn't want to keep Leif waiting too long.  People who have gone with me when I shop for handbags know how long I usually take. You could leave me for a couple of hours and I would be happy looking at handbags.

Finally after many, many hours, I finally have my Oriental counted cross stitch picture finished.  It turned out so nice.  I have it hanging in the bedroom now.  Donna helped me get it in the frame.  It was worth all the work.  It definitely will be the last large picture I make.  I bought a kit with a Wolf surrounded with leaves but I cannot find it.  It seems to have completely disappeared.  I cannot image how it could completely disappear.  I have looked everywhere downstairs for it.  I know I had it in the bottom of my dresser drawer and Donna even looked upstairs.  It is not like me to lose things.

Anyway, now I am looking on line again for counted cross stitch picture.

I

After many hours my counted cross stitch picture is finished.

I have it on my bedroom wall.  It goes so nice with my Oriental bedspread.

My Oriental bedspread

A COUPLE OF PICTURES

My Oriental  Quilt

I know I put the picture of my quilt on Facebook but I wanted to put it on my blog too. It has been many months that I have been working on my Oriental Counted Cross Stitch picture to put in my bedroom to go with my quilt.  I am getting pretty close to getting it finished.  I can't always work on it everyday so it takes longer.  My hobby of Counted Cross Stitch is so relaxing.  Also, it is very inexpensive. I love watching the picture develop.

Beautiful Sunset this evening



Tonight I took this picture of the Sunset.  We have some beautiful Sunsets here.

VISIT WITH MY SISTER

My sister, Elsie, with the Green sweater.  My niece, Susan to her right and my niece, Linda, in the gray sweater and Linda's husband, Joe.  Joe is retired now.  He was head of the Maintenance for the Lake Stevens schools for many years.

This is the first time Elsie has been to my house for years.  We always go see her.  Elsie liked Donna and Leif's house.  She was very impressed with my basement apartment.  Elsie lives in Marysville in a Retirement Center.  It is a good place for her and she has friends there.

I got a letter from Elsie a couple of days after she had been here.  It sounded like she really enjoyed the trip. They ate lunch at the 1-0-1 Diner and after that they went to the Game Farm Park before they headed back.

After Elsie and her girls and Joe left, I was still upstairs and I caught this picture of three deer coming to our front yard.  I guess I am supposed to shoo them away from the bushes but I always forget because I am so excited about taking the pictures of them.  Don't  worry, Donna, they are eating on George and Marge's bushes.

TRIP TO THE BIG SKY COUNTRY

Ennis Montana where my dad was born March 7, 1892

Ennis has a population of 800 people.  My cousin that I had been talking to for around a year had passed away this last Spring. We were in Ennis on Saturday and there was a quilting show that we went to. The lady at the desk had gone to school with my cousin's son.  At the Quilt show I won a prize.  It was a basket with Fishing books and other fishing things. You probably saw that on facebook.  We did not bring it home as our suitcases were packed full and we would have had to get another bag and probably spent $25 bringing it home so we returned it for the ladies to give to someone else.  I was just so surprised to win.

You probably remember that last Summer Debbie and I went to Montana. This year Debbie, Donna and I went.  I was born in Helena, Montana.  On my blog from July of last year you can find the pictures I took of the house I lived in and the building my father's shoe shop was in.  Donna took pictures of them this year.

Last year we did not have time to go to Yellowstone so we decided to go this year.  Debbie and I have never been there. What an absolutely amazing place!. We did see Old Faithful . Also we saw a lot of the smaller geysers.  The painted pots were almost as impressive as Old Faithful.

Painted Pots

Last year Debbie and I drove to Montana.  This year we flew.  Vacations always have some unexpected happenings or it wouldn't be a vacation. Our plane got into Helena at Midnight.  The car rental place was open until 12:30, which was lucky for us.  Anyway, when we got my walker off the cart the foam cover for the bar that I lean against when I sit on it was sliced really bad.  By the time we got the paperwork done and got to our hotel it was almost 1:00 am.  I will say that Alaska Airlines really handled my claim fast.  The Rollator Store they ordered it from delivered a new walker to me the next day. It is a nicer walker than the one I had. I guess I should go ahead and finish the walker story.  The car we rented was a Buick with the smallest trunk you have ever seen. The battery is in the trunk. I will say that there is a lot of leg room in the back.  Anyway, the next day  the basket was set on top of the car and was forgotten to go inside the car.  You know that old thing everybody has done from time to time.  We went to the store that delivered the walker and they had a used one that they sold us for $5.00. The walker and the basket made it safely to Seatac.

Debbie and I had gone to Virginia City in Montana last year.  Donna had not been to Virginia City.

Virginia City, Montana

We had Ice Cream cones that were so good.  The owners make the ice cream themselves. Also, it is right next door to a candy store. There was air conditioning in the candy store so lots of people were strolling around buying candy and, of course, we had to buy some too. 

we took the boat ride to the Gates of the Rocky Mountains.

Debbie and I had done this boat trip last year but Donna had never been on this boat trip.  It was absolutely amazing.  Lewis and Clark named this place "Gates to the Rocky Mountains".

Here is a picture of me with my wonderful, sweet daughters.

Another picture of Yellowstone.  In case you don't recognize her, this is Debbie.

We had a wonderful time. I am so happy that I am still able to get around and do things. I get tired but I still love to go places. I am also happy that my daughters have patience with me. They both took good care of me and made my trip fun.

organizing my kitchen

I have been dealing with Cellulitis for a couple of months now. I am on a different antibiotic now so I finally have some energy. I do not have a lot of cupboard space so I have to try organize better. I have been alone all week so I decided to do something about my cupboards. I really got the idea when Debbie was here on the fourth. She was looking at my mess. I had appliances and containers that were taking the space I needed for food storage. In the picture the utility table was on  the right of the hutch making it virtually useless and the organ was on the left taking up needed space so I switched them
The organ is hardly used. I had to move the hutch about 6 inches to get the organ in place. I was able to do that by myself because it has glides. Debbie, I moved the boxes off the floor and arranged my cupboards and everything looks much better. I am glad I can still do housework even if it is a little harder.  I noticed I have not written on my blog for awhile. My life is not that exciting but I thought I should write something. I have been keeping the house very comfortable during the hot weather.  I just open up the windows and doors early in the morning. It is so much better than the air condtioner.

ORCHID--A GIFT FROM MY NEIGHBOR

Marge, my neighbor, had wanted to give me a gift for watching her plants while they were gone during the winter. Actually it turned into about six months that I had her plants.  Unbeknown to me, Marge had asked Donna what she thought I would like for a gift for taking care of her plants and tell her if she saw something she knew I would like. I was walking through Walmart with Donna last week and there was a whole row of Orchids.  I saw this Purple one and thought it was so pretty. I said if I ever got an Orchid that would be the one I would want.  The next thing I knew Marge called and wanted to come over for a few minutes to talk to me about something.  She drove over which surprised me and then I saw her bringing in the very plant I had looked at.  So here I am having a plant to baby again.  I had to start reading up on Orchids.  If I take care of it right the plant should last for years. The Orchid Marge gave me is dyed. The whole row of Orchids were dyed.  Some growers are upset by the dyeing process because Orchids are beautiful in their natural state. Some growers dye them because they feel the Orchids will sell better.  This plant will not stay purple.  It looks like the new blossoms that are starting will be white with a blue tint.  It will be fun to see how it turns out.  

Orchid by the window

QUILTING RETREAT

This quilt has more colors than are showing here.  

This is an Oriental quilt.  I have had the material for a long time and finally the top is done.  Jessica has a long arm and will finish the quilt.  Betty Ann just does custom quilting and she would have to charge me a lot more.

We played a game with Fat Quarters.  There were 30 fat quarters and I was the winner. Jessica is standing by the table and she has a long arm and will be finishing my Oriental quilt for me.  

Donna in the Quilting room. She is the one who did all the work on my quilt.  I did some on my counted cross stitch at the retreat.  Everyone was so impressed with it.  It is the Oriental cross stitch picture I have been working on for ages.  I don't have a lot more to do but still a few more hours work.

This is a picture of the pillow I made for Betty Ann. This isn't the actual pillow--this is a picture from the pattern book.

Last year we made quilts from a Jelly Roll. 

Details on the finished quilt from last year.  On the left I am holding the finished quilt up.  It is a lap size quilt. This quilt has a story behind it.  Last year we drew names to bring gifts to this retreat--like a Secret Santa gift-  Betty Ann had drawn my name and she talked to Donna and wanted Donna to send the quilt to her so she could finish it for me for the gift to give me.  I knew nothing about this.  Betty Ann has a long arm.  She still must have spent a long time doing it.  The pictures don't do it justice.  She changed threads and designs. The interesting part about this story is that on the way to the Retreat this year I asked Donna where is that quilt top I made last year.  Donna said we would look for it when we got home.  I had completely forgotten about it.  I meant to finish it but so many things were going on all the time I completely forgot it.  You cannot believe how surprised I was when I got that.  It happened that I also had drawn Betty Ann's name.  I made her a nice pillow cover from a kit and did the counted cross stitch on the front.  Donna put the pillow inside.  I made one for Donna's secret person too.  Donna's secret person could not be there but Judy was going to take it to her.  Betty Ann likes me so much .  She is such a nice person.  She loved the pillow.  Betty Ann and I were the only ones that made a homemade gift so everyone decided we have to make a homemade gift for our bigger gift next year.  We also put a small gift on the table for our secret person everyday.    We had so much fun at the Quilting Retreat.  I am so happy I can still do these things.

A NEW CAR

I decided to get a new car.  There was really nothing wrong with my 2010 Corolla but I just wanted something a little newer and a little better.  This is the 2014 Corolla LE Premium.  It has everything a person could want.  I really didn't need the sun roof or I guess they call it a moon roof now but I might use it.  This car has the Hands Free Bluetooth, the Navigation System, the back-up camera.  It has the keyless entry.  Also it has heated seats in front and heated mirrors. After you get in the car, you just hold the brake down and press the start button.  I just love that.

I bought it at Wilder Toyota in Port Angeles.  That is where I bought my 2010 Toyota.  It has always been serviced there.  They said my car was in mint condition.  It had over 9,000 miles on it.  They gave me a good trade-in.

I am really happy with it.  It just drives so nice and the engine is so quiet.

EASTER WEEKEND AND BEYOND

Orchid plant I am still caring for

Here it is past Easter and my neighbor's Orchid that I am "babysitting" is still blooming.

I so enjoyed seeing all the Easter pictures on Facebook.  All my great-grandchildren looks so adorable.

On Saturday to do something different Donna asked me if I would like to go to Auburn to see the Mall.  It used to be called the Supermall and now it is called Outlet Collection Mall.  It just poured rain when we were in Auburn.  The parking lot at the Mall was a nightmare.  I can hardly believe Auburn was that small town I once lived in.  We did enjoy the mall though.  We really didn't buy anything except a couple of little things at the Kitchen Store.  We took my car as it needed a long run.

Leif was in Las Vegas for the Mustang rally.  We stopped at the grocery store when we got back to Sequim to buy some things to make ourselves a little Easter Dinner.  When we got to Church we got an invitation to have dinner with a family from our Church that just lives down the hill from us.  They had invited the missionaries too.  We had such a nice time.

We still have the food we bought for dinner.  We were going to have it for dinner tonight but we decided to wait and use that tomorrow.  Since Donna has school tomorrow it will make it easier for Leif to cook dinner.  We did eat the dessert so I guess we might get something after Donna's meeting this afternoon for dessert. Since I bought the food I am invited to dinner too.

Mentioning Donna, she got a wasp sting last Sunday, the 13th.  It swelled up really bad.  We treated it and she got some cortisone cream to put on it too.  Now here it is 8 days later and it is still swollen some and it still bothers her so she has a hard time sleeping.  She went into the doctor this morning.  He told her that the stinger probably is still in her arm.  He told her to use Aleve and continue using the cream and that it should work it's way out. If it is not better in 10 days to come back.  I know when I was looking up about Wasp stings that it said to be sure and get the stinger out.  Donna said she didn't see one but it must have been there.

Now for some really good news!!  My new Samsung Galaxy S5 phone is working great.  Apparently all the problem I was having was just my phone not T-Mobile.  This is the greatest phone ever.  You cannot believe all the features on it.  It is just like I am carrying my computer in my pocket.
One of the features I like best is the Health Check.
  Right now I am just doing the part that does your steps for the day and the one where you check your heart rate.

Last night I got it set up for my TV and Tivo.  With my phone I can turn my TV on and watch TV live or anything that is on my Tivo.  I probably won't use it that much but it is so fun to have it on there.  Donna has her phone set up for the TV, Tivo and the Boze  sound system that she has. You can make phone calls too--how about that!

For a lot of years everyone just had phones.  We did not even have answering machines.  For several years, I was on an 8 party line.  My kids can remember that.  Sometimes if you really needed to use the phone you had to ask the people on the phone line if they could hang up so you could make a call.  My kids remember that 8 party line.  Then we got to a 4 party line, then a 2 party line and finally I was in Heaven when I finally got a line all to myself.

I love all the wonderful technology that we are living with now.  This generation of children can never imagine what is used to be like without all the instant communication and everything that goes with it.

APRIL ALREADY

Rainbow and Hummingbird feeder

Hummingbird feeder on the front porch

It has been about a month since I wrote anything.  My life is not that exciting but I thought I better put something on.  On the left is a rainbow that I was able to take a picture of.  It was raining at our house but in the downtown area there was a very pretty rainbow. It was much prettier than the picture shows.  I bought the Humming Bird feeder at Walmart that you can see in the picture with the rainbow.  There is a pair of Hummingbirds that are constantly sipping from it.

The Hummingbird feeder on the front porch is a glass feeder that I bought at the Home and Garden show that was in Sequim the first part of March.  The lady who had the booth makes a lot of different kinds of Hummingbird feeders with bottles. Donna filled it and Leif hung it up.  A Hummingbird checked it out but the next day the wind was blowing hard that all the syrup blew out.  We are going to have to figure out a way to protect if from the wind.  I suppose we could bring it downstairs because the feeder down here is a little better protected from the wind.  I really like it on the front porch because it looks so nice.




Now, I will do my complaining.  I am on T-Mobile with my cell phone (which is my only phone).  I have never had quite as good a service as Donna and Leif who have Verizon but it has been working fairly well until about two weeks ago.  Now when anyone calls the call will not go through the first time.  If they call back a second time it usually goes through.  Everyone says there is a message like out of the area or not available.  It rings and the person who is calling can hear me say hello and then the phone hangs up.  They can't even leave a message.  So for part of two days I have been talking to T-Mobile and they have been trying to solve the problem. They couldn't find anything wrong on my end.  Then they thought it might be my Simm card so they overnighted me a new Simm card and it did the same thing.  They decided it might be my phone so they were willing to send me free of charge a comparable phone but I decided I just wanted to buy the new Samsung Galaxy S 5 that just came out.  My new phone should be here Tuesday.  If that does not work I am going to be very unhappy.  T-Mobile will have to let me out of my contract and I will just go to Verizon.  I have to have phone service I can depend on because I am home alone a lot. I am so excited about the new phone I ordered.  I sure hope it solves my problem.  I don't know it any of you have had a chance to check in on that phone but it is the latest and has so many great features.  I know I don't need anything that fancy but I am so fascinated by all the new technology that is coming out all the time.
Donna ordered that same phone and hers came yesterday. There are only two colors.  She got white and I got black.  I can hardly wait for mine to come.

NOW FOR HAPPY NEWS--

I think most everyone knows that I have been dealing with bouts of Bronchitis and that I have Asthma.  My neighbor and Donna and I used to walk up our steep hill for months but when I started getting sick it was about all I could to climb the stairs
    Yesterday Donna and Marge, our neighbor, and I walked down the hill away to a jewelry open house that one of the girls from Church was having.  Of course, going back, was up hill all the way.  I had to stop a few times but I made it all the way back.  My breathing was OK but I was having trouble with my knee yesterday.  Finally Arthritis is settling in. (Oh, the joys of aging)  I was so happy I was able to make it.
     Marge and I have been walking almost everyday since they got back from Arizona.  (Our neighbors are Snow Birds).  The hill by our house is quite steep.  I used to walk it all the time with no problem.  Anyway, since Marge got back I have been trying to walk a little further every time.  Since I had that walk yesterday and made it up the hill, I thought I would see how far I could make it today.  I did make it clear to the top and around the loop at the top.  I got a little tired but my breathing was fine.  Marge and I stopped a few times. Marge was a little worried about me but I said I have to push myself even if I do get tired.
    
I am really proud of myself that I made it all the way.

I love looking at Facebook and I enjoy reading the blogs from family members.  It is so great to watch the little ones growing.

   

TRIP TO VANCOUVER, WASHINGTON

Patty and Donna

Donna took me to the WALA conference
in Vancouver, WA.  WALA stands for "Washington
Association for Learning Alternatives".  It was held
in the Heathman Lodge. It was a very nice hotel.
Patty is the teacher we took with us.  We had to
leave a little after 6am on Thursday Feb. 27th.  Patty
lives in Forks so she came and spent the night. We
drove back home on Saturday, March 1st.

I really enjoyed going. It was fun to see all the
activity going on.  Donna had so many meetings to
go to and other things she had to do that she was
busy right up to bedtime.

I sat in on a couple of the classes.  I sat in on
the class Donna was conducting.  She did a
great job.

Friday night was the Banquet dinner and a silent
auction.  I bid on a set that had a huge jar of handcream
and hand soap.

Patty bid on a bath set and gave it to me.

Also, I bought myself something from the gift shop.
It is a clock, thermometer, barometer, and hygrometer
all in a nice stand-up wood unit.  The thermometer
is a water filled tube along the side.  It has what
look like 5 large bubbles.  You can tell the temperature
by how the bubbles move up or down. Each bubble has
a temperature tag on them. The printing is quite small
but I have them memorized already.

Inside the Heathman Lodge

Donna conducting a class for the Region 3 meeting



Donna was one of the people at the registration desk

HUMMING BIRDS

Spring must be on the way.  The Humming birds are feeding almost every day now.  There is a pair of them.  David took this picture of one of the Humming birds feeding.  I have the feeder right outside the sliding glass door.  It is so much fun to watch them.

There are a lot of other birds in the yard from time to time now.  Also a few days ago, the deer were in the backyard too.  The deer stayed a long time eating grass and lying around just like they lived here.

Besides the wildlife, I get a good view of downtown and across the water.  Sequim is really a beautiful place to live in.

VISIT WITH DIANE

Dresses for Dish Detergent bottles

Diane spent Saturday, Sunday and Monday with us.  Diane went to Church with me on Sunday.  We had to go early because I work in the Library.  Monday Diane, David and I went to Port Angeles to Joanne's Fabric.  I saw this Crochet Book that has skirts that go over your dish detergent bottles.  There were a number of different designs..They were so cute.  Part of the skirt is knitted and part of it is crocheted. The skirt is actually a dish cloth to wash your dishes with.  We bought the cotton yarn and the needles and the crochet hook.  Diane was already starting one when we were in the car.  Also we went to Big Lots and bought a few things.  After we went to Big Lots we went back to Sequim and ate at the 1-0-1 Diner for lunch.

Diane, bless her heart, spent so much time helping me with my Windows 8.  Everything is working so much better now, that is better for Windows 8.

I have not seen Diane for a long time.  I was happy she could come for a visit.