Texas bound for sister's week

Monday, March7th

The start of my driving trip to Texas!

Why did I wait until the gas prices skyrocketed? First free month in a long time!

Julie

Denim Rug

Start with a doubled over piece of material for the rug 'backing', sewn with nice edges. Draw vertical lines every 1 1/2 inches on the 2' x 3' backing, starting in the center. Cut a 'million' 3" x 3" squares of used denim. For my rug, about 50 squares fit in a row.  I was able to fit 14 rows on my backing. I guess that was only 700 or so squares, felt like a million. Fold the squares into a triangle and start sewing from the middle of the fold to the 'point' which you will line up on the lines. Place another square on every 1/2 inch or so. Make them all the same distance apart for consistency. And start with the middle row as shown below.

Sew (so) many rows..................and when you are done, DO NOT WASH AT HOME. Please go to the laundromat!!!  It sheds --  lots of threads -- that clog up washing machines, even at the laundromat. But it will last forever!!!  I love mine.

 

 

Hot Air Balloon Event

I have always had a fascination with hot air balloons. When my boys were little, I would make up stories about us flying over the land and what we could see by being above it all in the quiet, between heaven and earth.  Those are some good memories. I read about the Thurston Classic, a hot air balloon event held in Meadville - about 40 miles north of Barkeyville and wanted to see what it was all about. This year was the 24th Annual Event.  I asked my nephew Martin if he would like to go with me and we could celebrate his 28th birthday at the same time.  It was a date!  We jumped in the car, beat feet to Meadville and got there early enough for a good parking spot.  With a blanket and water, we headed to the field where the event took place.  The ground was a bit hard for comfortable sitting,  but we survived by thinking about the sites we would soon see.  When the wind calmed down enough to enable the balloonists to inflate and then fly, they filled their balloons quickly and were off.  It was a successful evening and a one of a kind experience. The photos below are of the balloon called "Movin' Magic".

It is what is is!

I have been busy this June...so far.  We had a horrible rainy first weekend this June 2012. But, with rain followed by sunshine, comes rainbows! In between rain showers, Will and Jammie had a shish kebob cookout at their home in Fredonia. During the evening, a DOUBLE RAINBOW appeared in the evening sky. It was gorgeous and memorable. My friend, Darlene Hanna, caught her very own view of a double rainbow this week! What a perfect photo!

Tuesday, June 5th, was the second anniversary of Todd's trip to heaven - I still miss him.  The Peace Lily that my siblings provided for the funeral home is blooming this week - isn't it awesome!

Friday evening, Darlene came on over to my "house" for a heart to heart girl talk. We sat in my "front yard" on lawn chairs. The markings of where the house will be were behind us AND the view out the front was awesome!! I cannot wait to have a real covered front porch, landscaping done and a warm fuzzy feeling inside. But who knows when that might be....as far as the house progress, we are still awaiting the completed survey to start the next step.  My motto now...."it is what it is".

Saturday, I attended Strawberry Days in Grove City with my friend, Mo, her sister Patty and niece Elizabeth. It was a good day! The weather was not too bad for walking around and checking out the craft goods displays. What did I buy?  The Amish had a couple of booths; I stopped at both of them. I now am the proud owner of a woven 'market' basket, homemade by the Detweiler family from outside of Clintonville AND the cinnamon sugar donut was delicious!  Lunch was a hot sausage sandwich from the Kof C food booth, doesn't it all look so good?

Saturday night, the Barkeyville Coffee House was attended by many musicians and music lovers. I visited with an old classmate from grade school and high school; Tom Walter. Karen and Paul Douds stopped in from New Castle and of course, the Hanna gang. The variety and styles of music were a good combination for the evening of entertainment.

Learning and doing

(Workers were on vacation this week.)

My brother Rick was teaching my boys about transits and the land grade; I was trimming trees. The boys usually stop after work each day. They are helping with whatever they can. We have the digging area marked with the white lines. My cabin will be SMALL.  But, it will be cute and just for me. (Still waiting on survey to get permits)

I borrowed Rick's extension pruner

(mine is in Cody's shed for safe keeping).

24 x 30 is not a very big place but it really will be

40 x 30 with 8 foot covered porches on the front and back!

The Mailbox

My brothers Darren and Rick helped me put up the mailbox today. I have the best brothers in the world.  I must run to town to get my address/house numbers. Maybe tonight. I am so tired today.  But the post went in after the hole was dug and then the box was installed.  I hope we did it to the USPS specifications.

I have given my blessings for Rick to be in charge of the building of my garage and house; I am in way over my head with decision making and I know Rick will do it right. I remember long ago giving him rides so he could attend Community College of Allegheny County for carpenter school. He earned his two year degree and then was a journeyman carpenter before he went out on his own with Coast Construction. I wish he was in better health to do the work himself; but he cannot even finish his own building needs until he feels better. He feels he can handle being my agent when needed for the construction phase of my cabin.

Happy Birthday Todd!!

Sure do miss you still. Happy 54th Birthday.
You would laugh at the email I got today from Kawasaki:

Hello Day-dreamer,

We at Kawasaki Motorcycle Forums would like to wish you a happy birthday today!

Little reminders are always popping up in my life,
you are dearly remembered and missed.
Keep on laughing!
Your jelly bean, Julie