Fireworks!

Our neighborhood fireworks blast off in a park near our house. We can see most of the show from our own driveway. This year's show seemed better than I remembered... and plenty loud! I'm glad I wasn't any closer than this. Enjoy the photos!

4th of July Blah

Happy Independence Day! Mine has been rather blah. While I was growing up we always went to the lake on the 4th. Not being at a lake on the 4th is a big downer. I should have made better plans. Steven and Melody are coming over tomorrow, so that'll be a nice break in the cleaning routine.

Hubby and I have spent the last couple of days cleaning. There's still a lot to do, but I'm pleased with what we have accomplished. Here's Marjorie's ex-bedroom. It had turned into quite the depository of junk and extra stuff. Getting it back to this was a big job. Now all we need to do is fix the bed frame so the bed can be at a normal height.


I allowed myself a few times of distraction. I made this toy today.


I made these chocolate chip cookies today (a new recipe that I don't recommend... why mess with perfection?).

We had a sudden and heavy downpour. Afterwards the sun came out again.

Today I'm thankful for:
1) my mom calling me "honey" yesterday on the phone

2) a lovely downpour without hail or lightning (and being inside, dry)
3) naps
4) good results from hard work
5) yummy salad that Charles made

Wednesday Women II

Yesterday was Wednesday, and I had the lucky opportunity to eat lunch with Megan. It was weird, though, because the restaurant was so quick with the food, that it felt like we were there for five minutes. We ordered, the food came, we ate, we got the check, we stood up to leave... wait! It has only been five minutes! We didn't get time to talk!! It's weird when the service is too good.

The restaurant was super busy, so I felt funny about taking a picture of us with 4 million people sitting around. I only got a picture of my food. But here is Megan, in the red long sleeves, part of the crowd who is studying my quilt top.

Bea and I are teaching a beginning quilting class at church. I wanted them to see the top I made. It's all 4-patches and HSTs. Easy, peasy. Now that they have learned most of the quilting units, they can see how it went together. So they are studying that baby!

Here is the food I ate while dining with Megan. Last week was Greek. This week was Mexican. What will it be next week, and with whom??

Here are a couple of blocks I made this week.

And another toy.

And I got some flowers at 50% off. They'll add to the decor for the backyard wedding that is coming up. Have I said yet that I'm getting excited?? I'm getting excited!!

Today I'm thankful for:

1) sitting with Charles on our new patio, enjoying the gorgeous summer day

2) butterflies in the flowers, chirping birds, and little ants nimbly carrying big loads across our patio

3) helping others learn quilt making

4) nice chat I had with Marjorie this week

5) great discussion at book group Tuesday night

In Honor of Family

fascinating photo... I can't remember where I found it

Please, please go to TirubaTuba's blog and read this post. She is doing a contest that will have some impact on waiting kids. And you might even win a prize or even become a "published" artist or author!

There are thousands of older kids waiting to be adopted. They want a family, but they are scared and hesitant about what they may be getting into. Tuba wants to share with them what your family means to you... maybe they won't be quite so scared any more. And maybe, if a nice family steps up to adopt them, they'll all get off on the right foot and build a happy future together.

Wouldn't you like to be a part of that? Give it a try. Anyone can enter, even your dog!

I am going to have to give this some thought myself..... gotta get those creative juices flowing.

Sore Feet for the Homeless

Here is my interesting day which I hinted about yesterday: today I volunteered at Project Homeless Connect. It was an all-day event for homeless people. They come to one place and get services all at once, such as help getting a state ID, housing information, employment information, applying for county services, legal assistance, medical and dental help, free haircuts, a free lunch, plus lots more.

I was an intake person. Each intake person meets with an incoming client, takes down some info, and then accompanies the person around the room, to make sure the client finds the services he or she needs (or the person can go around alone if preferred).

What an interesting day! Some of the people obviously have some challenges that make employment and/or daily living difficult. Others were just down-on-their-luck folks. They all appreciated the help and were polite and fun to work with. I was also pleased to see that through my regular job I have learned a lot about the agencies that were there; I felt very comfortable and knew how to refer clients and answer some of their questions.

Now I have sore feet, but it was worth it. If you get an opportunity to volunteer at a similar event where you live, I recommend giving it a try. You'll learn a lot about your own community.

I'm thankful for:
1) interesting opportunities to help others (which also helps me)
2) riding the bus both ways with my husband today
3) American Sign Language
4) two lovely wedding invitations came in this week's mail!

5) a beautiful, cool summer day

An Award and a Bright Light

I didn't think I had much to write about today, but then I discovered that Beth over at Walk a Mile chose me to win this lovely blog award. Beth and I became pals at church, especially through working on mission teams together. She is an inspiration to me! Thank you, Beth! I am honored! (I’ll follow the blog award rules in a couple of days.)

Today we had church outside in a little "town square" area at a new development in our 'burb. It was a beautiful day to be outside!

Pastor Penny did a sermon on Saul and his conversion along the road to Damascus. Saul was blinded by a bright light. And it completely turned his life around. See the bright light in this picture? I thought it was quite appropriate that this light appeared while a sermon was being preached about Saul. Something to think about: how many of us would be courageous enough to completely change our lives to live as we we belive God calls us to live?

Tomorrow I am going to do something very interesting - at least I hope it will be. Check back in a day or two if you're curious about my Monday plans. I'll tell you all about it!

It Was a Good Day to Sew

I got up too early, felt groggy, but was willing to do so because I got to sew ALL DAY today. A nice little Diet Coke solved the grogginess problem.

Met three other women at my church and hunkered down to sew. I made this top.


This was made by Clara (not her real name).

These were made by Jezabelle (NHRN). Don't you wish you could have a bite or three? Become a quilter, join us at my church on the appropriate Saturday, and you, too, might be lucky enough to savor the sweet goodness of these caramel rolls. (They're the Diet version, because she used less butter than was called for.)