Money can definitely be the root of evil.

I do elder care for the sweetest and funny lady I've ever known, and believe me I've known a few.  For some reason God keeps putting me in a caregiver role for elderly and or incapacitated people.  It isn't something I ever thought I'd do but I am good at it and I have come to love her and we have fun.  She was just recently widowed but she has a very large family.  She has enough children to field a baseball team.  They in turn have children and grandchildren.  This is where the trouble starts.
With the passing of their grandfather, one of them has determined that grandmother would not miss half a jar of quarters, maybe she doesn't even know about this jar, and with a scapegoat (me) in the home for quite a few hours each day, the money (cash) left for the cleaning lady, is easy pickings.  Well this has caused quite a problem for me.  Most everyone believes I had nothing to do with the disappearance of any of this money.  However, the grandchild's mother would rather believe I was the one who took this money rather than acknowledge that there is a possibility her own child had absolute equal opportunity to take the money.  She has become cold and almost rude to me.  If I didn't care about my "lady" I could/would easily walk away from this whole situation.  I do not like to be subjected to the suspicion of theft and feel very uncomfortable being at her house especially if this particular grandchild does come to the house without supervision.  Mind you this grandchild is over 20 yrs old. 
I have been trusted with the keys to various homes with full access to all belongings and high dollar stuff at that.  I would NEVER consider taking anything nor go through their personal things just to look.  I have been known to drink a soda but I always let them know and sometimes replace it.
I'm/we are not rich and don't ever expect to be but I live a comfortable life with my husband, 5 cats, and 2 dogs.  Our home is falling apart but the bad spots are being fixed one at a time.  The best I can say about it is that it is ours and paid for free and clear! No more mortgage payments! Sure, it is a mobile home on two lots but as I said, we own it.  I have no need or desire to steal anyone's money or belongings.
I'm not sure how I'm going to deal with the a fore mentioned situation other than I'm just going to let God take care of it.  He can perform miracles so this is just a bump it the road of my life.

Some people just can't say anything nice...

Ok, so I signed up to be a scribe (one who writes down what a quilt judge says) for our judged quilt show.  Mainly because I wanted to see/hear her comments about my quilt and see her facial expressions.  Well, first I found out my category wasn't scheduled to be judged until today.  So yesterday I scribed with 2 different judges, and boy were they different!  The 1st one who I will refer to as Ms. Kind, made a point of making at least one positive comment on each quilt she judged.  There was one that had numerous issues with construction but she was very kind and found something genuinely positive about that particular quilt.  My experience with Ms. Kind was really great because I learned what a judge looks at and for when judging quilts.  As soon as we were done with that category we returned to the information table and I was immediately whisked off with Ms. Negatively Critical.  Her judging method was quite different and she hardly (if at all) said a kind word about any of the quilts in the category we were looking at.  I thought to myself that for sure I did NOT want her to be the one to judge my quilt.  Now I know that my quilt had some of it's own issues (nothing a non-quilter would pick up on) and that it was not "show quality", but no one wants to be given only negative feedback.  There is a difference in that and constructive criticism which I am open to, so I can improve and someday, hopefully, submit something that could get a ribbon.

This morning I walked in all ready to get started when I found out that Ms. Negatively Critical had in fact already judged the category my quilt was in, late yesterday afternoon, much to my dismay.  I rifled through the papers to find number 313 and saw what she had to say about my Zebra.  As I figured, she cut my heart out and stomped on it.  Then I found out I was not allowed to ask her why she felt she had to judge it that way.  

Later in the day I approached one of the other judges and asked her if she would be kind enough to look at my quilt and give me some feedback.  She said my Zebra had character and was well done for the most part.  She did point out some things that I could have been done differently to achieve a "neater" effect.  This is all I really wanted.  I know there are some exquisite quilts in the show that I could not compete with, but for someone to take the time to give me some ideas on how to improve so I could one day have an exquisite quilt is like being given a ribbon like the winners.   Kind word and encouragement can go a long way in a person's life.

Pajama day...

A couple of years ago a very dear friend introduced me to the term "pajama day" and explained that it was a day that  one would take to do nothing.  That in itself sounded to good to be true because there can't be a day that one could truly do nothing.  I know that in my house & life it is not possible.  I look around my house and see so many things that need my attention.  The dust bunnies are overtaking my living room.  I almost have to say "excuse me" to get passed them and Lilly, my 8 month old pup, has left remnants of what ever she has chosen to chew, at what ever given moment, throughout the living room, hallway, and bedroom.  Nothing is safe unless it is under lock and key.  Jerry informed me this morning that Lilly's overnight choice of chewing material were his new shoe laces.  Last night just before bed it was an empty Blue Bell ice cream container of which I am still finding pieces.   Then there are the outside distractions, commitments, and general things that must be done.  This morning, for example I need to go to a friend's house to see if I can do some minor repairs to one of her upholstered chairs that HER dog chewed.  I need to check on my adopted mom and see how she is feeling and what I might help her with.  Then I can come home and see if I can corral and rein in those out of control dust bunnies.  Then, if I don't get too distracted, I'll shock my husband by vacuuming the house.
Tomorrow can't be a pajama day because it will be filled with the things I don't get done today. Remember, I told you in a past post that I have severe A.D.D. and the more I go forward the "behinder" I get.

The ideal pajama day for me would be to do nothing for anyone else but myself.  That sounds so selfish I know, but it would be so delightful to not have to think about feeding my livestock of 5 cats & 2 dogs, clean out 3 cat litter boxes, plan and fix dinner and clean-up after-wards.  If I wanted I could sew, read, play computer games, or even sleep without feeling guilty.  Just one day would be like a mini vacation. 

Our Quilt Guild summer retreat starts this coming Sunday and that is a wonderful 5 days of guilt free pajama days.  No husbands, animals, cooking, litter boxes, cleaning, feeding, or cleaning up after wards.  This year I won't be going. This would have been my 6th year to attend.  There are many reasons why I am not going and most are private but there are no regrets as it was a personal choice.  However, I will miss the days AND nights of not having to deal with daily home requirements.

I guess I'm going to have to look at a calendar and schedule myself a guilt-free pajama day. 

Did I cause my dog to go crazy?

One day a few months ago, I  got my laser pointer out to play with the cats.  My puppy, Lilly saw this "red dot" and that was the beginning of the end playing laser with the cats.  Lilly would dominate the chasing of the red dot.  I was so impressed with the fact that she would play with it that a few weeks ago my sister was at my house and I couldn't wait to show her how my now 8 month old puppy, loves to chase the laser pointer. She has become obsessed with this "toy".  My sister had told me she heard that dogs can literally go crazy if they play with a laser pointer.  I did some research and found  that it will NOT cause mental harm to dogs and can be good exercise for them, BUT it might drive me crazy because she wants me to play with her without ceasing, using this laser.  If she hears any kind of "click" whether it happens on the t.v. or in my daily activity she stops doing whatever she happens to be doing at that moment and springs into action and looks for the red dot. She will look all over the room and the ceiling (sometimes I do point it to the ceiling).  She will run at a speed that would put any cheetah to shame.  When I do play with her, as I can't stand to look at those soulful eyes begging to play, I shine the laser from the living room to down the hall and back.  She runs down the hall and makes a u-turn and back to the living room and slides the length of the room, and back down the hallway.

Last night I tried to see how long it would take for her to be satiated.  I never got there. I finally had to stop because I got worried she would fall over with dehydration, heart attack, or heat exhaustion (even though this was in the house with a/c on).  I usually go outside with them (I have 2 dogs) at about 11pm so they can relieve themselves before bed.   Last night I took the laser with me and Lilly ran as if she was on some sort of race track and after about 20 minutes, I got tired.

If I do want to play with the cats, Lilly must be outside, otherwise they don't have a chance.

From Green to Weeds then Brown To more Weeds

I am sitting on my patio and looking out over our yard and remembering how beautiful it once was.   A few years ago Jerry and I purchased 2 & 1/2 palettes of St. Augustine sod and had it professionally installed to include having it rolled with this water drum.  It looked so beautiful and green. I watered it as directed even in the evenings when the mosquitoes are at their most active state.  Off Repellent does not work when you are watering as the water tends to wash it off as soon as it is applied.  So after a Spring of mosquitoes bites and beautifully watered grass, my very loving husband, (with all good intentions) who had been told to just keep it watered figured that fertilizing with various advertised products, would make it even better.  Well let me tell you that the added fertilizers only fertilized dormant weed seeds that were in the dirt we had hauled in to lay the new sod on.  Those weeds danced as they were watered and had the audacity to grow and take over the yard.  We used every type of tool to remove them before they produced MORE seeds. They out numbered us and didn't mind the blazing sun and heat or mosquitoes. 
Then the draughts started.  A couple of summer draughts and all we were left with is dirt.  Lots & lots of brown dirt.  Last year we were fortunate to get more rain than we had in a long time and we got weeds again but at least they were green.  So we had green weeds to mow.  Now we have some brown dirt (lots) and some green weeds (that need mowing) and leftover leaves from this past fall and winter.  If we kill the weeds we will have an all brown dirt yard.  I think this fall (Oct/Nov) for the coming 2012 spring I will spread 1/3 of my yard with Bluebonnet seeds and the remaining 2/3 with grass seed and let the fall leaves protect the seeds.  If that doesn't work I might try the color gray.  Is that the color of cement???

How many UFO's or UFP's are hiding?

Well as I stated in my last post, I am a quilter and cross stitcher and sometimes but rarely both are combined.
 I have to say that my UFO/P's (unfinished objects/projects) are beginning to not only invade every nook and cranny of space that I allow but still have "hidden" from Jerry, but they are creeping into my dreams, or maybe these can be considered nightmares?  This is the "Hell" part, I want to finish at least 1 project BEFORE some other or new and exciting project temps me to deviate.  This is not helped when A.D.D. is added to the mix.

This past weekend I went with some girl friends to Creations (my favorite quilt shop) in Kerrville.  We were actually in Kerrville to attend the Kerrville Quilt Show but as any quilter this side of the Mississippi river will tell you, you can not be in Kerrville without going to Creations.  I probably would be more correct in saying Creations is the "reason" and all else is secondary. Well back to my story; I was viewing a kit for a fusible applique wall quilt of a tiger.  My companions reminded me of the "Zebra" I am currently working on and that has to be finished completely by Aug. 3rd .  Well when I saw the price for the Tiger Kit it brought me back to reality.  So I continued to "shop" and found some reduced to 1/2 price, fat quarters in browns. From very dark to almost a tan, for a round robin Bee project that starts this month.  ( We just finished a round robin and I have the blocks and creative pieces in a bag right here next to my recliner.) ANOTHER ufo!!!  Ok, as you can see , I can't even follow through with my thoughts before I finish the previous one.
 
When I paid for the brown fat quarters, I was informed that I only needed 15 more points to get a $50 gift card. My mind went into overdrive!  "Can this be possible?"  "Can I get these points?" but how can I without spending more money that would go beyond my already sparse and very stretched budget?  If I could get this gift card it would be like getting the Tiger Kit for next to nothing.  I started to scheme a plan.  I went to one of my girlfriends and asked her how she was going to pay for her purchases and she said she was going to use a credit card. Well, that won't work! I explained what my thinking was to Linda.  If she were to purchase her treasures with a check, then I could  make her purchases in my name and check and she could pay me with one of her checks, which would give me my points.  Fortunately she accepted my request and I hurriedly paid for her stuff.  I was then presented with the gift card and I told the sales lady just to hold it for 2 seconds, and I turned the corner and grabbed the Tiger kit and was right back in front of her before she could raise the card to hand to me. 

Now I'm in the car with my "Tiger" and I of course had to open it to see the pattern. I almost fainted.  What would I be getting myself into with this kit?  Are you crazy?   was the question asked by each one of my traveling companions. The Zebra was certainly more than any of them would consider attempting and the Tiger is 50%+ harder,
We finally got to the quilt show and the only thing I purchased from one of the vendors was the fusible sheets I would need for the Tiger. Those sheets keep calling out for me to begin the Tiger!

My first attempt at blogging

As my title indicates, this side of Heaven CAN be hell, like trying to figure out what a blog is and then creating one that someone would want to read.  I'm guessing this is sort of like keeping a Journal on the web so that millions can read of my struggles, triumphs, dreams and realities.

    

    Just a bit about who I am at this moment, as it could change and the when is unknown.  I enjoy quilting & cross stitch; my menagerie of animals, which consists of 5 cats and 2 dogs; and my wonderful sons, and any amount of time I get to spend with them.  I am a housewife/homemaker who struggles with the "homemaker" in me 'cause I hate housework but thoroughly enjoy a clean house.   I keep waiting for my fairy godmother to arrive and take over but I'm guessing she saw my house and ran (or flew) to the hills. Fortunately I have a very patient husband or at least he pretends to be.

      God and my christian faith are my compass and "true north".  I will admit that there have been times through out my life that I had forgotten or became misdirected but thankfully I found my way back and I try hard everyday to make sure I stay on this path.  

     Besides my two sons and husband I have a very loving sister.  We had a brother whom we loved very much, but sadly God called him home (Nov. 2009) by way of Leukemia.  It was just a few days before his 58th birthday.   He is now with Jesus, Mom, Nanny, & Gramps .

     The one thing I know for sure is that I raised two awesome, intelligent, caring, and loving sons.  Sean, my oldest, works for IBM & Stephen (he unofficially changed it to Steve) spent 9 yrs traveling the world modeling clothing.  He still models but not as intensely as before.  They are so different and yet share the same attributes.  Sean is getting ready to go to Peru to help at a home for destitute and sick children that would normally get little or no medical care.  (please check his link).  http://austintoperu.blogspot.com/  

Steve is thinking of moving back to New York this summer.

I am going to post this now and will be back real soon.