It's Still Winter

Well, it's still winter here in the great Northwest.... no snow yet today but "they" are predicting a big storm - hopefully Seattle will be spared. Supposed to be over by noonish Sunday. I just want us to be able to get to the airport and out of here on Monday.

Levi is at DogECentral now for the holidays. He didn't even look when we left him...having too much fun running around the yard in the snow! I'm so glad we found that place. Costs a bit to keep him there but they provide all the food and lots of love and safety so we're OK with it.

Started another quilt project - the Adobe Angels. Got all the appliques on and now have to stitch them down... it really turned out cute and was fun to pull all the fabrics, except the background, from my stash. Gene loves it and says it surprised him since it doesn't look like anything else I've done. Am trying to widen my horizons!!

Snow is a Four Letter Word

Yes, it is and we are tired of it. Got about 6 inches of snow this morning and now it's turned colder so everything is getting icy. Roads all over the area are in terrible shape...up near the border they got about 25 inches.. schools closed - choir practice canceled for tonight and rescheduled for Friday night. I'm not singing since I've had this lousy cold. Then there is a dress rehearsal with orchestra Saturday morning. I wonder what Scott's "Plan B" is.... we have to take Levi the Magnificent to Dog E Central on Saturday morning as he will stay there while we are on vacation. Hopefully the DOT crews will be able to clear the roads for us! Pictures of the totem pole and snow and my car under the blanket of snow and one from my sewing room window. Got a good start on the Adobe Angels quilt today.. working on the appliques.. I feel like I'm falling behind on my schedule to get ready to go south but oh well, if I don't have it I can buy it there. !!

Quilt Update!!

This picture is of McKenna and her quilt. Isn't she a cutie? And from all reports she loves her quilt and sleeps with it every night. So nice to get the quilt and the recipient in one picture.

Drugs, Fabric and Snow Update

So today the Seattle schools are closed - huh????? Yup, no snow and no ice...sun breaks, a little wind... but they closed the schools because we "might" get some snow. Folks are peeved.... it's the strangest place to live.... put some chains on the buses, ice/salt on the parking lots and get the kiddies to school. OK - there is snow up north and south of the city but nothing here.... what a pain for folks who have to find day care for their kids while they go to work, or else have to take a day off from work to care for them. Weather forecast - we should get some snow tonight...

I don't really care because I got my car back, it purrs like a kitten and all is well. I've gone to get my drugs from the doctor for my cold, stopped at the quilt shop (of course it was on the way home from the doctor's office - in a round-about way - Seattle - Ballard - West Seattle) and got fabric for the backgrounds for a quilt and a wall hanging and am now home. One is a folk art applique that will have a black background and then I will use batiks for the appliques I think - the other has a dark blue background and who knows what the applique will be... why am I doing applique? I have no idea.... cabin fever maybe!!


Gene dropped me off at Elliott Tire to get my car and then went to Southcenter Mall to do some shopping for new slacks. His are all too big. Dang guy has lost like 30 lbs or so - I will do better, I will do better. Then he's going to the "Y" so I may run out again and get some groceries....can't be getting stuck inside the house without food in case of snow ! HA!

Levi is waiting to go for a walk but it's too windy and cold to do that... well, maybe I'll go for a short walk with my throat all wrapped up in the new scarf Gene brought me from Ireland... Yeah, that'll work...

Musings on a Cold Day

Tuesday - still cold but not as bad and the sun was out for the second day in a row! Hoooooray. Our hill is clear but the turn at the bottom still has some ice. I know that because after calling AAA to come and start my car (dead battery) I drove off to charge it. However, the "check engine" light was on so I just drove over to Elliott Tire and asked them to fix the dang thing. I turned off the car there and then tried to restart it and of course ended up leaving it there with them to fix. They just called and I need a new battery - why don't they last longer than 5 years!! and also a new belt that drives all that stuff....the old one has some cracks in it. Hey, it's only money. So $200 later, or about that, I'll have my car back at 6:00 tonight. Guess it could have been worse. They were very nice and helpful and Gene came to pick me up and pulled out a business card with a free oil/lube change on it they had given him awhile back. We always used to take our cars there and then they changed management and the new guys were gouging everyone. When Gene had to pay an exorbitant amount of money to get his car fixed there, he complained and of course they couldn't do much about it (this is the new management) but he did have this free oil/lube so they'll do that also. I just love cars! But it all turned out ok and I will get to my hair appointment on time!! Priorities!!

Was going to go down to the water and take some pictures afterwards but it's too late so if the sun comes out tomorrow I'm going to head down there and see what I can find.

Still cleaning the sewing room... pulled out all the fabric for the pot quilt and all the batiks I have... lots of nice batiks waiting to be used. Maybe tomorrow I'll head to The Quilting Loft in Ballard and get the background fabric for the folk art quilt so I can get some appliques ready to take to Alabama with me. Or not.......


Enough musings... haven't accomplished a lot......feeling a whole lot better.........dropped out of choir for the Christmas season.......should start thinking about clothes to take......etc

Winter Cold(s)

Yes, winter colds....the temperature kind outside and the coughing kind inside. I have been suffering with this cold for about 3 days and am feeling better but really need to get it under control before we head to Mobile. My brother has leukemia (in remission) and I don't want to take any germs down there. Pretty sure I'll be fine as the drugs seem to be working. But we have our big choir Music through Worship on Sunday 21st and I am thinking that if I don't feel good enough by Thursday morning this week, I will call Scott and tell him I'm not going to sing. We have rehearsal Thursday night and then Saturday (dress with orchestra) and two full services on Sunday which, if I'm not in great shape, will probably just tire me out and bring the cough back. So I'll get extra sleep and take my meds and hope all works out. Right now I don't hold out much hope.

And the outside cold? Yeah, snow in Seattle and cold temps. Icy hills and road and about 2-3 inches of snow. It's really pretty but treacherous. Did we go anywhere today? Not I....Gene went to the "Y" but that's about it. Supposed to be this way all week.

So the kids have all rec'd their quilts and loved them. Waiting for Carey to post some pics on her blog of the twins. I cleaned off the big table downstairs and moved all my stuff back up to the sewing room and now have to figure out what is next. Some sort of applique quilt perhaps?

Yes, the "pot" quilt for Gene. Machine applique but very involved...Southwest Pots for our house in LV. I got the fabric for the background on the blocks from Southwest Decoratives in Albuquerque where Gene bought the pattern. The appliques will be done in Cherrywood hand-dyed fabrics (awesome) and not sure yet what else. No fabric yet for sashing and borders...that'll come after the blocks are done... why am I doing all this applique!! AACCKKKKK... oh well...at least on this one it's by machine.

OK off to bed now with some more Nyquil. A friend's husband suggested to just take a swig of whiskey and some ibuprofen and forget the Nyquil. I think he may be right.

Off to UPS and other Travels

Yes!! The twins quilts are done and in the UPS truck. Unfortunately it was going to cost us $50 to get them to Minneapolis by Friday for the party on Saturday and so they will not arrive till Tuesday for $12. Sure do miss being able to use the company UPS account to ship things. Oh well. They are done and turned out great. Labels made, bindings done and faces painted. Can't wait to see what Mom and Dad say about them... I'm sure the boys will have lots to play with and these will not be top of the list. But I hope they will grow to love them.

Now on to other projects for me/us. No more baby quilts...no more quilts for others (well, only if someone is willing to pay me a really good price for one). I want to get started on the "pot" quilt (no not "pot", "pots" - SW pots quilt) But I think I will refer to it as the "Pot" quilt.... should make for interesting stories. Hmmmm...

First I'm cleaning up my sewing mess...actually found a bag with scraps from the Russia quilts we made in 2007.... how bad is that! Wonder what else I'll find....

Applied for a job today with a medical research firm working for the VP of Research...I'm hoping I'll at least get an interview but it's a long shot. I think the job was posted the end of October and reposted on Dec 1...which means either no one wanted to work for the person or they didn't find anyone they wanted...maybe it's my time? Not stressing about it... the holidays are coming up and not much done on the job front.

Off to bed... tomorrow is another day as "they" say.

The Day After

Well, once again we survived Thanksgiving. A great time was had by all. Too much food but it sure was good. My berry pie and pumpkin pie turned out fine... after dinner at Terri and Doug's we headed to Jean and Howard's for more pie. Jean made a different version of Pumpkin pie with no milk and using a gluten free bread mix for crust. It was yummy! And legal for her to eat. Got to see the quilt she's making for their daughter and son-in-law...she's been working on it about as long as I worked on McKenna's quilt!

Today was a lazy day. I did get to the store for milk and a few other things but mostly stayed in, out of the drizzle and wind, and worked on the twins' qlts. Have all the animals outlined on one quilt and hope to work on the other one tonight. I'm really tired and trying to get rid of a headache. Maybe I'll take a short nap and then feel better. Gene is making supper...

Back at the computer to finish this post. Pictures above are Doug carving the turkey and daughter Rochelle stirring gravy. Gene was watching... Pumpkin pie - did a little alteration to the photo to cover up the "bad" crust. I'm not sure this version of pumpkin pie is worth all the extra effort but the flavor was great and much more complex than regular pumpkin pie and it was very very smooth... like custard...

That's it for now. We truly are thankful for the wonderful friends we shared the day with. We are blessed!!

Quilting, Cooking, Interviewing

Yahoo!! I finished McKenna's quilt and shipped it off to her on Tuesday. However, we thought it would be del'd on Friday when David and Carol are still visiting but UPS is not delivering ground packages on Friday....so it won't arrive til Monday Dec 1 and they are leaving for home that day. Oh well, I guess it's more important that the quilt is done and on it's way!

Now I start quilting the twins' quilts...trying to get them ready to ship on MOnday, Tuesday latest for the first birthday party. However, my arms and wrists are so tired and sore from working on McKenna's quilt that I may not make that deadline either. How would I have gotten this done if I'd been working! One good thing about getting laid off.

We are going to Doug and Terri's for dinner tomorrow. What a nice surprise that was to be invited to their home. I made Deb's Burgundy Berry pie and it's all I can do to not cut into it tonight...love that pie (cranberry/blueberry) and also made a pumpkin pie using the recipe in Cook's Illustrated that is supposed to be the best pumpkin pie ever. Well, I got it done and there was so much extra filling...not sure why but I baked the remainder as custard. Yummy!!!!!! The pies are done, made some Jell-O and now am exhausted. I also basted both quilts today. A good night's sleep will be welcome.

Weather here has been nice. Sunny although chilly...no rain. Keep looking at the weather in Las Vegas and it's cold there. Into the 20's at night... looks like I may be able to take my old down coat to NM with me and actaully wear it once in awhile.

So off to see if i can get a bit of quilting done tonight. Planning on watching the Barbara Walters' special at 10 pm.... her interview with the Obamas. What a great couple and what a job ahead of them.

On Monday I have an interview with a search firm....or rather an employment agency. Not sure what they call themselves these days. I had sent my resume to them to apply for a job listed on their website but that one has been filled. However the gal was interested in my resume and called me. That really did feel good... to feel that I have some value to someone after this month of being laid off. Anyway, I did tell her that we are planning on moving in May and I probably should look for a contract or temp job but if something fantastic opened up, I would seriously consider taking it and working longer. It's such a hard decision. Anyway, the good thing is that someone actually took the time to read my resume and call me.

Happy Thanksgiving one and all!

Still Quilting

Friday morning.... cold but with sun trying to peak through the overcast. Fall in Seattle - Almost all the leaves have fallen off the old maple in our front yard. That beautiful tree is way too big for the yard but we can't bear to take it down. When we sell the house, the new owners can deal with it. It provides wonderful shade in the summer and privacy but in the winter, when the leaves are down, we get to see more sky and the neighbors. Carl should never have planted it there and had we known, 15 years ago, that it would overwhelm us, we could have taken it out and not had this problem. At least it's roots are not hurting the house but the lawn is mostly roots.

OK - on to other things. I'm making good progress on McKenna's quilt... just decided to do a lot of stitching in the ditch and get er done! instead of trying to be fancy with the quilting. Had forgotten how hard it is to machine quilt... the quilt is heavy, bulky, and has a mind of it's own. So my wrists and back are sore from fighting with it.... Easier to do straight lines and be done with it. Deadline for shipping in Monday! The quilt is cute, if I do say so myself, and hopefully she will enjoy it. I used some fabric in the collars for the two girl bears that is from my mom's robe...it is pink gingham and green gingham so the quilt has something from McKenna's great grandmother in it. Had planned to use more of it but this was what worked. The appliques are button-hole stitched around the edges.

Got an email from my friend, Pat, in Minnesota this morning (we've known each other since 1971) and I loved this...enjoy:

Ten Commandments: Minnesota Style

1. Der's only one God, ya know.
2. Don't make that fish on your mantle an idol.
3. Cussing ain't Minnesota nice.
4. Go to church even when you're up nort.
5. Honor your folks6. Don't kill. Catch and release.
7. There is only one Lena for every Ole. No cheatin'.
8. If it ain't your lutefisk, don't take it.
9. Don't be braggin' about how much snow ya shoveled.
10. Keep your mind off your neighbor's hotdish.

Off to the Bernina!!

Free Time

Well, since I last wrote I have lost my job at Honeywell. The reason I was given was that "your job is being eliminated". No reasons.. and I was too stunned to even question it. Oh, I know the reasons but will refrain from lowering myself to even discuss it here. Corporate America has lost it's soul and there is no loyalty to any employee anymore. I was told and was out of my office in less than an hour. Walked to the door like a common criminal nearly. So much for 10 1/2 years of work. So now I am free. They say when God closes a door, He opens a window. I'm still waiting to see what window I should look out.... actually I am enjoying being home, sleeping late in the morning, reading a book late at night, watching Martha and Oprah and spending time quilting and playing with the "boys". Gene is always busy and Levi is thrilled to have his servants at home all day.

I have my resume rewritten...hard to do..I'm not good at promoting myself. Will be sending it out to a few places this week and filing my unemployment claims. Not fun at this time of my life but we are so much luckier than many people. We have options and one is to move to New Mexico in the spring. May is what we are thinking....so perhaps I'll go to a temp agency and work through them for a few months. Have a friend who works for Microsoft and she's getting me the Office 2007 software so I can keep up my skills there and perhaps get certified to teach Office. Might be fun.

The picture is of the quilts I'm making for the twins' who will be 1-year old on Dec 4th so would love to get those done and off in the mail to them in time for that. Since these pictures were taken I've done the applique and also put borders on them. Will post more pics when they are done. Also working on one for my brother's grand-daughter, McKenna, who will be 3 or 4 in March... would like to get that one done this week and mailed off so her grandparents can see it when they go to see their kids next week in California.

Gene and I are going to Mobile for Christmas this year. David and Carol have a new "old" house in Mobile which will be fun to see. We'll also drive to New Orleans for a couple of days...D&C have friends who have loaned us their condo in NO... will get to see all the sights there and also the 9th Ward that was so devastated by Katrina. First time in 45 years or so that I've spent Christmas with my brother.

So things are going along. LIfe is not all bad and God is good.

Election Day 2008

It is finally here....election day....at least the campaign will be over...but the politics will not. Why in this "wired" age we have to have campaigns run for 2 years I don't understand. It's such a waste of time and money...of course, the media has something to cover for all that time. What would they do if our campaigns ran like they do in the UK? Of course, whoever wins will get non-stop coverage from the media so it's really not over!! We voted absentee ballots about 2 weeks ago so it's sort of a non-event from that perspective.

All I can say is that it'll be interesting...I think B will win but never count M out...

Fall Choir Workshop

Today is the first day of November...wow, already. Halloween was a "non-event" at our house...2 Trick or Treaters showed up...and that was it. I dislike Halloween so it was fine with me. Since our neighborhood is on a hill and dark, we usually don't get a lot of kids..also, we don't have a lot of kids on the block. So we send up with candy left over which is why a couple of years ago we started giving out juice boxes.... good for the kids and good for us if they are left over. This year I bought chocolate milk boxes... so now we have to drink that!!

Chancel Choir Fall Workshop was from 9-4 today. It's always a fun time - starting to rehearse our music for Christmas and just having time to visit with each other. Great turn-out today and good food. What's a Presbyterian meeting without food? I don't know because we never have them.... lots of great snacks and then soup, salad, sandwiches for lunch. We had sectional rehearsals (men, women) in the morning and after lunch a Master Class (men,women) with Katie and Ross for an hour. What a great time that was. Working on basics of choral singing. And then putting all the work together after another break (food). A good time was had by all. I will miss the Pacific Northwest when we move to New Mexico but mostly I'll miss choir and First Presb. We are so blessed to have this fabulous music program that has given both Gene and me such great adventures since I've been part of it. Can never replace it but also, can never take it away from me.

Tomorrow, Sunday, I will work on my resume and send it off to a few places. It's the hardest thing to do as I'm not good at telling people how wonderful I am !! Ha Ha.

Daylight saving time ends tonight so what was 9 pm is now 8 pm... so I'm heading off to the internet to research jobs.

Good night all.

Halloween 2008

Our ad is posted on Craig's list in Santa Fe...no one has answered... guess we'll have to put an ad in the paper in LV and post at Highlands... this is beginning to worry me. Still hoping the interested possible renters will show up in LV and contact MM. She has been out of town on a cruise so may have news when she returns tomorrow. It's out of our hands at the present time...

I've been out of work since the 22nd and at first just wanted to leave Seattle and head south...but calmer heads are prevailing and we will take our time these next few months to get this house ready to rent and then move in the spring/early summer. Have to admit I am looking forward to it. Still have to decide if I want to find a job...probably a good idea. Just not sure what I want to do when I grow up. :)

Gene is busy working on cleaning the garage and has taken up all the dahlia tubers and put them to bed for the winter. I've spent today cleaning files in our office and trying to get that organized. Makes me feel useful!! Saturday choir has the Fall Workshop so that'll be fun.... getting ready for Christmas.

So, our life is going along. Levi loves having his two slaves at home with him. I'm enjoying the non-commute.

HAPPY Halloween! My least favorite holiday. Now on to Thanksgiving and Christmas and a new year.

October Already

Gene arriving at his new house - Levi's Llama Land - and in the midst of painting the pink bedroom....is it pink or was it pink... we flew down to Albuquerque on Oct 5th taking with us clothes to paint and clean in and plans to start making the house ours. Our renter decided to move into town so we are now without her. But it gave us the time to clean and paint and see the house without anyone else's stuff in it.

The weather was wonderful all week - perfect for painting and for sitting on the porch taking a break now and then.

We left a bunch of money at Wal-Mart and at the appliance store. Bought new Frigidaire front-loading washer and dryer and had them installed in the laundry room which is right off the kitchen. And we christened them with our dirty clothes and came home with mostly clean clothes. Course there were some that were beyond cleaning!!

Got to really know my way around Wal-Mart, and Hacienda Home Center, and the Gambles Store, and many other places. We stayed at the Comfort Inn which was nice since there is no furniture in the house and we are getting a bit elderly to be sleeping on air mattresses. It was a relief each night to go back to the hotel and crawl (almost) into nice soft clean beds and have clean towels and a good night's sleep.

Didn't get to see everyone we wanted to on this trip but we did meet the next door neighbors and visited with the THompson's and of course our favorite real estate agent and friend, Marylena Melton. She is helping us still even though she's already sold the house to us. What would we do without her watching over the place.

Hopefully we'll get the house rented for the winter. But for now it's tucked away with the heat on and ready to be shown.

Land Barons R Us

So we now own our retirement home in Las Vegas, NM...not the glitzy, smoky, crowded Las Vegas in Nevada.....the quiet, laid back, slow, original Las Vegas. Found the property last fall on a "scouting trip" and never thought it would still be available when we wanted to buy. But not only was it available, it was lots cheaper. So with some urging from our financial and tax guys, we made a deal and the owners accepted. We are renting it to the lady who owned it which is a win-win situation for all of us. When will we move? Maybe late next summer....depends on Linda's retirement situation... but until then, we'll plan some changes to the house and Gene will ahve plenty of time of think about the yard....all 5 acres of it. Check out the slide show ...

Our New Mexico Home

Make a Smilebox slideshow

It's Been 2 Years

Oh my... just realized it's been two years since i wrote in this blog. lots of water over the dam, as they say.

Today is June 16th 2008 and we are fine here in Seattle! We have vacationed in Russia, gone home to Minnesota for visits, traveled to the southwest to look for retirement property and generally kept busy. In the days to follow, I will attempt to update you on our lives!

This is a photo of the Corps badge that is on the butt stock of Corporal Dow's Sharps rifle and which started the whole journey of discovery.

Our Book is in Print

"The Search for Corporal Dow" is now in print...We got the first copies a week ago and are thrilled with the look, feel, sight of this book that has been so long in the making. They did an awesome job with the cover and editing and we sure hope lots of folks will enjoy it and use it in their genealogy research. We'll have a web site this fall and the publisher will be starting the advertising shortly. In the meantime, I've published a copy of the cover and the introductory page....

Linda and Gene