Vacation

I can't believe that this week is almost over. I have spent the last week with my sister Cassie in Ohio. (Not one of those places on my top ten lists of places to go. But her family live here.) The week has gone by so fast.

We have sewed and done day trips and just fun all around. On Tuesday we went to Longaberger. Wednesday to Kirtland (historical stuff). Friday to a couple of quilt shops. I have bought so much stuff that she is going to have to ship so of it to me. It won't fit in my suitcase. You will have to wait until I get home to see the few pictures that I have taken.

But tomorrow I have to go back to the hot, Atlanta. And Monday back to work. Oh, well how do you think I can retire. I am ready to not work - but how to support my habit. That is the big questions.

Peace for Me

Do you have that place that makes you happy to be there? Somewhere that you long for when it has been to long since you were there. This is that place for me. When I turn the corner and head west this is what I see. I'm always looking for the silo, what else can I see. This is a mile away.




Then it gets closer. Only a half a mile to go. What can I tell now? All the buildings look the same. I can see a long way.

Then finally I am there. Home! No matter where I live or how old I become this will always be home.

This house on this farm has always been a part of my life. My grandparents built it in the early 1940's and my dad lives there now. Until I was almost 11 there was a house across the road that we lived in and my dad moved back there when I was 18. It has changed a little over the years and the buildings around it have change, but it still brings that sense of security and belonging. I have spend summers hauling hay with my father and grandfather. It allows you to be a part of this great connection to the gift of beauty and calmness.

A Little Behind

Today at Thimbles, my quilting friends were giving me a hard time about needing to update my blog. I have decided that since I have not blogged since August, it would be okay to post pictures from Christmas. Christmas pictures in February, not that late.

Christmas Eve - hanging stockings.

Christmas Dinner

Everyone was hungry

Notice Emma still in her jammies - all Christmas Day

A noisy gift from Aunt Cindi

A suitcase full of cookie makings for Laurel

When are you making some?

Another gift for Evelyn

Can you tell she is sure loved a lot?

The Prete Family

Hey NaNa, Mommy's not paying

attention - if this mine too?

Evelyn making friends with Chip with

Uncle Lawrence's support

Emma on her new phone under Dad's quilt.

John and Lawrence bonding

Kent's Christmas Present

Love this quilt

Evelyn driving her shopping cart - keep out of her way

Evelyn and Aunt Laurel after Church

A treat after Church.

Thanks Aunt Laurel

Sad Happenings

As the last week or so has unfolded it has been sad. The company that let me go in March has closed it's door. For me the worst part has been scrambling to find new health insurance, because with the doors closed and their insurance gone mine goes away as well.

But the real sadness I feel is for those people that I know that are still working them. When you work in accounting you usually know just how bad things are, so they have seen this coming. But you are still not prepared. The owner of the company is 73 and this is his life's work. He can't really start over. I am feeling very sad for all of them tonight.

I joked with them in March when they let me go that I was the lucky one. It looks like that has proven true, but I am still very sad for each of them as they try to figure out how to start putting their lives back together.

Memory (blog version)

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

Happy Birthday America!!!

Everyone has been telling me that they are tired of reading about the plan ride. So I guess that means a new post is way past due. Today seems like the perfect time.

I hope that as you are celebrating the 4th of July with your fireworks, food, and fun you will take a minute to contemplate what we are celebrating today. Just think 232 years ago very brave men signed our Declaration of Independence. Their lives were never the same and they started in motion the events that make our lives very blessed. I too often take for granted the freedom and opportunities that I have by being born and living in America.

So take a moment to think about what was done then and how we are blessed to be Americans.

The Big Plane Ride

Yesterday I rushed out of work to catch a plane to Columbus for Lawrence's gradation. Just a quick little hop. Well, that was how it was suppose to be. It was on one of those planes that you feel like you are on a long sausage and I was stuffed in the very last row. I thought there was a lot on noise but didn't think to much about it. But everyone in the back was talking about the vibration. The pilot must have felt something and ask the flight attendant about if her feet were vibrating. Guess so.



At this point the pilot comes on the intercom and makes a comment about the vibration that many are feeling is one of the engines vibrating. They are going to shut the engine down and land at the closest airport with one engine. So we landed in Cincinnati where we can see fire trucks with flashing red lights going with us down the runway on both sides. ( I was sitting across the isle for an air traffic controller from Columbus who say that is considered a level 2 emergency).



We then changed planes and come onto Columbus arriving about an hour and 15 minutes late.



More excitement that I wanted at 11 pm on a Friday night.