HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAKE ! !

Friday, if not already x will be x-s-i-l brought the two grandsons by with a dozen white roses for me for Valentine's Day. Aren't they beautiful? They have a blush of pale peach or pink coming up from the stem area. We are so thankful we are on good terms with him and he with us for the sake of the two grandsons. They always arrive with flowers for Valentine's, Easter, Mother's Day...


Valentine's morning the three grandbaby girls and their mommy and daddy came over with box of candy each for Nana and Papa. They helped us sample it right away...it's yummy!


Today we celebrated Jake's 15th birthday. It's actually tomorrow. We do it on the Sunday closest to it which is always Daytona 500 Race Day! This year his dad's sister and her family weren't there as her daughter was in a dance competition all weekend long. She is really doing well with her dance troop and also competes in duets and solos.


Mom's oldest sister and her family wasn't there as they wanted to go to northern VA to visit some friend. That's getting to be a habit for his birthday...going to visit friend and isn't sitting well among some of us. Also, not showing up was Granny....Mom's real/bio mom...may have been working or like the last time doing her laundry.


But Nana O was there, G-grandparents C were there, Nana and Papa C were there, little brother was there, Dad was there and of course Mom as she was hosting it. Hotdogs on the grill, barbecue, Nana O brought her wonderful macaroni and cheese and I brought baked beans that both sides of the family like. Lots of chips and such. Papa O is always missed so much since he went to heaven almost five years ago.

Cards with money or checks were a big hit.

Among the things Nana O gave him is the beautiful blue polo shirt.

Cousins were busy playing with the kitty.

Besides baseball he loves to cook and Nana O got him this cute apron besides the shirt and some spending money.

Backpack he wanted that Nana and Papa gave him with some money inside it for spending and a check for savings account.

Something for his PlayStation game his brother gave him.

Aunt and uncle sit on sofa by Papa watching.

Now time for cake. It was an ice-cream cake as he doesn't like cake. This was a layer of chocolate, layer of brownie, layer of vanilla ice-cream, and icing. It was really good.

With the candles lit. Mom and Jake cutting cake with dad getting a picture with is phone, cousins looking on. This cousin loves the blue icing around the edges of the cake. Eyeing the big cake.....she kept reaching over and grabbing more of the blue trim around the base of the cake.

Daddy, uncle, Papa watching baby cousin doing tummy crunches and also working on crawling.

Baby cousin loves her feet. These tights don't come off like my socks do! Just what is the deal?

Happy Birthday JAKE!!!

Giveaway

Another great giveaway...go visit Annie and sign up for her give away. Get this she is giving away two kits for Valentine's Day. And they are complete kits! Didn't know such a thing existed!!
One kit makes a needle case. The second one makes a flower block that can be used in a quilt or pillow. One is a fusible thread applique' kit and the other is mocked needle turn applique'.

She'll be drawing the winner on Feb. 17th...my Black Lab Legend's ninth birthday....maybe that's a sign I'll win..........well a gal can dream can't she????

Giveaway---OTTLITE

You read correctly an OttLite Giveaway!!!

I can't get over it! Go by and visit Quilting on a Budget and read how to enter the drawing to be held on Feb. 22, 2009.

I also noticed on the Ottlite website where they now have screw in bulbs so you can turn one of your decorative lamps you already own into an Ottlite. Didn't know that!!!

Giveaway!!!

Go by and visit Mother Superior and sign up for the giveaway. What's the giveaway you ask?

A $50.00, yes $$$$$$Fifty Dollar$$$$$$$ Retail, gift certificate in honor of Valentine's Day, at Superior Threads.

Click on the link on my sidebar that looks like the picture above to go to their website. Won't be hard to find $50. worth of items there to purchase with it!!!

Giveaway

Go by and see Debi at Debi Quilts she has 22 beautiful fat quarters (entire line) from the P & B Textiles Tunisia line she is going to give away since she just came back from vacation!

Thrifting

The other day my friend who is Queen of the Thrift Stores called me while I was ironing fabric. She said she had an iron she had ordered from one of the shopping networks but didn't like it as it was heavy and it was too late to send it back to be returned. I told her I loved heavy irons. I'd buy it from her because mine was getting old, a LOT hours on it and I expected it to die on me any day now. She would try to find in and bring it over but was not taking a cent for it. She came by the other day and it was a Rowenta. I about died!! I was beyond thrilled! Used it last night to iron fabric. It's smaller than my Rowenta Professional model but has the same looking sole plate just a tad smaller. Believe it irons better in fact. The sprayer on mine doesn't work half the time this one works like a charm. Only thing it kept setting off the fire/smoke alarm. I was ironing the same place I always do not directly underneath it but nearby.

While fixing supper last night she called me and described this fabric she saw at one for $2.97. She was at one of the thrift stores in another area of town and she said it was a pile of it. I told her get it I'd pay her. She came on in with this ARMLOAD of blue background large floral print. She thought it had been washed because it felt rather stiff. Between you and me because of that stiffness I doubt I would have bought it. She doesn't have a computer so won't be reading this. I threw it in the washer and dryer. She thought I was crazy to wash it. Told her I threw all fabric in the washer and when it came home with me if it was going to run or shrink I wanted it done before I spent hours making something not afterwards and ruin the project. Out of the dryer and onto the ironing board.

I measured it. Granted it's not top quality fabric but at almost 11 continuous yards for less than Three Dollars!!! I figure I'll use some for a quilt backing and some will be cut up for scrap collection. Maybe a totebag from it. Oh, it did come out softer. It's not wide enough for a decorator fabric but on the heavy side.

My DD had stopped in a thrift store a little over a mile from us and bought a piece of fabric the other day. Told me they had right much in there and a pile of patterns. I needed milk so when I ran out to get it a few minutes ago I ran in there to look. Got some fabric, the price was right, threw it in the washing machine. When it comes out of the dryer I'm cutting it up for Scrap Therapy and Bonnie Hunter Scrap Quilts. I got a pattern for vintage style aprons.
Don't know why this came up sideways it was saved vertically. There were hundreds of patterns in a huge basket. Tons of Vogue. Wish I had time to go through them. Most looked never used. The one I got has been used....I'm just hoping all of the pieces are there.

I did add pictures of the fabrics I talked about under "Tuesday's Ramblings" if you want to see them.

Tuesday Ramblings

Had OB-GYN appointment this morning. I left early, Papa home with the three grandbaby girls. I was taken early as the Stork was flying around one hospital and circling for a landing at another. They rushed me back and through the steps before you see him, saw him and out of there before my appointment time. Since I had some time before I was expected home I made a quick stop by the bank to deposit a check and get some cash. And SHUSH DON'T TELL I then decided my favorite haunt Nancy's Calico Patch was open and I had time to stop by, Papa would never be wiser. They only had two working, one on floor and one in classroom. Owner at a meeting and another employee at teacher/parent conference. But I did get two rulers for an upcoming class. A neat newspaper print in black and white design fabric.

Got a yard. Not sure what I'll do with it but thought I must own a yard of it.Then I bought a few square of fabrics, a couple fat eighth's and fat quarter that took my eye and the main reason for my stopping in to pickup Martha's free Design of the Month.

Will add some pictures later...have to check on supper!!! OH CRAP.....Stocks tumble after Bank Bailout Plan Announced.........just came on braking news alert.........I DID NOT need to hear that.......Not much left in our IRA's as it is now.....and what few stocks we own have also gone to H in a hand-basket.....neither worth the paper they were written on...........sure wish we had sold out back in May!!!

My opinion when they were dropping rates and homes selling for so much more than appraised......they should have been raising the rates..........if they had then now there would be something to lower to help........and heck it may have prevented this MESS.........and apparently since Andrea' husband kept dropping them...........we're doomed...