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Krishna: Hi, blog hoping
shierylssi: hi, dropping by here.hope we can xchange links.thank you
Blake: Just blog hopping.... I look forward to the new journey!
Garf: hi there
Sally Ferguson: Wishing you blessings at Easter!
Storm: It is so good to be able to read your blog again, just returned from Africa. Come by and check out my site ...
Sally Ferguson: Happy Valentine's Day!
Heart: happy valentines day
Keeper: Stopped by to say Good Morning, and to wish you a happy day :)
Fran: Nice site.I enjoyed my visit
Keeper: Thanks Carol, I have added your link as well, have a great day!
Keeper: Enjoyed your journal.... Care to exchange links
mandi791: Very nice journal :)
Parisukat: hello there! Cool blog you got here! Hope we could become blogfriends. I added you to my list hope you could add me too. Have a good day!
Garf: just visiting your page
Garf: add u now
Garf: care to exchange link?
Rev. Handy: Just passing by to say hello and God Bless...
Kim: Hi, was just surfing through blogs. Your blogs are absolutely amazing and inspirational.
Joanne Troppello: Hi. Just blog hopping. I like your blog site. God bless, Joanne
june: Hello, Your journal is inspirational and i am glad i found it.sending hugs June x
sparkle: Today I am visiting the neighborhood and dropping off warm wishes to say have an awesome moment and week ahead and to remember you are special and important person to this world
naturalskeptic: just one more quick tag to let you know that i read your sons webpage and my heart and prayers go out to you and your family!
naturalskeptic: i tried to leave a comment and this is my 3rd attempt at leaving a tag so we'll see! have a good day!
Lutchi : nice blog you got here...Visit me at my blog when u have time. TC
Sevy: Hi Carol ---------------------------------- Have a super day !!
corina: thanks for stopping by. If I were "hanging" in there anymore - I'd be a monkey! God Bless~
corina: I hope 2007 be's much kinder to you...May it be a year of blessing for you.
Brandon Doyle: Just out blog surfing. :)
sparkle: I am around the neighbourhood today with new years wishes as I travel bravejournal today so am Wishing you and yours wisdom and all greatest 2007 and beyond
Carol: I really enjoyed your site and thoughtful entries. May God bless you this New Year and beyond.
Angel: Happy New Year to you and yours!
Angel: Stopping in to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas, Carol! I sure hope your power is on again soon. I've been following the news of the situation. Take care and God bless you, my friend.
Angel: Happy Thanksgiving, Carol!! I love Extreme Makeover Home Edition and I usually boo-hoo through everyone of them!
diane: What a touching blog. I am sorry for your loss, hope Bill feels better soon.
sparkle: have a blessed weekend
Meagan: I hope you had a good weekend!
Vivian: Hello again. Hope you had a nice Monday!
Vivian: I love the centerpiece. Nice work!! stopped over to say hello...
Meagan: I came across your journal, so I thought I'd stop to say hello. You have a beautiful place here. I hope you have a great week.
Cheryl: WOW, Hawaii would be nice. Haven't ever been there yet. Have fun.
corina: hi...It's been ages since I dropped by. Just checkin' in to see how u r doing. Anyway, Have a great week. God Bless!
Josh Nay (Jay Roberts): Well that's great. Let me know how that goes or if you need help or something.
Josh Nay (Jay Roberts): Ugh! Just had my tag board spammed! Well, I was really touched by your journal. Here's a tag of friendship for you!
Melody: hi there. i enjoyed reading your journal. hope you have a nice day!
beth: hey i left you a comment and signd your beautifull sons guest book. i was deeply touched by it.
RAINBOW: Just had my tagboard spammed...and had a bad restaurant experience. Other than that, things are going well!
Angie: Hi, just blog hopping, thought I'd stop by and say HELLO. Hope you're having a good day ~ Love Angie
Barb: Just stopping by to wish you a Blessed Easter.
sis: Hello, just read Clint's journal. It's a nice memorial. I have a memorial journal for my brother. He was killed in a car wreck on 5/1/05. He was 34. I pasted a poem from Clint's journal into mine. Thanks.
Angie: Hi Carol, thanks for your visit and tag, hope you're having a good day ~Angie~
Angie: What a beautiful journal you have here, I'll be back for sure. Hope your week is a good one ~ Angie ~
juicenjack: Hello was hopping around and stumbled on to here. Enjoyed reading your and Clint's journal. I babysat and worked with kids and adults that had similar problems to Clint. God Bless and hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Storm: just dropping by to check on you. Finally have a new computer so I can cyberhop better
Angel: Happy Valentine's Day, Carol!!
Marie Elliott: Sending love your way,
Storm: Hi Diane. Was finally able to get out cyberwalking again and wanted to check on you and see what you were up to ...
Nathalie: Bouncin around figured I'd drop in and say Hello...Hope you had a GRRRREAT Weekend!
Angel: HAPPY NEW YEAR, CAROL!!
Barb: Carol, just stopping by to wish you a Merry Christmas. Thoughts of our loved will hopefully be with us and comfort us at this time. Take care.
GirlyGurl: Hey there, just here checking out your journal. Have a nice day!
Storm: Hi Carol, I get a "lump in my chest" reading your thoughts that you share .. thanks for reminding us how life is a
Angel: I was posting an entry at the time you came over to my journal. Please take a second look...
Angel: No entry for today...As if I really expected there to be. Just want to let you know, Carol, that I've thought about you and about Clint today. A year ago - yes, the time has seemed to have flown by. You were (are!) a special mother and Clint, of course, was special, as well. God's special gift to all of us. You're in my prayers today.
inhishands: God bless you in all that you do! Grace and love be with you always! (God Is Love)
Angel: I haven't been here in a while - life gets in the way... But when I am here, I read and read and absolutely love viewing the pictures you put up! I wish I had known Clint personally, yet I feel a special closeness with him and with you through your journal. Thank you for giving so many the opportunity to come to know Clint as you did!
sara: Hi there :)
Storm: Thank you so much for sharing your love and pain of your journey
CyberMagic: Just blog hopping .
dee: I just surfed in. I read Clint's journal. I'm just heartsick. My thoughts and prayers are with you, I can not imagine the loss you & your family must feel.I wish for you a pleasant happy weekend!
Christina: Love and blessings to one from one mother to another... ~ Christina
Eric: Hi there, just stop by to say hello & hope this find u doing well here!
Tonya: I went and read Clints Story and It just broke my heart. I missed out on knowing Clint but received a blessing just reading the story. Thank you for sharing. God Bless you and your family. I will be praying for you all.
Aloha-GA-Girl: I was out blog hopping and came across yours. You have a wonderful story of love and survival. May God continue to Bless You.
Jackee: What a beautiful story...anyone you meet will be so blessed Carol! I lift you up in my thoughts and prayers!!!!
Ryan: Hey nice journal. Keep up the hard work!! If you have time check out my journal!! and have a Great Day!!!
Angel: Prayers are said every day for you, Carol! You are loved.
Kris S: Thanks so much for stopping by, Carol. The thing about grief, people will tell you it's time for you to put it behind you but it's such a personal thing, isn't it? We all take our own time in our own way to heal. Bless you, sweetie.
Leenie: Hi...I haven't been in awhile but I wanted to say hello again and I hope your doing ok. Its funny...lastnight I asked my Mom to come visit me in a dream...Im glad you saw Clint, Im just sorry he didn't appear in better health.
Kris S: I saw your tag on Angel's blog and stopped by 'coz I don't think I've ever visited before. What a beautiful son Clint was, Carol...bless your heart. It was hard enough losing my mom...can't imagine the pain in losing a child. Cast your cares upon Him for He careth for you. Please stop by and get acquainted...I will be back by.
FrenchAdamFan: Hi ! I've just discovered yours and Clint's journal. Clint was a beautiful boy. You can be proud with him.Take care.
Leah: hello there. just dropping by Light and Love to you
Angel: We had those kind of birds in a humongous flock a few days ago...It is kind of eerie, isn't it?! As always, viewing the pics on your journal and reading of Clint is very enjoyable. Of course, I come here to learn of how you're doing, also... Bless you, Carol!
Alaine: oh...and as for Clint's age. You really did have him for 31 years if you count your pregnancy :)
Alaine: I don't think you need to let go. Moving on with life is much more important than letting go and I think you are doing just fine. I still cry for my best friend that I lost 15 years ago. It wouldn't be human to "let go". And you know you will see Clint again. And I think in Heaven Clint is not feeling time as we do so he isn't sad at all. You have the rest of Eternity to be with your baby boy. ((((carol))))
jan: Carol, you don't have to let go. You are still going through the grieving process. I lost my sister two years ago and can still sit down and bawl because I still miss her so much . It doesn't hurt as bad now, but like you the memories of things she did, mannerisms and her favorite things still bring the heavy feeling of loss to my heart. With time we will experience less pain and more joy in the memories.
eric: Dear friend, come and leave a blessing for
Moonie: Was out journal jumping and came across yours. Very nice place you have here and I really enjoyed learning more about you and the fam. I'll return when I can spend a bit more time. Take care and have a good day.
jr: sorry you had a bad day
sparkle: Just in the neighbourhood and saying hello on the way
Angel: continued... doctrine says otherwise. She was the "child"of our hearts and we take comfort in knowing that we will see her again one day. I'll be back again soon...I love reading your entries and seeing the pics of Clint!
Angel: Your entry of 8/21 answered some questions for me, too, Carol. I am a born-again Christian, though I have strayed off the course a few times. I don't always agree with what some doctrines (churches) teach, not even my own, but I feel that whatever causes us to be more hopeful is okay. (Within the Christian perspective, of course.) For instance, when we lost our beloved furchild, our pastor told us that animals do not go to Heaven. We are comforted in thinking she is there, even though our church
Angel: I'm always thinking of you, Carol, and keeping you in my prayers. I need your prayers now, too, for some physical problems I'm having. Tests coming up this Tuesday... Take care, my friend, and I'll see you again soon.
eric: Hope it's well!
Aidan: I was just out blog hopping and had to say hello. I hope that this finds you doing well!
Sharry: I followed your link in Carol's Cute Freebies yahoo group and i am glad i did. You are a very eloquent person and you and your son touched my heart and made me weep. I hope you are doing alright, you are in my heart and my thoughts.
RAINBOW: Hi Carol, My son died (suddenly) 2 1/2 years ago. I have a link on my Journal where I wrote about my feelings when I first heard that he was killed. Please stop by. I also have a fireworks display.

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July 2, 2008

11:59 PM

Bibs, Bibs and More Bibs

     Before I went to bed last night my throat began to hurt quite a bit.  I gargled with salt water and took some of our Wellness Booster Plus we take when we feel a cold coming on.  I am wondering if this comes from my sitting in front of the AC for awhile the other night.  It hasn’t gotten any worse today but I called Larry tonight and told him there was a possibility I might not be at rehearsal tomorrow night.  
     Nadine called this morning to say that her son-in-law Ted was in ER and would I please put him on our prayer chain at church.  I did so straight away and also called Ann (who is still sick) to put him on her church prayer chain.  He had a fever and stomach pains.  All they came up with was an acidic stomach with some inflammation.  They are waiting for more test results which may or may not come up with an answer.  Anyway, Joyce brought him home for now.  
     I got going on more bibs by eleven this morning and I was going lickety split on them.  I did 13 by six o’clock so I have a total of 19 in various stages of "doneness."  I’m having great fun doing them.  When I finish doing all I want to for now, I’ll change to the sewing foot on my machine and close them all with a decorative stitch across the front.  Then there is the matter of the snaps.  I have that little snapper do hickey so I need to get it out of the package and learn how to use it.  Otherwise I’m going to be hand sewing snaps on all those bibs!  I need an assistant who likes to do finish work.
     Nadine came over this afternoon and brought me some poly pellets she found at Hancock Fabrics.  I had her on the lookout for them for a project I want to do.  I looked for them – well, I looked for poly beads – at several places.  Thankfully I didn’t find them because when I looked at the directions again I discovered I needed poly “pellets” or buckshot.  Slight difference there!  Then I was showing her something on the computer and it overheated and shut down.  I hadn’t dusted it with the canned air in awhile so I let it cool off until after dinner, dusted and here I am again.
     We watched some more “Magnum” tonight.  We might actually finish with them before they are due on July 5.  Since that is a Saturday we would have until the library opens on Monday to get them turned in without a late fee.  And we don’t want to incur a $1 a day late fee!  
     Actually I confess I was dozing off during the last two episodes.  By then it was obvious I have a slight (I hope!) cold.  I had quite a headache by time I crawled into bed in addition to my neck and shoulders aching.  I took some Ibuprofen and hit the sack.  I read a few pages of “Twenty Wishes” by Debbie Macomber which arrived at the library for me today.  I know I won’t be able to renew that as her books always have a long waiting list.  So I put the other library book aside figuring I can renew it if I can’t finish both in the three week time frame.  
     
Redeemed—how I love to proclaim it!
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed through His infinite mercy,
His child, and forever, I am. —Crosby

The price of our freedom from sin was paid by Jesus’ blood.
 
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July 1, 2008

6:39 PM

Tests

     It’s a good thing I got up at 6:30 because I barely got done with and to my appointment on time.  Ronaldo (and Clint’s) birthdays are coming up soon so I wanted to get a card and Bible story book mailed off to Ronaldo.  You never know how long it might take to get to El Salvador.  I also mailed a “just because” card to Jhon in Peru.  
    We started leaving at 9:30.  Bill went out and got the car started while I gathered up my stuff.  I armed the alarm and went out to the car.  Just as I got settled in Bill asked if I had the cell phone which I didn’t.  I went back into the house and since I got in and out while the alarm was still in the beep mode, I thought I was fine.  I was almost out to the car again when the siren sounded.  I ran back, opened the door, turned it off, reset it and locked the door – again!  
     Despite all that I arrived on time.  I had the bone density test first and my tech was Chatty Cathy.  They did lumbar spine and left hip films which she let me look at to see what they do.  She took me around the corner for my mammogram where I got a lecture about doing the monthly self exams on the day of my birthday and then buying myself a present for doing it.  Not a bad theory.  
     I collected Bill and we went to the bank and to another jeweler who, like the first one, could not change the battery in my Omega watch!  We went to lunch at Tanglewood.  I ordered the soup and 1/2 sandwich combo – French onion soup and an open face Prawn and shrimp sandwich.  Bill got the soup, salad and 1/2 sandwich combo – Asian beef soup, garden salad and Beef and Bleu Cheese on baguette.  When our plates arrived, my “sandwich” was a half the size of Bill’s.  I decided to inspect for the prawns and shrimp.  There wasn’t a prawn to be found and there was only 2 1/2 teensy salad shrimp.  The bread was covered in some kind of sauce with melted cheese and a tomato slice on top.  To say I was disappointed was the understatement of the day!  I called the waitress over and told her my sob story.  I told her if I wanted cheese toast I would have ordered it.  She said the topping for the sandwich is a mix and there is no guarantee what you’ll get.  In my “humble” opinion, if it says a “prawn and shrimp” sandwich there better be some of both on the sandwich!  To my logical mind you would put some shrimp and prawns on the bread, top with sauce, cheese and tomato!  She took that back and brought me what Bill had.  It tasted fine but the meat was skimpy even on that.  And we’ve always liked this place.  
     We stopped into the Harbor Greens market but left empty handed.  Stopped at the fruit stand to get some local honey.  The mammo tech told me she gave her daughter honey to help with her horrid allergies.  We’ll see…  We went into Key Center for the mail and decided to stop into the Health Food store.  However, we discovered it had closed its doors.  Of course, if everyone in town shopped there like we did – which was not at all – it is no wonder it closed.
     I crocheted on a loopy scarf for Reign while we were out and about.  Back at home I used some of the patriotic fabric Grace gave me yesterday to make three more bibs.  I have to do the final stitching on them tomorrow.  Just as I came back out front, Candy called from the library to say we returned Season 2 of “Magnum” minus one disk.  I checked and someone who shall remain nameless had put it in the Season 3 container.  
     Bill is munching on some Pei Po duck at the moment, so I’m off to snack myself and see what the evening brings.
     
Sometimes when we are generous in small, barely detectable ways it can change someone else's life forever." - Margaret Cho 
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June 30, 2008

6:41 PM

Another Ellie "Do" Day

     Bill woke me at 5:30 this morning when he was putzing around so I got up and started my day.  He dropped me off at Ellie’s about 9:45 and we visited until the doorbell rang.  And there was Carol V who we had not expected to come today.  We were happy to see her.  Of course, since I didn’t think she was coming I didn’t take her Christmas and birthday presents so here they still are.  Oh well….  
     Susie stopped in to say “hello.”  Patti and Grace arrived at 11:30 just in time to see Susie before she left.  Carol showed us a tunic she made out of an African type print.  She had done some interesting couching on it with a slubby novelty yarn.  She also had a vest she is making.  She used paint stix to draw whales and she is doing bobbin work lines for “waves” and beading them.  Sad to say, I didn’t get any pictures.  Carol does gorgeous work.  I showed what I have done on Ellen’s afghan and my bibs.  No one else had any “show and tell.”
     Before I left this morning I started a vest with bulky wood for the next “Afghan” campaign – back to school garments for 7-14 year old kids.  I knit on that while visiting with everyone.  Patti brought fabric and was cutting out pieces for a Victorian Table Runner.  Ellie has hers partially made.  Ginger, who was absent today, has already finished one.  You can see the pattern HERE (scroll to bottom of page).
     Carol V had to leave before lunch.  Patti and Grace brought a large sub sandwich and carrot cake which we shared with George.  I brought honeydew melon.  Ellie did her poppers and a salmon dip for crackers.  Patti and Grace had to leave shortly after lunch since Patti had to pick up her girls at two.  I continued knitting while Ellie and I visited.  She was working on a cross stitch piece.  Bill checked in about 2:30 and arrived to pick me up a little after three.
     I was exhausted by time he arrived as I had done battle with my nose all day.  I was fine until Susie came in.  I’m sure she had been around her horses and her dogs so I guess my nose detected that.  We drove into Key Center to return library items and pick up the mail.  I took another allergy pill when I got home but it took till six before my nose finally settled down.
     We saw the following on the news tonight.  Yikes!  With that bit of news I’m off to fix dinner and knit on my vest for the evening.

KEY CENTER, Wash. -- A Pierce County sheriff’s sergeant shot and killed a bear that had been causing problems for residents just south of Key Center, reported KIRO 7 Eyewitness News.
     Authorities and Department of Fish and Wildlife agents said they had received numerous calls about the bear in the last few days near Jackson Lake.
     On Monday afternoon, a black bear weighing 350 to 400 pounds was trying to get into a home by breaking down its back door, agents said. The homeowner said he had to retrieve a rifle and then shot and wounded the bear.
     The resident then called 911.  Pierce County sheriff’s deputies and wildlife agents said they tracked the wounded animal for about 90 minutes. When the bear was found, it reared up and was fatally shot by a sheriff’s sergeant.
     Resident Gerald Eckert said he had seen the bear, which was the largest he’d ever seen, in his back yard Monday morning and called authorities.
     Fish and Wildlife agent Phil Johnson told KIRO that the incident was the first time he could remember a bear being so aggressive that it would try to break into a home during daylight hours.

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June 29, 2008

7:58 PM

Even Hotter!

     I wondered if I would be able to stay awake through church today.  I went to bed at 11 but got up at 2:30 to potty and the runny nose bit started in when I went back to bed.  I had to get back up and take an allergy pill and nose spray.  It took awhile to get back to sleep.  Bill got up at 5:30 this morning and went out to run the water as we had a toilet full of VERY rusty water last night.  Sometimes a clump of iron or rust or whatever breaks loose and this is what we get.  I was going to jump up and remind him to turn off the alarm before he went out the door.  Too late!  The noise set the dogs across the ravine to barking and Bill even heard a coyote howling.  And thus my Sunday began.....
     Thankfully I didn’t have all the problems playing the music today like I did at rehearsal Thursday night.  Pastor Paul’s wife has finally been able to come home as her mother has decided she will live by herself in her home instead of coming here to live with Paul and Glenda.  Oh well…..  It’s a four hour drive if anything happens.
      The nose started in again during church.   Sooooo annoying!  We sang one song where I had the high notes and after church Pastor Paul told me he loved hearing me to that.  “You sound just like a canary.”  A canary!!!  He explained that it was a compliment because he had a canary as a child and it sang up higher than all the other birds.  Ok….
     When I started digging in my bag for the car keys after church I realized I left them in the car when I went into church at eight this morning.  I made a mad dash outside to make sure the car was still there.  Whew!  All was well.  I had to go back inside and close up the keyboard, have a word with Debi and then I was on my way.  I stopped at the fruit stand to get a honeydew melon for the Ellie “do” tomorrow and picked up a takeout menu for the Chinese vendor that replaced the BBQ vendor at Bridgeway Market.  On to Cost Less Pharmacy to exchange some yarn.  Ok, so I wasn’t going to buy any more of the Baby Clouds, but I had two left over so I traded them for another color and bought two more in that color to complete a fifth blanket.  But I don’t intend starting it until I finish Ellen’s blanket.
     I was hungry by time I got home.  The leftover scone I ate at 6:45 with some amaretto jam had long since run out and I was a good girl and didn’t eat any sweets at the “coffee time” between services.  And I was a doubly good girl when I ate a nice salad and peach for lunch.  Dinner tonight will be the second half of the clams.
     Apart from that we’ve been taking it easy and staying cool with the AC.  I finished reading “Comfort” and I’m thankful that I didn’t suffer the agony that poor woman did with the loss of her daughter.  I know it makes a huge difference that I had years to think about it where Clint was concerned, and then months to prepare for the “end,” whereas she lost her otherwise healthy daughter in 48 hours from a sudden illness.  Her suffering was painful to read about.  Who’s to say I would have done any better under her circumstances.  Of course, every time Clint got sick and had another major problem I wondered it “this was it.”  So I dealt with the possibility of his impending loss on several occasions.  That was hard.  
     Now I’m ready to read something a bit more uplifting – “Wedding Ring.”  This is the first in the Shenandoah Album Series.  I recently read “Endless Chain” before realizing it was the second in the series.  Oh well, it’s not the first time I did things backward and probably won’t be the last.
     Bill went out for a second newspaper this afternoon so I finished watching “Monarch of the Glen.”  When he got back, we watched some more “Magnum” while I knit on the afghan.  He wanted to watch something that was on TV so I’m taking the opportunity to write up today’s toasty adventures.  It was cool enough in the church but when I walked outside afterwards it was HOT.  It got up to 88-90 here this afternoon.  Obviously my car thermometer isn’t working because it said it was 66° outside when it was probably closer to 88°.  It did finally get up to 76°.  Hmmm…..
     The clam dinner was yummy so now I’m off to……

Difficult times have helped me to understand better than before how infinitely rich and beautiful life is in every way, and that so many things that one goes worrying about are of no importance whatsoever."  – Isak Denison
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June 28, 2008

9:51 PM

Sizzling Saturday

     I looked at the clock at 7:30 this morning, reached over, turned on the alarm for tomorrow, and next thing I knew it was 8:30.  After a good night’s sleep I don’t feel too much the worse for the wear after two full days of doing stuff.  Since it was going to get really hot here today Bill mentioned going to a movie this afternoon so we could be in a cool spot.  I thought, “But we can turn on the AC here and I don’t have to go anywhere.”  And that is what we did around four o’clock when it really heats up in here.
     It took me until almost two o’clock to wade through 446 emails that had piled up on my Yahoo email.  This is in addition to my regular email.  I have most of my knitting and embroidery lists on Yahoo and try to reserve my regular email for business and personal stuff.  
     When I was done with that we began watching more of the “Magnum” shows.  We finished Season 2 and are now working on Season 3.  I’m knitting along on Ellen’s afghan as I watch.  At seven we took a break and I cooked half of the four pounds of steamer clams we bought yesterday.  They were yummy.  
     We’ll no doubt watch some more “Magnum” tonight.  I know what you’re thinking – we need to get a life.  Well, we didn’t intend to get four seasons worth to watch in three weeks!    And tomorrow is supposed to be hotter than today!     

"Never regret anything...because....at one time...it was exactly what you wanted..."

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June 27, 2008

11:38 PM

The Heat Turns Up

     I woke at four this morning with my nose running like a leaky faucet.  So much for my allergist’s “motion activated allergies” theory since I wasn’t moving a muscle at the time!  I finally got up and took one of my allergy pills and by then I was totally awake.  It was five’ish before I got back to sleep.  
     Just in time for Taste of Tacoma, the temperatures started rising.  We left at 10:30, picked up the mail, and went to a jeweler in Gig Harbor so I could get a new battery for an old watch.  It is one I was awarded by the insurance company for which I worked back in Baltimore.  It even has my name engraved on the watch face.  I’m not sure I’ve ever even worn it because I didn’t especially like the leather watch band.  I know what you’re thinking – I could have changed it.  At any rate, I took it to the jeweler and she removed the back but the entire works came out and she could find no way to reach any battery.  Hmmm….  So I’ll have to write the company with what I suppose is the serial number on the back.  It is an Omega watch and Bill says they are really nice, expensive watches.  Who knew?
     Our next stop was Fred Meyer so I could return yesterday’s clothes.  I found a white tank top and a pretty black cotton blouse on sale so I bought them, trusting they would fit when I got home with them.    Then it was on to Taste of Tacoma.  It opened at eleven.  We arrived at 12:30 and the place was packed already!  We milled around sampling various items from numerous vendors.   
     We eventually made our way over to Mrs. B’s ice cream booth.  She is a friend from many years back.  I saw her there last year but she didn’t remember my telling her then that Clint had died.  Of course, she was busy with the show.  She told me that her husband Bill died since I saw her last year.  He died from bone cancer they didn’t even know he had.  Seems his doctor knew it for years and never told them.  Too weird.  Anyway, we caught up on the major events and exchanged phone numbers and email addresses.
     At two o’clock we went over to hear Sitka Tex billed as Classic Country with Guitar, Fiddle and 10 Gallon Hat.  He was quite good and when he sang “Ring of Fire” he sounded a lot like Johnny Cash.  When that was done we cruised the non-food vendors.  I looked high and low for the gal selling the hummingbird shirts but, alas and alack, she was nowhere to be found.  At three we went to the Comedy Club to hear Ted Boswell.  He had the personality of a pea and was quite full of himself.  I didn’t find him particularly funny.  At least two couples walked out in the middle of the show.  
     We checked out the last of the non-food vendors and then went back to the food court.  It was hot and I was ready for an ice cream cone not realizing Bill wanted a couple more “tastes” before we left.  Ok, so I had dessert in the middle.  We up with some crispy Hawaiian chicken nuggets and a skewer of marinated steak from the Argentinean booth and then found our way back to the car.  
     Bill called to order a Pei Po duck this morning but when we arrived at six o’clock the place was locked up tight.  He thought they were open until seven.  Oops!  By then Bill had decided he wanted to go to The Kabuki.  I was hoping for air conditioned comfort but that wasn’t the case.  We both had a cup of miso soup and Bill had his favorite sunomono salad (with octopus) and shiro maguro (albacore tuna sushi) while I had a Spider Roll (includes fried soft shell crab and other fillings such as cucumber, avocado, daikon sprouts or lettuce, roe, and spicy mayonnaise).  
     We headed across the Narrows Bridge.  The fruit & veggie stand was still open so we stopped and got a honeydew melon, cantelope and tomato.  We sure enjoy that place during the summer months.  It was 8:30 by time we dragged ourselves into the house.  I was half way through writing up today’s adventure when Bill announced he was going to watch another “Magnum” episode.  We watched one and started a second.  Bill crashed and burned half way through the second one but I finished it and now I’m finished here and ready to hit the sack myself.  It has been a very long day, especially having been out and on my feet most of yesterday.  It was made worse by the continued battle with my allergies but tomorrow is another day and I hope to stay home and recuperate from all the excitement.

 Many are willing that Christ should be something, but few will consent that Christ should be everything. - Alexander Stuart
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June 26, 2008

9:58 PM

Totally Exhausted

     I am beyond tired.  It has been a very long day.  It was pushing 2 o’clock this morning before my peepers finally closed and I was up again shortly after seven.  I picked Nadine up at 10:30 and we drove into Port Orchard.  Our first stop was Joann Fabrics where I ran into Tami from church.  She is the mother of Matthew who does some yard work for us.  She told me all about the dress her daughter Sarah just finished to wear in some Civil War re-enactment.  Sarah is only 14 or 15 years old and is turning into quite the seamstress.  
     I got six inches of several “kid” type fabrics for my bibs, pale yellow flannel to line the bibs, some ribbon to make tag-a-long blankies, and a yard each of two cute kitten and yarn pieces of fabric for ??? – oh yes, for my collection!  We drove over to the Victorian Rose Tea Room for lunch.  This was Nadine’s treat for my birthday – slightly delayed.  However, the parking lot was full so we went on to Wal-mart.  I returned one of the myriad of tackle boxes Bill bought when he was trying to find just the right one for Reign.  Before he was done, he was matching the handle of the tackle box to something on the fishing pole.  It was most amusing to watch, but it kept him entertained.
     I got a couple of cream colored towels to embroider for a wedding gift.  I also got some pink glittery fabric to make a ballet tote for Reign.  She isn’t taking ballet but has expressed an interest in it so I thought the bag would be cute for whatever she might want to use it for.  I also bought a black tank top, a fuchsia tee top, and a really pretty black shell with a drapey cowl neckline.  All three should work under long sleeve shirts for Sundays this summer – if I can find the long sleeve shirts.  I love the hummingbird shirt I got last year at Taste of Tacoma.  It is a Hana brand but when I look online, I can’t find anything but Hawaiian shirts.  We are going to Taste of Tacoma tomorrow so I hope that lady will be there again so I can find out where she gets them.  They are roomy and just the right length.  
     We went back to the Tea Room and had a lovely lunch.  We had their Sandwich-Soup or Salad & Pie Special - Half a sandwich, a cup of soup, and a slice of our homemade pie or our warm Victorian Rose bread pudding with cinnamon sauce.  I had the curry chicken sandwich while Nadine chose turkey.  She had lemon meringue pie and I opted for the bread pudding.  We browsed through the gift shop before leaving.  Oh yes, the Tea Room is owned by the author Debbie Macomber.  She was in there earlier today for lunch.  I met her a couple of years ago at a book signing and she buys yarn from my friend Myra, whose website I do.
     Our next stop was China Sun for some goodies for Bill.  Ok, so I also got the last of their yummy green beans that I like so much for me.  Then we stopped into Fred Meyer.  We went to the clothes department first.  I checked for long sleeve shirts but it is evidently the wrong time of the year.  I bought a flowery short sleeve shirt with tank top and matching skirt along with two other two piece tops.  Nadine is looking for something to wear to a wedding so she got a Navy two piece outfit.  Neither one of us tried them on as it is much easier to do at home.  We picked up a few items in the grocery part of the store and then headed back to our neck of the woods.  We went into Key Center to pick up the mail and a book I had waiting for me at the library.  I dropped Nadine off and got home a little after five.
     I had time to check email, eat a bite, and then I was off to rehearsal.  By time we were playing, I was winding down and the brain was in dull mode.  Debi wasn’t there to play piano so I had to do more piano type stuff on the keyboard.  Some of the music I play from is just lead sheets which are written for guitar.  That means that they have the chords and words and the melody on them.  One of the idiosyncrasies of this is that that write a chord such as G/B.  This means a G chord over a B note.  I don’t know exactly how that translates for a guitarist, but for a keyboardist, it means I look at the G on the “left” side but I’m to play the chord with my right hand, and I see the B on the right side but I’m to play a B note with my left hand.  On a good day, this is doable.  On a day when I’m tired, I can’t think backwards and that was my problem tonight.  Larry said he kept looking at me and wanting to apologize.  I told him I was just very tired and I would be ok with it on Sunday.  
     The new TV show “Hopkins” starts in a few minutes and since Clint and I spent a lot of time at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, I’m anxious to see the premiere. 

Let’s always keep the prayer lines open,
Knowing God is always there;
For we upon His name may call
Anytime and anywhere. —D. De Haan

There is no place or time we cannot pray.
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June 25, 2008

11:59 PM

Not Fun

     Interestingly, my nose settled down before bedtime and I didn’t have to take the antihistamine.  I set out to put the bias binding on the five quilted bibs from yesterday.  It didn’t take long to figure out that was NOT a fun project.  I’ll do the other four but I won’t do any more of them.  After that I worked on perfecting my in the hoop bib.  It’s getting there and I cranked out three more of them.  I’m going to embroider a design on one of them and then I’ll take a picture.
     I called Ann today and discovered that, as I feared, she caught Tom’s flu and has been sick ever since she talked to Bill last week.  She didn’t sound well at all.  Not much news today except we’ve been watching more “Magnum” tonight.  I think we have three episodes left in Season 2 and then will need to finish Season 3 before July 5.  They showed the Crouching Lion Inn in one of the episodes tonight and it dawned on me that my sister and I stopped by there while I was in Hawaii.  I think I may have mentioned the crouching lion rock formation up behind the inn.
     I’m off for an outing with Nadine in the morning so I best hit the sack.  George and Ellie got back from their trip safe and sound.  They seem to be enjoying the new puppy.
    
He who kneels before God can stand before anyone.
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June 24, 2008

9:49 PM

Faith and Begorrah

     Three hummingbirds were chasing around the feeder this morning.  Fun to watch.  As for watching, we watched “The Bachelorette” last night.  Bill said it was the season finale but it wasn’t.  There are two more, I think, because last night was the one where she went to visit the families of four of the guys.  After that Bill wanted to watch one episode of “Magnum” before we hit the sack.  We didn’t realize the one we started was a two parter which they rolled into one and it was one o’clock by time it finished.  
     I wrote up the “bio” to send in to the publishers for the “One Skein” wonder book in which my pattern will appear.  Today has been a nice summery day, but not too hot.  I guess the hot part is coming over the next several days.  I made five quilted bibs this afternoon.  Now I have to find the bias binding I bought to finish them!  As I wrote that it suddenly occurred to me to look under the pile on the cutting table and there was the bag from my last shopping trip to Joann Fabric with the bindings!
     I watched a couple more episodes of the “Monarch of the Glen” while the bibs were stitching out.  I knit on the baby blanket while watching the show.  I came back out front around four o’clock.  We watched a bit of the news and then resumed the “Magnum” series.  We took a break to fix some dinner.  We watched a couple more episodes and then had another break for dessert.  Bill is watching a documentary at the moment so that I can relate my news for the day, such as it is.  
     I glanced out the window this afternoon when I was embroidering and a hummingbird was hovering outside the window looking in.  When I came out here to the dining room table for something, I noticed that the hummingbird feeder was nearly bone dry.   Bill fetched it and I put a full load of juice in it this time.  
     Oh yes, I picked up the sweater I knit for my sister that didn’t get finished for last Christmas.  I finished the knitting awhile back but hadn’t put the buttons on.  Then I decided I’d send it for her August 17 birthday.  Well, faith and begorrah, I laid the sweater out on the bed to measure it and discovered that it is only 44 inches wide when buttoned, not 48 like I thought I was doing.  Thank goodness I didn’t send it without checking.  Now I’ll have to find someone who can use it as soon as I get the buttons sewn on.  I want to get that done and out of here, and now I have to come up with Plan 2 for Linda’s birthday.  
      My other big excitement for the day was calling to schedule a mammogram and my first bone density test.  Those will be done on July 1 and then I’ll have my “female” exam on July 9.  A fun month, eh?  Now we can get back to “Magnum” and my blanket knitting.  I’m about ready to join the last skein of yarn.  When this one is done I would like to resume work on the pretty green one I’m doing for Ellen’s Christmas present and it uses the needles I’ve been using on the Baby Clouds blankets.  
     My nose has given me a fit since noon so a Benadryl will be in order when I go to bed tonight.  Sigh….

The apostle Peter told us that in the last days scoffers would say of Jesus’ return: “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation” (2 Peter 3:4).  Scoffers are with us today, just as Peter warned. Are you among them? Or are you ready for the Lord Jesus to return? Ignoring these signs is even more dangerous than living in the shadow of the Fire Mountain.   — C. P. Hia

Signs of His coming multiply,
Morning light breaks in eastern sky;
Watch, for the time is drawing nigh—
What if it were today? —Morris
© Renewal 1940, by F. M. Lunk. Assigned to Hope Publishing Co.

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June 23, 2008

5:47 PM

Computer Zombie

     Doris called yesterday afternoon.  She and Frank are visiting her mother in Pennsylvania.  They will be there for another week before returning home to Thunder Bay, Ontario.  Bill talked to his friend Mike and he and his wife are leaving soon to visit their daughter in Ireland.  Bill’s brother Doug and his wife Claudia left today for a month in Europe.  We checked out what’s going on in Leavenworth, the Bavarian village over in Eastern Washington.  Reign wants to go there so we’ll see what comes of that idea.
     I was doing computer stuff until 1:30 this afternoon – bills, orders, and work on Myra’s website.  My eyes were burning by then.  I took a break and stitched up a fleece toddler hat.  It may be hard to tell, but that is a penguin with a Santa type hat sleeping on a cloud, maybe.  The stitching wasn’t great as I hooped the fleece and then forgot to put a piece of stabilizer underneath to do the design.  Oh well… 



     It is going on six o'clock as I write this.  I’m going to post early tonight instead of winding up with it still undone when I’m ready for bed.  I’m not expecting too much excitement between now and bedtime.  Bill is taking a nap so I’m going to start watching Series 1 of “Monarch of the Glen.”  This is another one of the BBC television series which I usually like.  This one traces the adventures of Archie MacDonald, a London hipster-restaurateur summoned back to his Highland home to care for his sick father.  Of course, the estate is in a sad state of affairs – thus the series.  So we’ll see if this series grabs my fancy.
     
"We must walk consciously only part way toward our goal and then leap in the dark to our success." – Henry David Thoreau
 
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