YOU MIGHT BE FROM IDAHO IF…

THIS IS WHAT JEFF FOXWORTHY HAD TO SAY ABOUT IDAHOANS:

1. If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance and they don’t work there, you live in Idaho.

2. If you’ve worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you live in Idaho.

3. If you’ve had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed the wrong number, you live in Idaho.

4. If ‘vacation’ means going anywhere …south of Salt Lake City for the weekend, you live in Idaho.

5. If you measure distance in hours, you live in Idaho.

6. If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you live in Idaho.

7. If you have switched from ‘heat’ to ‘A/C’ and back again in the same day, you live in Idaho.

8. If you install security lights on your house and garage but leave both unlocked, you live in Idaho.

9. If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you live in Idaho.

10. If you design your kid’s Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit, you live in Idaho.

11. If the speed limit on the highway is 55 mph –you’re going 80, and everyone is still passing you, you live in Idaho.

12. If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow, you live in Idaho.

13. If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter, and road construction, you live in Idaho. 

14. If you find 10 degrees ‘a little chilly’ you live in Idaho.

15. If you actually understand these jokes and forward them to all your IDAHO friends, you live in Idaho.

Hail, Cold, Sun and Wind

Today proved the point about waiting until May 10 - 15th to plant. We had all kinds of weather today! While we wait it out there have been signs that Spring is here - at times.

Bob took these pictures tonight of the sunset, barn and our "way back", after repairing the chicken coop in the barn that some animal is trying to get into.

Frank's room above...

My seedlings finally made it into a newly cleaned greenhouse thanks to Bob - but so did the wasps!

Here's a painting project I was working on before I bulged all the discs in my neck, pinching the nerves that give my hands and fingers fine motor controls, like writing and painting. This is a Jo Sonja design and the following pictures are my adaptations. They'll be filled with St. Nicholas cookie cutters, cookies molds, rollers and recipes.

Below are my painted boxes adapted to add Bishop's Staff, Saint Nicholas' name, Bible, and three gold balls he's always depicted with. Also doing just one angel underneath. St. Nicholas' Feast Day is December 6th and is celebrated with gifts, stockings, candies and FOOD! 

Some goodies for the boxes.

xox

Happy Birthday Liz, Pictures and Miscellaneous News

We've been busy this month! I have pictures of Liz on her birthday, the laundry/seedling room, the cross stitch projects I'm working on, new side bar quotes and books I'm reading, and news from up here.

Liz has been making her rounds for her '21 Acts of Kindness', but she also celebrated her 21st Birthday in various other ways: a home dinner, out with her brother and his friends, and at a local trendy bar with her friends. She had a really great week and great birthday!

Liz at 'Bardenay', a restaurant and distillery, with her very close friend Katie (who is married and  having a baby in July!)

Liz somehow injured the tendon of her left pinkie, so she had to put off her RCM test until November this year. She's trying to work some tennis (which she loves) in when the weather permits, which is about once a week, so far.



Liz and Bob do a lot together. She or Frank, and sometimes both of them, have lunch with Bob or attend police type award ceremonies, pot lucks, etc., and Liz usually volunteers.

Frank, Liz and Bob target practice this week using the rifles. Frank's friends from work, and local friends, also target practice often here. Liz took a gun course and target practices when she has time. Love her outfit! Little cold up here maybe?  

Julie groomed and 'gussied up' for the Spring.

Here's what I've been working on this past month and I'm almost done. It's a garden and I made it with our house/barn colors. I also changed the women to reflect myself, and Liz near the frog under the basket - they look a little less Victorian too.

***

ANNIVERSARIES OF THE HEART

Lately I've been collecting quotes - some quotes are really deep, other quotes are just too true, and strike me as funny! Here's a quote to start the Anniversaries of the Heart cross stitch project info:

"God would not have made me this creative if He wanted me to clean."

The 'house' (an old symbol for the soul) blocks are made like a calendar - snow in January, hearts in February, etc., and you can assign different people in your life, or family, based on what is in the block (colors, symbols, or month). They are laid out above and each has a leaflet with a picture and a chart (see pictures below). If a person or couple has children I add their initial or I'll add their parents' initial to a child's block.

I've already assigned the blocks to family members. When I work on a block I think of the person(s) being represented and add or changes colors and symbols to better represent them. While sewing I can think of the many ways they've influenced me over the years, I pray for their intentions and I'm thankful for them. 

This is my Mom's (Alta's) block above. I'm working on this block now (far right block on original below). I've made many changes on this block: added blackberries along left side, waves instead of Greek key, bigger and fewer windows on house, Chester and Lulu dogs instead of birds on bottom, different colors here and there. She likes tulips and there are many, and she's always had potted plants, so I picked this block for her.

From the top left: my Dad Frank, then Ed & Viola's block, then fourth from left is my sister Maeve, then my mother Alta's is unfinished. 

Gail & Bob's will be all the way on the left, second row, then Dick & Connie's, Al & Edna's,  Liz is fourth from the left, second row, then Chuck & Mikel Ann. 

Third row from left: Bruce and Sheri, Frankie, Chas and Alison/AJ,  and double block for us.

This  project will take a long time to do. I pick it up and put it down to do other, more seasonal projects - but I love the colors and the overall project itself. 

More pictures later as I make progress on it!

The 'seedlings' are taking over! And we can't get them out of the house and planted until May 15th to be safe from frost (it was 25 degrees last night!). The greenhouse has a a flat of strawberries and some volunteer Lemon Balm I potted and two pots of blueberries - but I close the GH door every night.

You can see Mom's kitchen slowly becoming a laundry room and my new Speed Queen washer! (Dryer comes in a couple weeks.)

SPINE/NECK NEWS

Well, I had my '20th Decompression/Appointment' checkup last week and although my Spine is much more fluid and the exercises help my pain, the main symptoms of my bulging neck discs are the same. My lower back is much better. So, based on what I've researched, I'm going to try the decompressions another 10 times, and after that I'll continue the exercises, home traction, inversion chair, maintenance appointments, and use the info I've learned.

Yawning Shadowfax

xox

Back To Square One

Happy Eastertide! The weather here has been warm for us, 65 - 70 degrees, but sometimes it's windy and overcast to remind us that it isn't Spring yet. We actually BBQ'd on Easter after Mass and had what I thought was a very relaxing, if not traditional, meal.

Liz has been gathering ideas for her '21 Acts of Random Kindness' she's doing to celebrate her 21st birthday coming up. I really like this idea. She has a lot of 'acts suggestions' from friends and family, but she would love more (especially cheap or free ideas) so leave a comment here below or send me, or her, an email. 

Some 'acts ideas' are: filling all the car meters on a busy street, bringing thank you's and candy to nurses at hospital and coloring books/crayons to hospitalized kids, lots of 'paying it forward' suggestions, bring free snacks for Frank's work - already done!, and more I can't remember. Much better idea than getting drunk because now 'you're old enough' - and, actually, she told a friend she's old enough to do a lot of things, but that doesn't mean she does them...She also has a Piano Performance exam in May for her Royal Conservatory of Music program that she's studying for (and fretting about!)

Frank is plugging away at work and online classes - busy boy. Bob is working hard around the house, he's trying to pick up my slack - there are definitely things I can't do  -yet - and trying to catch up with for his campaign year 'off'. As usual, he's in really good health, good shape and so FUNNY! With Bob, as you all know, his cup is always full and over flowing - mine is usually half empty and drying up rapidly, so, he really helps me to see the brighter side of things!

Speaking of my cup: I've been sick with a stomach/head cold bug for about a week and it has made my neck/spine problems much more painful and the other symptoms worse also. So I've been sort of back to square one while waiting for this bug to end so I can resume my treatments. More later on that!

Thank you for the funny email forwards, Easter and Get Well cards, good wishes and prayers! 

XOX