Woo-hoo!

After weeks of work, sweat, and frustration (well, 3 weeks) I've got an offer on my house! I would imagine all the signatures will be in place by tomorrow or so, and we're looking at a closing date of May 22nd. Needless to say, I'm excited, and looking forward to this next phase of my life.

Will there be tears of sadness as I prepare to depart? I don't think so, though I do like my neighbors and will miss the evening chats while watering the lawn or just sitting out in the yard. There was an element of emotion when I sold my house in Burleson, but I think that was because I had raised my kids there and it held so many memories. Now I think its a sense of finding where I want to make some new roots, and the anticipation of meeting new people and discovering new roads.

New beginnings. Sounds good, doesn't it?

The Aargh and The Fun

You know, this business of selling a house could really get a person down if you let it. I mean, you work to get the house ready to sell, cleaning from top to bottom. Clear out clutter. Then you wait for it to show. Then you wait for a comment or offer. Then you wait some more.

I try not to take it personal. Why isn't my house showing? Do they like what they see? If it's good enough for me, why isn't it good enough for them? Or, if it's not good enough for me to want to stay here, how can I expect someone to want it? I know, I know. Don't overthink it.

And I also know that I've only been into this a relatively short time. It's been listed with the realtor all of 2 1/2 weeks now. Sigh. Patience, Elsie, patience.

On a brighter note, I went to the Main Street Arts Festival in Fort Worth today, and it was really nice. John and Bonnie joined me, and we strolled around Sundance Square taking it all in. I learned about egg tempera (egg white mixed with powder for the paint), and how one artist was able to get the effect of light cascading over her subjects/characters (working and working repeatedly using water and a fan brush till she was satisfied). I think that was the best part of it, that the artists were right there and you could visit with them about their craft. That, and the fact we went on Friday instead of the weekend, when I'm sure it will really be packed.

What else has been going on? It has been a couple of weeks since I've posted, so let me scratch my brain a bit, and see.

I went to the Botanical Gardens with Robert and his family last weekend. First time I'd been in years, and it was beautiful. Elizabeth and David had gone, and we decided to visit. Well actually, Robert and Angela decided and asked if I wanted to join them. Anyway, it was perfect weather, and quite enjoyable. In the picture that I'm attaching, you may notice Rhett holding a shoe. Ashlynn's shoe had fallen into the water, and after Dad tried to get it, we gave up and started to head on down the path. Rhett was upset that we weren't getting Sister's shoe, so Dad found a long enough twig (as you see in the picture) and was able to reach it before it drifted out too far, and pull it in. Rhett was happy, and good brother that he is, had looked out for his sister.

Anyway, that's it for now. Life is good.

Thought this was cute

The kids were over last weekend, and Rhett enjoyed the waterhose as Ashlynn and I just looked around the yard. In the first picture you can see Rhett examining and getting acquainted with the hose. Now look at the little-boy grin in the second picture, and guess what might have caused it! Just click on the picture to bring it big enough to see his expression.

number magic

As I'm sorting through things in preparation of moving, I come across all kinds of good stuff. The bulletin board in my sewing room held a variety of items that have drawn my attention for one reason or another. I had pictures cut from magazines of hair styles I liked, as well as clothes. These pretty well got tossed since they had been there for years and I just don't wear dresses or skirts anymore. There were pictures of upholstery projects that I will get to someday, and ideas for future paintings. Also, some quilt blocks in anticipation of time or inspiration to complete. My favorite is a picture of an old truck that I'd love to have the ability to restore. I'm keeping it just because it speaks to me. Underneath the layers were a few Reader's Digest articles, pretty much "bloom where you're planted" pieces full of feel-good words. At the bottom of the page of one of these articles was one of the filler items Reader's Digest is known for. Here it is:

Take your house number and double it. Add five. Multiply by half a hundred, then add your age (if you're under 100). Add the number of days in a year, and subtract 615. The last two figures will be your age; the others will be your house number.

Now, if you're over 100 I don't know what you do but you probably don't care about the silly thing anyway. And I used the standard year, not leap year.

Try it, just for grins.

Gracie handbag

Thought I'd share my latest project. This is the Gracie Handbag by Lazy Girl Designs. I had seen the tutorial on it, found the pattern at Joann's where I could use my 40% off coupon, and made it up this weekend. It has 6 pockets inside, and is nice and roomy. I've added a link to the tutorial for your pleasure. Check the sidebar. It's a Kaye Woods site, and you just click on the button to browse the video list. Gracie's handbag is one of the videos, and you might enjoy some of the others listed.

If I get ambitious, I may make it up in patriotic colors for this summer.
Now that I've made one, the next one should come together pretty quick. This one took several hours, but there were interruptions thrown in when I worked in the yard a bit, did some laundry, took a nap, etc. ...

Christmas in March

Back in the early Fall I went to a quilting retreat with several ladies. One of our projects was to make 30 log cabin blocks in assorted Christmas prints. The centers were to be red (duh), with light prints to one side, and the darker prints to the other. Then we were to also have one larger block, which would be equivalent to 4 of the smaller ones. For the month prior to the retreat I worked just about every night, sewing my log cabins together. About two nights before the retreat, I was able to put my fingers on a Santa that I had embroidered a couple of years ago. That Santa became the center of my large block.

At the retreat, we proceeded to swap our log cabins with each other. By doing so, we each had a wide variety of Christmas prints for our quilt. I put mine on the design wall, and played with the layout for a bit, and finally bit the bullet and sewed it together. After I got home, it set to the side for a couple of months until I finally figured out how I wanted to finish it. You see, initially it was square, and I wanted a more rectangular shape for the finished quilt. I found some border materials that I added, and afterwards took it to my friend Ty to quilt.

If you're acquainted with a professional quilter, you know how busy they are. Since it was into December before I got it to Ty, I told her not to rush, and to get to it when she could. She then had some family concerns that kept her busy for several weeks, but just this past week she returned my quilt to me, ready to bind. I was blown away. Yes, my handiwork was pretty. But wow, the quilting really set it off. She quilted little snowflakes throughout, and put some definition into Santa's beard and the fur on his Santa suit.

Hopefully these pictures will do it justice (double click on the picture to enlarge and see it better). I know Christmas is a long ways off, but I had to share.

Granny and Grandpa's bear escapade

In going through files and closets and drawers to see what I can get rid of, I came across this keeper. Mom wrote this in May, 1972, as a letter to Virgil, and Sue made me a copy. After putting it back in the file yesterday, just this morning I had to think about which folder it was in. I decided it wouldn't take long until it would be forgotten in the drawer, again, and never see the light of day. If I want my kids to be able to read it in my lifetime, this is probably the best place to put it!

After Dad retired, they worked for a summer or two at a camp in Idaho. They were living in a small trailer, so small that the refrigerator sat outside on a little platform. These are her words:

"This happened a little after midnite a few nites ago.

From outside the trailer, there came a clatter.
I went to the window to see whats the matter.
Looking out I see the trees bathed in lovely moonlight
I stand for a minute, enjoying the sight.
But just in a sec another sound to my ear,
and looking again I see a BEAR.
But what is so amazing, so startling in fact...
he'd knocked our refrigerator off of the rack
laying face down, right flat on the ground.
I yelled at Grandpa, he came on the run...
but he took time to grab his old gun.
He opened the door, and stepped out in the night,
but ole Mr. Bear took off in a fright.
Mid discussion !*@! between Grandpa and me,
we lifted the refrigerator up as should be,
then opened the door and the sight you should see.
There's Grandpa in his shorts, me in my gown,
and scattered about us, there on the ground,
2 cartons of eggs, corn on the cob, tomatoes, cucumbers...
all in a blob.
Potato salad, made with such care,
spread at our feet...all which were bare.
To make matters worse, if it could be,
a spot light picks out Grandpa and me!
"Do you need any help, is everything ok?"
Then they turned the light the other way.
The vision they seen, and I don't really care,
wasn't a dream (more like a nightmare).
Me in my gown, up 'bove my knees,
and Grandpa in shorts. Why, we could about freeze.
We picked up the pieces then went back to bed
(wishing that ole bear had got a shot of that lead).
Next time, I bet we show him.
In front of the refrigerator, as the daylight grows dim,
we pull in the car, just as close as can be,
and we hope, as we turn off the light,
that we have that icebox closed in real tight.
But you never can tell, we'll just wait and see.
Maybe he can drive (but I'll hide the key).
We'll outwit him, you wait and see.
We're not beat yet...
Grandpa and me."

So is it any wonder that several in the family have an interest in being creative? It's in our genes!

(Hey Sue or Carl...if you get a chance would you scan a picture of Mom and Dad that I can add to this?)