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Bumps in Life

...oooooooooooooh soooooooooooooooo long ago that I posted to my blog. I'm probably the only reader now. It's Like reading a good book in a series, but you didn't know that when you started and you are just left hanging. Maybe it is a TV show that is really interesting and has you waiting for the end or the wrap up, and then -- WHAM, BAM , BOOM!-- They hit you with that kick in the stomach-"continued" word.

Well, you have to admitt that I didn't at least leave you with the dreaded "continue" word. I just left and haven't been back to post until now. Don't take it personally, remember "Q-tip", (quit taking it personally) lol. I didn't really leave you. I just took a break to do some cutting and sewing for the lottery blocks this month, and try to catch up on some other sewing that I need to do along with my many other responsibilities.

Everything was going well with the cutting and the stacking and I could even get to the machine. I had everything laid out to start sewing with my trusty pattern right at my side. Husband out of town and not a mouse to bother me. Only the dogs, and cats, who did their utmost to make-up for the fact that I had no other distractions. However, even they weren't going to stop me from my goal to get those lottery blocks done.

You see, since we started these monthly lottery blocks, I have always been right on the wire of getting them done and sent out at the last minute. This month I was determined to be an early bird. Funny how things work in one's life isn't it. I had every intention of starting the blocks earlier this month when my last story took place. Thus the perks of being able to get them in early at time, turned into peril when I was unable to use my right hand, and yes, I am right-handed. Foiled at that point, but I still had time.

My hand healed, and I was able to get the material cut, plus some other that needed to be cut too. Had it all laid out and ready to go. Sat down at My "Sea Legs", and turned him on!!!!! Remember dh is out of town---roflol-pimp!!!! I started sewing, and I was just going and going. Sea Legs was just humming, and humming. Soon, pieces were attached, and one by one they were added together. Soon I hit a delimma, and then I knew!!!

Well that was that!!! Sure are pretty blocks, too bad I can't send them. I will just have to keep them and make something with them myself. I made 4, and I really liked them. What I have been trying to do is always make twice as many as I send. That way I get to keep 1/2 of what I make, and also get entered in the contest by sending the other 1/2 to who ever won the previous month. So far it has worked out wonderful. I have at least 1 block from all the blocks that have been choosen, and at the end, I intend to make a lottery block quilt for that year.

This time I really messed up, and wasn't paying attention to the pattern. My blocks had a piece sewn to the wrong end, and thus my blocks are now spinning the wrong way or in the opposite direction then they are suppose to be spinning in. The blocks turned out great, except for this flaw. lol What a pattern reader I turned out to be. (laughing to myself-outloud). I'm reminded of the song from Hee Haw. (we often gathered around the tv at my grandparents house to enjoy watching and singing along with the hee-haw gang) Oh the immortal words that haunt me now--"Gloom, despair, and agony on me. If it weren't for bad-luck I'd have no luck at all. Gloom, despair, and agony on me, whooooooo is me. lol I just know that I'm gaining lots, and lots, of info by the tons, tons, tons. If I hadn't even attempted to do the blocks I know that I wouldn't have learn anything at all.

That also goes for if everything went just swimmingly perfect. How would I ever learn anything. It's the bumps and the pot holes on the road of life that teach us which way to go. These teach us how to maneauver through life's traffic. Think about it, we meet people everday of life on the road, some move in the fast lane and some in the slow, and some are all over the place. Eventually, we have to pass or change lanes. If we never had a bump or a pothole to deal with and never learned how to maneauver and just kept going straight all the time. Well, what a boring ride that would be. Or maybe it wouldn't be boring, but if you didn't budge look at all the wrecks you'd have!!! Either way, I am grateful for the bumps and potholes on my road. What about you.

Perks and Perils to living in the country.

Well, it's been awhile since I last and first posted. I feel that I must tell you that I haven't been able to type on the computer to post anything. You see, I live in the country and I love it. I was raised in the city, well the suburbs. Then I went to college, met and married my husband and that was the end of my city living. We have lived out in the country most of our married lives together. Sometimes, I must admit that I have missed the city life, but I soon adjusted to the ways of country living. Now, I am a full fledged country girl. Maybe not born and bred country by birth, and maybe not a farm girl to what most people think as a farm girl with the barn, pigs, cows, sheep, chickens etc. But, then again, to some extent, yes, I am.

I live in a house on a dirt road, with a long driveway, to which we often ask each other if we want to take a walk to go get the mail each day. We have several machines--IE, tractors, trucks tanks sprayers, etc. that are used in our business. Several animals are in the surrounding area-across the fence-donkeys and cows, and well though they aren't chickens, we do on occasions have quail, and peacocks running around in the yard. Once, I even saw a bobcat in our driveway, and told my husband. He didn't believe me, at first.Then he was out taking pictures and it cross the drive in front of him and he got it on camera. It didn't see him, but you could tell it heard the camera shutter click open and shut.

I was driving home the other night and I saw a fox, as I was on the way home. I just love to see the wildlife. I had never seen a deer or anything such as this before I met my husband except a goose-domestic of course, but that is another story for another time. The only animals I had seen where domestic or at the zoo. Never any wild animals in their natural habitat, except for maybe the birds and rabbits that invaded our yard/garden, oh and the squirrels.

There are a few wild things that I don't really want to run into, but have on occasion seen in the wild, especially down here. I wouldn't expect some of you to have the prospect of the same experience, when you live in the city. These type of creatures are not so fun to see, or be surprised by. I have had a few snakes in my yard, and I mean one was a nice big rattlesnake!!!

Actually, I had 2 in one year, and believe me, I wasn't happy!!!!! I had some other snakes in the yard before too, but, they weren't the poison kind. I try not to mess with, but try to protect the King snakes-they will kill the rattlesnakes. We also have lots of frogs, toads turtles--which are called gofers,(not the furry creatures on the prarie), down here for some reason--but they're the land turtles or tortoise. You really don't want to have these things around 'cuz the rattlesnakes cohabit with them. Also, if by chance you happen to have a pond on your property, you could very well have an alligator. Some of them aren't to fun to have around either. Many a pet have been made a meal out of by one of these varmints. Some people still think that it's

fun to feed the alligators--NOT WISE!!! People have been attacked too, and when alligators aren't afraid of man anymore, well let's just say that I could have been a widow the other day. Fortunately, this gator still had that innate fear of man and left him alone, or else, my hubby was well watch over by his guardian angel or extremely lucky or the gator wasn't hungry. You take your pick!!! I'm just glad my dear hubby is still here!!!

Anyway, getting back to why I couldn't type to post. I was out feeding the dogs-Did I mention that we have dogs and cats? Well, we do, quite a few of each actually. When I went to let them out to go to the bathroom so I could get their bowls and clean the kennels, they knocked over the big fan that we have out there to help keep them cool. Not only did they knock it over but they bent the fan blade, and it made a terrible racket. I thought it was going to come out of the frame and chop my head off kinda noise. I tried to turn it off but had to unplug it. That's when my son and I found that the blade had been bent along with the support for the frame-thus the horrific noise. Well, my son and I preceded to bend the fan blade back and the frame and put the grill back on the outside of the fan. He was putting the screws back in, so, I was going to help him and apply some counter pressure on the bottom of the fan frame with my hand. The instant I had placed my hand underneath the frame, I withdrew it in terrible pain. I had no idea what had happened. I mean it wasn't even a 1000Th of a sec and my finger was throbbing like something had been shoved up under my fingernail, but I couldn't see anything. It was stinging and throbbing. I instantly let go of the fan and grabbed my finger, and couldn't let go. If I let off pressure, it felt as if the pain was spreading up the joint and into the hand. With every beat of my heart the pain seem to worsen. I've been stung before-just recently in the back of all places when I was walking back to the house. However, this pain was so much different. There wasn't anything in sight, and I had to finally go in the house to tend to my finger and let my son carry on alone. Inside, the pain kept getting worse. I washed off the area, and poured bleach on it first!! Then my husband sprayed benadryl topical on the area several times. Next he went to the medicine cabinet and got the oral benadryl. I'm not even sure how much my husband gave me, maybe 150mg?? The pain kept on w/o easing off. We then put ice on the area and more sprayed on topical benadryl. Then we crushed an aspirin, mixed w/water and made a paste to put on it. More ice. After awhile I finally was able to relax. But, I was getting stuffy and it was kinda hard to breathe through my nose. So, I made my husband give me another antihistamine--this time a Loratadine(claritin, over the counter kind). My finger was red and swollen for several days. I'm finally able to type. I never did figure out what happened, although I've had a couple of people say that it could have been a scorpion sting. I think I was fortunate, 'cuz I don't think I got a full blown bite or sting. I feel that it could have been a whole lot worse than it was. My husband was really worried, and at one point he even thought that it might've been a snakebite.

He went out after he got me taken care of which wasn't too long and looked with a flashlight, but didn't see anything. Oh, yea, I forgot to tell you that this all took place about the time the sun was going down. I just didn't know I was going to be out there more than a few minutes. How was I suppose to know that the dogs were going to cause all this commotion. When we were working on the fan, I had to go and turn a light on so we could see. Thus, the perks and Perils of country living.

Smiles to you.

Isn't this cute! There is a funny story about this little thing. I wasn't even a quilter when I received this from a friend of mine. As a matter of fact, quite a few of the sewing decor that I possess, I some how received before I started sewing/quilting. I Love this little figurine so very much, as it serves more than one purpose. It reminds me of my friend and also of all my quilting friends. It sure is a special little thing with a big responsibility.

My grandmother was a quilter and did quite a few crazy quilts. She inspired my cousin, to get all of us grand kids and younger aunts/uncles-(My grandma had 12 children and my Mom was the 2ND, so I had some aunts and uncles close to my age) to work on a quilt. This quilt was one in which He, yes I said "he", took an old blanket and then we preceded to sew scraps on to the blanket. I really don't remember how it really turned out, but I believe He still has it. I do think we finished it and my grandma was pretty excited that we got together to do something that she loved to do and do it together.

My Sister and I now quilt and talk a lot about quilting, fabrics, patterns, and such now. We both have quilts from our mother that she hand-quilted and I have a crazy quilt from my grandma. I don't know about my sister though. Hopefully, one day we will be able to get our children interested in quilting and carry on the tradition. As of now, they're too busy with children and being young to be interested.

I belong to a quilting group, that I have done some blocks recently for the group's lottery, and I am really learning bunches by getting involved and doing the blocks. I realize that I can't be afraid to try. So, I know that if I'm going to learn anything and get any better, I will just have to do as much as I can to practice, practice, practice!!! Thus, if I had any words to share for any of you that are new to quilting,it would be don't be afraid to try!!! Just go for it, like Nike says. Believe me when I say that I have become an expert at "FROGGIN"!!! In other words, ripping out stitches, and trying again. Remember, NO ONE IS PERFECT!!! Smiles