Is Spring Almost Here?

Yesterday was a beautiful day . . . can we hope that spring is here! 

I just saw the forecast for the upcoming week and there is a possibility of SNOW on Friday again.  I know it won't stay, but I'm so tired of winter.  I'm ready to wear my sandals everyday to work!  To not have to wear a coat (hate wearing a coat).  And green will be my favorite color for a while.  I love spring when the lawns come back to life and the trees bud out and we have beautiful trees with their full foliage.  A time of re-birth! 

Had a wonderful surprise on Saturday . . . my sister came to visit.  We took in the craft fair at the Grand River Center.  It was a real nice show.  Both of us left with something.  I found something for Charlotte for her birthday.  There was a surprise birthday party for her and her cousins over the weekend in Omaha which I didn't get to but can send her gift along with a few Easter goodies in the mail.  Omaha in a day (coming and going) is just too much travel for this old lady.  I could have gone down Saturday and stayed with Barb, but the party wasn't scheduled until 3:00 p.m. on Sunday and it would have been one late night for me and have to confess I'm not real thrilled about driving a long distance at night.  Will get to spend some time with the whole family on Mother's Day this year.  Have my ticket . . . ready to go and have some fun!

I spent some more time over the weekend working on a couple of projects for a friend.  Her granddaughters are all in dance and she asked me to make up a book for each of them.  She said she always sends flowers, etc., for their recitals, etc., and thought a book for each of them would be a nice memory.  I'll try and take some pictures of them and post later.  It's certainly something that I really enjoy making.  I sent home 2 books with Glee over the weekend.  I found a tutorial on-line on how to make the complete book, cover, binding, pages!  The first couple were a little slow but now it doesn't take me that long.  Have also expanded into some bigger size books.  Maybe if I get my butt in gear I can join a couple of the bigger local craft fairs this fall.  Have lots of ideas now to just tackle them!

My NCAA brackets sure took a beating.  I was doing okay until this weekend.  I'm out.  I had Iowa State going all the way to the championship game (was kinda hoping that would happen).  They had a great year and have a number of their players coming back for the next season.  Go Clones!!  I think Jim is the only one left with a possible winner in my group.  WTG Jim, now let's see if Florida can survive.

Christmas pictures . . . I have to post some of our pictures from our family fun day.

My beautiful grandchildren - family Christmas party.

 Our traditional family in front of the tree!

 Tristan got a Buzz Lightyear & Jackson helped him get it out of the package!

 Mike got his Mom a bike helmet, Glee added the visor!

 Mike got golf accessories!

 Beth got a housewarming gift from Barb!

 Great picture of Jackson & his new toy!

 Karsten & Ron got LED stocking caps!  Cool!

 Barb got me a new billfold.  Needed that one!

 Mike with two of his very favorite little people in the world!

 Santa's Helpers . . . Mike & Kari.

 The Sass/Foels Clan

 My tree & fireplace in my new home.

 The cousins . . . my how they've grown!

 Ron's special shirt.

 The black cat returned Christmas 2013.

Jackson & Tristan & the tree (someplace).

Oliver introducing Santa to his Mickey!

My son and his wife and children weren't able to make it back to Iowa for Christmas 2013 but Mandy posted some of these pictures on Facebook and I couldn't leave them out of my pictures.  I love the one of Oliver showing Santa his Mickey.  

I started this post with spring and ended with Christmas.  I think I have my seasons mixed up.  Hope you enjoyed the picture show!

Later . . .

Whether you like it or not . . . it's weather!

I hate to be one of the many that complains about the weather . . . but I can't help it!  Today is halfway decent (41 at the airport around 4:00 p.m.) but over the weekend it's supposed to get cold again.  Hopefully no snow is included in that forecast!!  I knew it was going to change . . . my foot hurts!  I've broken my left foot twice and the weather really does affect it from time-to-time.  It swells real nicely!! 

I've been working on some scrapbooking projects.  A friend of mine asked me if I could put together a 'dance' scrapbook for her granddaughters.  I've got one done.  Want her to see it before I do anything more for her.  Make sure she likes it and wants it made that way.  She has 3 granddaughters and they all do the dance routine so instead of always getting them flowers, etc., for each recital she thought having a book made that they can put their pictures and keepsakes in was a good idea.  I think it is too.  I wouldn't have thought of something like that, but it sure will be a nice keepsake.  Hope she likes the one I finished.

My daughter should be arriving back in the States tomorrow.  She's been vacationing in New Zealand for the past couple of weeks.  The pictures she's sent back sure makes New Zealand look like a nice place to visit!  Don't know if I could handle the 18 hours plane ride but she said it was all worth it.  Will be nice to spend some time with her when she gets back.  And maybe she'll bring back some of that nice weather she's been enjoying while gone.  I would love to open my windows one of these days!!!

Entered an NCAA bracket contest.  It's just mainly the family.  I guessed at the majority of it and have already goofed up on a couple of teams.  Guess I better check on-line with my brackets and see just how bad I really did.  Lots of basketball this weekend, plus a NASCAR race on Sunday!  Spring is on it's way!!

Later . . .

My darling grandchildren!

My daughter-in-law (Mandy) is a photographer, and a darn good one, I might add.  She has a project going for this year (2014) of taking a picture a day of her children.  It's a great way for those of us that live further away from them to keep in contact.  Just wanted to share some of my favorites!

Oliver on a train ride.  Jesse & Cheryl were in Georgia a couple of

weekends ago, and this is one of the shots that was taken.

He's such a cutie!!!

Charlotte's new wheels!  Doesn't she look like she's having a ball!

Oliver and his best buddy.  Since this picture was taken Buzz has

been replaced . . . with Woody!

Mandy and the kiddos drove back to the Omaha area between Christmas

and New Year's and when they came back home had car problems

in Kentucky.  This is a pic of Oliver waiting around in their

hotel room!

We saw Charlotte riding along, there she goes down the street!!!  Wheeee!

One of the pics on Jim & Mandy's Christmas card.  My darling little princess

is certainly growing into a very pretty young lady.

Love this picture of Jim & Charlotte.  

Another Christmas card picture.  Aren't they the cutest?!!!

These are some of my favorite pictures of the past couple of months.  I especially like the one of Jim & Charlotte.  And the Christmas card pics are great.  They were taken in one of Georgia State's parks.  I'm not real familiar with the area that Jim lives in, but hope to in the near future.  I'll be spending Mother's Day with my children and grandchildren in Georgia!  I'm really excited about the trip and having some quality time with my family!!

Later . . .

Forever!

Well, it's been like forever . . . I will try to update my blog more often.  To be truthful, I've had all kinds of trouble getting in and out of some of my blogs, emails, etc.  Hopefully that is now all behind me!!!

It's been a long winter . . . cold, very snowy and dreary.  Rain is predicted for today with the possibility of sleet and snow later in the evening.  I hope they're wrong.  I'm so tried of winter.  I've shoveled more snow this winter than I have in years.  The lot is plowed so that everyone can get in and out of their units but they take a big swing around the corner of my garage and I usually end up with a drift or two in front of the door plus the leftovers from plowing!  Oh well, spring is right around the corner (I hope).

Lots of changes in my life since I last wrote anything . . . my hours have been cut at work.  I no longer have any benefits (that sucks) and I'm trying to adjust to all of this.  I can work up to 24 hours a week (or 48 hours per paycheck).  By only working that amount of hours I am not eligible for benefits from my employer.  It's been tough.  I love my new apartment (unit) but I'm not sure that I'm going to be able to afford it in the future.  I began collecting on my social security last April (2013).  Thank goodness.  It gets me through each month but with not much to spare.  I'm looking into other places to live but really do love my new place.  

EXCEPT I've had some problems with mice . . . I live right next to a field where they love to live and play (if mice play).  In November I was invaded with the little critters!  Thanks to my landlord and a very good friend, I think we're rid of them.  I have to admit that I'm scared of mice.  I know, I know . . . they're just little critters that scurry around in the night and make messes . . . but I don't like them very much.  My friend Marilyn came over on more than one occasion and removed some of them for me.  Thank goodness for great friends like Marilyn.  All that I have left of that experience is a scratching in the walls (I think whatever it is -- is in the plumbing wall).  When Barbie was home for Christmas she heard it and so did a friend of mine that was here one day repairing my computer!  My landlord thinks I'm loosing it, but I really can hear scratching or some such noise all the time.  It comes and goes so I think whatever it is can move about the walls.  For some time the majority of my pantry (anything the little critters could get into) was in my oven and microwave!  I purchased a lot of containers to keep anything in a box in the pantry.  Probably wasn't a bad idea to start with!!

In October/November my son and his family (and my darling grandchildren) moved to Atlanta, GA.  I miss them terribly.  We were able to Skype at Christmas and see the Grands open presents and talk to them for a bit.  I have since lost my Skype application and haven't been able to talk to them since.  I'll get that fixed soon.  I will share some Christmas pictures later.  My Grands are growing so fast.  Oliver is running all over the place, talking up a storm and just being a healthy little boy.  He wasn't talking much at all when they left.  Charlotte is just being Charlotte . . . a beautiful little girl that is growing into a fantastic little lady!  Mandy is busy getting her photography business going in Georgia.  Barb was able to go down for Thanksgiving and brought back some great pictures of all of them.  Jim accepted a position with his company in Atlanta but they actually live in a suburb (about a 45 minute drive for him).  They got hit by snow storms a couple of times this winter.  Once Jim even got stranded in the City.  

My daughter has given me my Mother's Day present early . . . tickets to Atlanta for Mother's Day!  I will be able to spend that holiday with my children (all 3 of them) and my wonderful grandchildren.  I'm really excited about the trip.  Barbie is currently on vacation in New Zealand . . can't wait to see all the pictures and hear all about the country.  What a trip!!!  18 hours in the air and losing a whole day on the way there, of course, she'll gain some of that back when she comes home!!!

Had a great Christmas here in Iowa.  It was my sister's turn to host our gathering.  We missed Jim & family.  Barb and I drove up on Christmas Eve evening and spent some time with just Ron & Glee.  We played some cards, had our traditional oyster stew and chili and all kinds of other goodies that Glee made!!  It was great fun.  Christmas Day Beth, Karsten, Jackson and Tristan, and Mike & Kari joined the rest of us for brunch, lots of conversation and opening presents and like Barbie says "more grazing" in the kitchen!  Came home to be able to visit with Jim, Mandy, Charlotte & Oliver!  It was wonderful.  And to top off the holiday, Barbie stayed until Saturday with me.  It was so much fun having her here.  (And we always get a lot of stuff done.  Put up some more pictures - got a wonderful canvas from Jim & family - and got rid of some more stuff.  I'm sure Goodwill loves me by now!)  

I continue to work on scrapbooking projects.  I found a tutorial online on how to make a complete book.  The covers, binding, pages - everything and made quite a few of them for Christmas gifts.  I love scrapbooking.  It keeps me sane and some days I need that!!!!  I'm hoping to stockpile some of my books and try to work a few craft fairs here in the Dubuque area this coming fall.  One of these times I'll try and post some pictures of what I'm doing.

Well, I think I've rambled on for enough this time around.  

Later . . .