A Winner

My son stopped over to pick up Kyle and I had him draw a winner for the book and apron. Can you tell how seriously he took his job!!!??? And the winner is.......
Amy! Congratulations Amy. Just e-mail me your address and your color/theme preferences for your apron. I will get the apron done within the week and mail out your package by next Monday...knock on wood. I want to thank everyone for taking the time to stop here and read about my days. My Aunt Pete, who reads my blog, told me she enjoys all the nice people who leave comments here. I do have the best readers! You have to be loyal if you continue to frequent a blog that has pictures of dead flies on their window sills!

Our weekend was quiet. I took a little blogging break. TJ spent the night on Saturday and woke up at 6:30 am on Sunday morning. I could hear him through the monitor saying, "Gramma, Gramma, up, please." over and over. I went and got him and put him in my bed....not gonna work. He was ready to get UP. So he did. I am so proud of my son's family. I started to think about Rachel and how she has affected our family. My daughter in law is about the best thing to happen to us. She is loved by all of her husband's extended family and I think my dad actually adores her!!! She is the BEST mom ever!! I NEVER worry about my grandson. It is difficult to call her my daughter in law, because I love her as much as my own children. She has supportive grandparents, and aunts and uncles, but they all live over an hour away, so we have become her parents more than her in laws. She calls us Mom and Dad, and has from the beginning. She is the love of my son's life and the light of ours! She is such a loving mother that when another baby was born by the womb, she took that baby into her home and cared for and loved him for 6 months until he could be placed with his adoptive family. Her decision was instant and I even tried to talk her out of it. I thought it would be way to hard...I knew first hand how difficult a drug baby can be. She did a fabulous job with him. Because she did this, that little baby stayed in our (and his) extended family. He was not a placid infant. She had TJ who was 18 months old and then this itty bitty drug addicted baby who was constant care, knowing all along she would have to give him up. When she saw him recently on his trip to Illinois for his adoption, she was so thrilled.A mother's heart. That is what Rachel has.
Now Rachel is a very beautiful girl...I should say woman...but she is absolutely stunning when she is pregnant. Her face actually glows and her eyes get very light. I will make sure to take pictures and show you! She has changed our entire family, both with her own presence and also with the gift of our grandson, and now again with another grandchild. How blessed we are that our son found her. I pray our other children are as blessed in their choices of marriage partners. We love you Rachel!!!!

Weeks End

Isn't it GORGEOUS!!!! Jenny made this pillow for me through the Pay It Forward group. I must tell you, in the card she sent with it, she said this is her first real crochet project. I am in awe! I have always been so impressed by Jenny's abilities. She does the most incredible stitchery, dolls, quilting and she recently knit a gorgeous sweater! Now to see this crocheted pillow...well I am just speechless! Thank you so much Jenny. It has a place of honor in my sewing room, which matches perfectly I might add!

I already have my PIF gifts planned, though I will not start them until February. Thanks for being patient!

Thank you all for your well wishes concerning my new Grandbaby. I am still walking on a cloud. I sent TJ a little e-mail smiley that says "Grandma Loves You." and had to go back and address it to "TJ and our new baby". One Grandbaby has been wonderful...two will be twice as wonderful. Pray for Rachel..she likes to sleep and eat when she is pregnant! teehee. TJ was not too long..a standard 21 inches, but he weighed almost 10 pounds. If you look at my profile pic, he was only 2 days old there. Rachel had no meds, no epidural..nothing..though not by choice. I thought she was going to rip that nurses head off when she was told she could no longer get the promised epidural as she was too far along in her labor. She had begged for it earlier only to be told by the same nurse, it was to soon to get it.

I spent a piece of yesterday marking and basting my 4 Season Swap piece. I should take the first quilting stitches in it this evening. While going through stencils, I found a little crazy quilt mini I had pieced together years ago. I used the machine to do some embroidery stitches along the seam lines. I had planned to use a little lace iron on and some buttons for embellishments, but never got around to it. I have a love for the old time crazy quilts and have always wanted to make one. I think I will add it to my list of things for 2008. Just a wallhanging of about 30x30. I will use velvets and silks and do all handwork for the embellishments. Hmmmm, more planning. For today, I will get school going, and do my dailies. I have accomplished the deep cleaning in my new monthly schedule for the 3rd week of the month. I should look at the 4th week and plan which days next week I will be able to check those jobs off. Friday is the day I do the floors here. The hardwood floor needs to be done every other week and this is the week. I was reading Monique's blog this morning and followed a link. This quote jumped out at me for today. I will leave you with it as I go start my morning.

"The maid who sweeps her kitchen is doing the Will of God just as much as the Monk who prays, not because she may sing a Christian hymn as she sweep, but because God loves clean floors." --Martin Luther

It's Official!!!

I am going to be a Grandma again!!! No...I had no idea when I posted the other day about TJ growing up and me missing that Grandbaby stage. I found out last night, but was told to keep it quiet until they went to the doctor, which they did today. The new baby's due date is September 16th. Lots to plan...a new quilt, maybe a baby blanket, knit or crochet...I want to learn both. I just LOVE being a Grandma and to have grandchildren is such a blessing!!!! Thank you Lord!

Daily Life

The washer is running, the beds are made, showers done, big guys off to work, and little people doing math. A great start to the day!!! Zach had some trouble getting going...look at this yawn! But, he got his test out of the way and is working diligently on his lesson. Charlotte too, is working hard. She got through "problem solving" with no assistance for the second time this year! Problem solving is very difficult for her. It requires the use of the part of her brain that is not all the way plugged in...very common in neglected kids. Just knowing this makes a difference in the frustration levels. Understanding is key with these kids. She was very proud of the fact that she "worked it out"...her words. Both of my kids get a schedule every Monday. This tells them what is required and helps me to know what needs to be pulled and put into their "to do" folders. Wednesday we have Co-op with some neighboring home schoolers. Yesterday we played Math Jingo (like bingo) and Food Jingo...they also enjoyed a game of Trouble. For 1st graders this is a great game for counting, sportsmanship, and logistics. Zach likes to get all his pieces "home" at once! He has to plan this out perfectly and not get sent back! When it works out, he is thrilled!

Sweet Hubby worked in the kid's bathroom yesterday. He re-caulked the tub and sink, painted the ceiling and walls, re-stained all the cabinet fronts and wood work, and framed out the mirror. This took 2 days, as he spent Sunday on the project too. He is very nice to have around!!! Here you can see the wood trim he added to the mirror. It had nothing around it before and this really adds a finished look to it. Also, you can see the wonderful taupe color he painted the walls against the white counter. He even picked up new rugs and a shower curtain liner. I will take the kids to pick out a shower curtain. He really did a nice job! Well TJ is coming for a quick visit while his mom and dad run an errand. My son starts trucking school in the next week or so. I am really proud of him working so hard to take care of his family. I plan to relax this afternoon as my pot of chili simmers and flip through this...
Blessings, Bren

200th Post G!veaway!!!

No, I am not giving a trip to Disney World!! I am however giving you the chance to make your house a castle!! My g!veaway to celebrate my 200th post is my favorite homemaking book "The Messies Manual" by Sandra Felton and a custom made-by-me apron for the winner. The cover of the book will be different (mine is OLD) and the apron fabric will be chosen based on the winner.

For those who do not care or have a need for housework, you will not be sorry to win this book. It is written with humor and wisdom all mixed together. There are categories of Messies. Here they are with a little explanation (my own) to each one...do you see yourself in any of them?? I do.

The Perfectionist Messie: When you clean, you do it very thoroughly. Problem is, it takes to long to do the job to your standard, so though your oven is sparkling perfection (the job you just did) the rest of the kitchen is trashed!

The Rebellious Messie: You have issues from your childhood. Your mom was a cleanie and insisted you be one too. You will show her!!!!

The Relaxed Messie: You rationalize your need to kick back at home. You worked hard all day and the housework will wait. Or you spent all day taking care of the kids and it will not say on your tombstone how clean your house was (By the way, a Messie came up with that saying!)

The Sentimental Messie: Your house is over taken with all your kids beautiful artwork. You have your teenagers baby teeth in the junk drawer, and of course you couldn't possibly get rid of anything you have!!!

The Spartan Messie: You get rid of everything in order to maintain your house. This means you really do not have to do any work, because there is nothing to clean. You have considered roping off that room...no one needs to be in there anyway! You sleep on top of the made bed with a blanket so when you get up the bed is already made!

The Clean Messie: Even though your house is a mess, everything is clean. The piles of laundry laying on your couch have been washed and dried...shoot they may even be folded....but they are not put away. Your sinks are filled with dishes...but they are clean. The beds are unmade, but the sheets have been changed and the clutter that graces your bathroom sink has some sort of order to it...in your own mind.

The Safe Messie: This Messie decides that it is better to let the bed air out all day instead of make it. She believes that air drying the dishes is safer (no germs from the dish towel) and she cares more about the environment being safe than her home being clean.

The Old Fashioned Messie: You love the old fashioned ways. You wash your floors on your hands and knees or not at all. You bake from scratch and have never bought a cookie. You have a motto: Do it right or not at all!! Most of the time, it is not at all!

The Idealistic Messie: You are such a dreamer that you rarely even know your house is a mess. You have lots of wonderful ideas and thoughts and they consume all your time. What you do not realize is your creativity and thoughts would flow so much better in a clean environment.

So....what kind of Messie are you??? This book will help you find out and give you all the keys to making your messy house a neat orderly home. No perfection, but it takes work! Leave a comment so you can strap on your new apron and start creating a beautiful home! Oh, and if you are a Cleanie, still leave a comment...I am sure you KNOW a Messie! Winner will be announced Monday morning!

Incase you were wondering....I am a Relaxed Messie.

Tackle It Tuesday

Today's tackle is a little different. It is really a list of little things that need to get done. I think this is my 26th Tackle It Tuesday....once you get that far into it, there is not much left to tackle...at least not the manageable jobs. I still have the basement, which is a couple of months of Tackle It Tuesdays, and I could work on painting...I really dislike painting. This week, I had a few things that were not big deals, but they were things that I needed to "tackle". Of course I got Kyle back down stairs and my sewing room back in order. Look at the cute sign he made me. It was a thank you for the "Motel" stay. He is such a good kid! He loves gorillas and thinks everyone else must too.

He was very formal in using my whole name and not Mom, or Bren. This tells me it was important to him. It is on my desk!

I also put my own book basket together. I am reading through the Messie Manual again and I got out my favorite John Maxwell book. Add that to my Bible and Come Away My Beloved devotional and I am set. I am afraid I have made it appear that I am a wonderful housekeeper. I have had lots of comments and e-mails saying as much. Sweet Hubby giggles at this. Believe me when I tell you, it does not come naturally. I just really LOVE the feel of an orderly home and the effect it has on my kids is priceless, therefore it is worth the effort. I am not a perfectionist, but I think lots of quilters are. You would think being a perfectionist would mean a clean and orderly home. In rare cases that is true, however, in most cases, a perfectionist has a very untidy, borderline, dirty home. Why? Because they feel they can not do it to meet their perceived level of perfection, so they do not bother...they move on to something else more manageable, like a quilt, or a knitted shawl, or a scrap booking page...something they feel in control of. (don't get offended if you are a "messie"...I am naturally one too.) I am grateful I am not a perfectionist or I would not even begin to tackle my daily chore list. Most days it does not get completed...a goal set and missed is better than no goal at all...and a perfectionist would see that as a huge failure and not even try. If you are a perfectionist with a messy house and think you just can not do it, you should read the Messie Manual by Sandra Felton. In fact, I am one post away from my 200th post. Come back tomorrow and see what I have to celebrate!

Zach decided he wants to learn all the Presidents. George Washington is his favorite. I will try and work that in. He loves to learn. Miss Charlotte is feeling something. I need to have some alone time with her today. She is bothered by something and is needing to control her environment...meaning my environment. We will do something mother/daughter today.

I want to applique the final piece on this orphan block and mark it. It just needs a circle in the middle to finish the Wagon Wheel. This block was used in the Underground Railroad quilt, but later represented the wagon trains that moved west to California. It will make a nice little wallhanging or table topper.

A trip to the grocery store, clean linens put on the beds, and a relaxing afternoon stitching on a tea towel and basting the 4 Seasons Swap piece and Wagon Wheel, and my day is complete. American Idol starts tonight and my friend comes every Tuesday for dinner and the show.

I will leave you with a quote from John C. Maxwell's book "Success, One Day At A Time"

"The highest reward for your work is not what you get for it, but what you become by it."

---John C. Maxwell

A Little Of This And Alot Of That

Kyle got off to work and had a wonderful day. I want to thank everyone for your prayers! He is doing very well. Sweet Hubby on the other hand was home today. Not the usual, but things went smoothly. I did my deep clean of the powder bath and worked in my sewing room after finishing my normal daily chores. I only had 1 load of laundry, which was towels, so that was easy. TJ took his coat to his mom and said "Go to Grandma's house please." How can I resist?? He came for a couple of hours and really just wanted to play with Charlotte and Zach. They were done with school, so they spent the first half of his time here with him and then he managed to share himself with me and PawPaw. He loved this math manipulative.

Niki tagged me for the 7 random things meme. I have done this a couple of times and thought I could not come up with anything else, but with my mom and sister's help here goes:

1. I met Sweet Hubby the first day of high school. We were 13 & 14. We never dated until we graduated 4 years later, though he was my first kiss the year we met....(that doesn't sound good does it?)

2. All my uncles call me Bunny and have since I was 2.

3. I can't swim and am afraid of water.

4. I collect children's book with a quilt related theme.

5. A year and a half ago, I introduced my friend (of 28 years) and my cousin to each other. They fell in love and are living together. I can't talk her into getting married.

6. Several years ago, I drove a car 10 miles with the horn honking every two seconds. I had triggered the alarm and did not know how to turn it off. Very embarrassing.

7. I have never broke a bone or had surgery. (My little toe may have been broken last year??)

I am to tag 7 others. I want to tag new-to-me blogs so I tag Idaho Quilter, Steph, Coleen, Kelley, Monique, Tammy, and even though she is not new to me, she has the BEST sense of humor and I am in the mood for a laugh...Corin (please do it even if you already did, and make me laugh!!!)

I also want to thank MarilynR and Gudrun for the sweet "You Make My Day" award. I love both of your blogs. You are truly creative and I get inspired every time I visit either of you. I pass it on to the blogs I just tagged for the 7 Random Things Meme, along with Katie. Katie really made my day this past weekend! Thank you!

Also, Donetta gave me this award and I want to thank you! I am so honored to even "know" Donetta. Here is what the originator of the award said:
"So here's to all the blogs that you've discovered that you can't possibly live without. They make you laugh, cry, think and feel connected every time you read a post. They give you a thrill as you see them loading into your browser and you get an equally satisfying thrill when you see that they have commented on your blog".

From Xandra: creator, The Daily Dose Award

I have too may blogs that I feel this way about, and it is hard to pick just a few, but again I think this needs to be passed on. I am sure the blogs I name will pass it on to the others I love so much...I will do one in each category of blog I read:

Homemaking/Cooking: Niki's Rural Writings (My kindred spirit...or who I aspire to)

Quilting: Linda's All Stitched Up (she is the first quilting blog I read, even before I had my own blog!)

Parenting: Ann's Tis The Gift To Be Simple (gotta love those boys and the 1 ballerina! Ann is a really good mom)

Country Life: Joni's My Piece of Heaven (She named cows after my kids...that is love!)

Inspirational: Cheryl...better known as CoppersWife (She already got this a bunch of times but she is a HUGE inspiration to me personally and I drink my coffee every morning to her blog post.)

Whew! That was a lot of linking!!!!

Ooooh...one more thing, I won the prize on Debi's 100th (112th) post drawing!! You can see what I won here. I have never had a jelly roll before. What do you think the odds are I will unroll it??? Thank you so much Debi. It was a very GENEROUS prize!! I look forward to another 112 posts from you!!

Well I think that is enough for one post! Thanks for being patient while I went all over the place!