Welcome Bro

This past weekend Aunt Shirley and Uncle Rodney hosted a little family reunion we call Octoberfest, just a time for family only to enjoy each other and visit and potluck. This year Mike Briggs (Wass) and his family was able to join us. Mike has a delightful wife Karen and daughter Katelyn. Tom and I had the pleasure of they staying with us for a few days and enjoyed it a lot, had some quieter moments to talk. Brian and Shari got to spend a day showing Mike the town of Mariposa and being tourists together.

It was a joy to see all of the family welcome Mike (and family) into the Wass clan, Mike seemed like he should have always been here, looks like Dad very much. (more than Brian and I)

He and family also got to spend time with Shirley and Rodney, Uncle Jack and Lonnie, Donna, Greg, Pearl and Shelly, Uncle Kenny. 

We are all glad your a part of the family, Welcome Mike, Karen and Katelyn.

Mike, Julie, and Brian Wass

Buck Wass clan

most of the gang at the Wass Octoberfest

Missy, Shelly, Marie, Ronda, Mike, Tanya and Julie

An addition to the family

This week I got a message from my cousin Karen, she had been contacted by a man who from Ancestry DNA testing showed he is her cousin. A first cousin to many of my first cousins. So how is he related, where did he come from, how is he.....I had a lot of questions going through my head.

My Dad, Harry "Buck" Wass had been married previously before meeting and marrying my Mom, Marian McCay. Dad's first wife was Carol Thomas (not sure if that is the name she went by, but that is what I knew her as). He had a son with her Rickard Wass that I have know about all my life, only got to see once or twice, he spent a few weeks here in the summer when we were kids, was offered to live with us but he chose to stay with his Mother.

So the man that called Karen is my 1/2 brothers brother....well it looks like the man is also my half brother. Would like some more testing to prove, but after looking at pictures and taking to him, it does appear that his Dad is also my Dad.

I am excited to meet Mike, and his family, hoping to get together in the next few months. One thing that is interesting is the patch of gray hair, Dad had a patch, Brian has a patch, Garrett has a patch. I would think this is a pretty much genetic thing....wondering why I do not have a patch of gray hair...oh yea maybe if I did not color my hair I would see it.  hehe!!

So look for pictures in the near future of meeting Mike, looking forward to a new page in the book of my life.

Cancer Sucks

Too many friends and Family in my life have suffered with Cancer. I am just saying, I do not like it! I hate it. Being a nurse and working with Hospice a few years in my life I have seen more that the average person...I guess.
The person who got and lost their battle with cancer that I was the closest to was my Mom, and awesome lady who died on her 62 birthday due to a "female" cancer, never really found out what type it was because she was inoperable because the tumor was so big by the time she decided that I could drag her butt to the doctor.
Anyway, lost another sweet family member to cancer this week, my uncle Ralph. Ralph was interesting to be around because he was a Mule packer in the Grand Canyon and in Grant Grove/Sequoia area. He surely loved what he did and continued to lead packing trips long after he retired. He fought prostate cancer for quite a few years and in the last year it spread to his liver and other parts of the body. Ralph was the baby of my Dad's family, the Wass family. He was loved so much by all of his family but especially his brothers and sisters.
Ralph loved his wife Pat VERY much, together since she was 15 years old. Ralph loved and took great pride in his 3 kids and many grandkids, even nieces and nephews.
My Dad was quite a bit older than Ralph so Ralph was kind of like a son to him. Often Pat and Ralph and family would stay with us when they came to Mariposa, for the farm family reunion, or just to visit.
I will always remember when my Daughter in law died, I was with my Son all the way across the united states, and Ralph encouraged Tanya (his daughter) to come to the funeral, I think Ralph may have even helped pay for the plane ticket. It meant the world to me and to my son when Tanya and her grown son walked into the church during the funeral. It is a day I will never forget, I was so thankful they were there - when other family could not make the trip due to work and other obligations.
Ralph's memorial will be on my Birthday, I am not sad about that, but will always remember him on my birthday from now on, and keep a very special man with me. I know he is with my Dad and family. Hope there are a lot of horses and Mules in heaven for you to care for and ride dear Uncle.

the big day

Well we did it!! Paid off the last of Tom's truck. Paid $7,200 in 2 months. I am proud of us. We still have a long way to go, next step is fully funded emergency fund of 6 months in the bank, then attack the mortgage. Goal is to have the house paid off as soon as possible, baby steps.

Financial Goals

My sweetie and I have not always seen eye to eye on financial needs, wants, or goals. A few months ago I read Rave Ramsey's book, "Total Money Makeover", Tom and I watched a few you tube videos together and decided when we could we would take the class, "Financial Peace University", given by many churches - a nine week class, we bought the kit and we have now been to 5 of the classes. I really have to say if you have not been as good with money as you would like to be, if you have debt, if you never were taught by your parents how to save and manage money you really should think about taking the class.



Tom and I do not have that much debt in our lives currently, we had a pretty good amount a few years ago after we finished the cabin (on top of the morgage), but we have worked pretty hard on our own have had that paid off for a few years. When we started the class our total debt not including our house was $7,200 - I am very happy to say it looks like we will have that paid off about the time we finish the class.




We feel the class is awesome, would be helpful for many people. I have never done a zero balance budget - where you figure out where every last dollar will go, and as Dave says, "tell your money where to go". We have been able to find money we did not realize we had. The program is sound gospel principles, and we have prayed a lot to ask God how we should manage his money. Our next step will be to work on our emergency fund, then pay off our home as quickly as we can, to invest and prepare for retirement. Our only regret is we did not do it sooner.

I think the drought is over

What a great Winter so far, we have gotten quite a bit of rain. We got a beautiful snow for Christmas eve, and last night we got snow - a very wet sloppy snow - but I will take it.

After the last few years of no rain, no winter, no real COLD, I do not think I will ever complain about rain or snow again.

Without the rain we have had not enough water in California, the wild grasses did not come back last year, and what we did have in the pastures as I drive to Merced has been eaten down so badly.

I am thankful for winter, I am thankful for rain.

Life is short

My dear cousin Missy's husband  (Mike) was in a horrible motorcycle accident this morning on his way to work. I just want to say we never know from day to day what is going  to happen and how many days we have here on this earth.

Kiss your loved ones, remember people are more important that things, be nice to those we live with, say i love you often to those who mean the most in your life, say your prayers/ ask for safety. Bad things happen to good people.

Hang in the Mike, you are in my prayers.

I confess, I think I have a addiction

A few years ago, about 30 or so, I wanted to make a quilt, I wanted to try to be a quilter. I had made one quilt for my son when he as about 2 years old and going into a "big boy bed" I bought some calico fabric and a flat sheet and made a 9 patch quilt, put sashing on it and tied it with yarn.

At the time I have a very cheap Singer from the 80's - it was about $80 and a piece of plastic JUNK!! I used that machine around my home(s) - we were military when the kids were little, it made curtains, a few garments, and mended quite a bit. I did not love to sew at that time, it was just something I needed to do to make a house a home and to save a little money. Not that many years ago fabric was cheaper than buying pre-made clothing. I had taken sewing in 4H, in home economics in high school. I understood a little about sewing, enough to get buy if I had to.

Then time passed and I decided I would like to really quilt, I bought a Singer vintage sewing machine in a cabinet, it only did straight stitch and reverse. I made my first few real quilts with it. I should say I pieced my first few real quilts with it. I sewed the quilt sandwich by hand. It would take me forever to make a quilt. I never mastered the art of quilting by hand, my stitches were to big, too far apart.

I upgraded to a new mid priced Pfaff sewing machine. My maternal Grandmother had bought a Pfaff in the 50's and my Mom inherited it, it was a tank, sewed through blue jean quilts, baby quilts (mom's were pretty hardy - used fabric she had, made due) My kids had learned to sew on that machine. Now it is passed on to my Niece Amanda - hope she will continue to get many more years of joy out of it.

Threw the years I have become a better quilter, bought very nice machines, fell more in love with the old machines. I have gotten to have quite a collection of sewing machines and of fabric, have made many quilts for charity, for entering in the fair, for baby showers, for weddings, for Christmas gifts and for birthdays, or just to make someone's day. A homemade gift is the best kind. I hope I have made things that my friends and family will cherish long after I am gone. My Mother was a great example of that, at her funeral people started telling of all the afghans, quilts, and painted projects that they had that she had made - it was amazing, almost everyone in the very full building had something Mom had made.

What I have learned lately is I LOVE sewing machines!! I think I should have opened up a repair shop for them, who knows maybe someday I will. Attached are some pictures of machines I have (or similar photos of them) and of quilts and friends who I have taught to quilt (and they teach me too). I am glad I have a hubby to gets my addiction and even encourages it.

my Christmas gift this year from Tom - can't wait to see it!!

Cathy's birthday

Shelby's 2nd birthday

Pat and Ralph's 50th wedding anniversary signature quilt

the big machine and frame

Shirley and Rodney's 50th Wedding Anniversary signature  quilt

Danielle's Christmas a few years ago

Jelly roll quilt - one of my favorite things to do

My mantra (but I am currently off the DCs)

one of my many babies!!

Colorado Trip

Geneva, Grandma Julie and Janna

We made a trip to Colorado Springs to see Brad and Family and Lee and Dianna, Geneva (Brad's oldest daughter, turned 8 this month and was baptized on Saturday

 Quilt I make Geneva for a 8 is great birthday gift. (Papa the quilt model)

 Michael and Anna, Me and Tom, Norma, Brad, Abby, Bennett, Jaime, Janna Geneva, Susan, Dianna and Lee

 Brad and Jaime and their kids

Brad and Geneva before they "got wet"

On the way back from the springs we stopped in Montrose to see Kim Figgs - a dear cousin I have not seen in way to many years, we had a ball visiting even if it was a short visit.

My current RANT

Time, I do not have enough of it.

Peace, I do not have enough of it.

Money, I do not save enough  of it, I have plenty for my needs.

It has really struck me in the face lately on how much stuff I have, how much I shop (and I really and not a shopper), how little I save, how little I know about money, how tired I am or working so hard and do not have all that much to show for it.

I realized how many times a day someone tries to sell me something I do not need, I get TONS of emails everyday, from on line quilting shops, clothing shops, insurance, car sales, etc!
Enough!!! If I get an email for now on of someone trying to sell me something I am going to "unfollow" that company, delete it, trash it, junk mail it!!

I realized even though I do not spend all that much money shopping I still shop, I go to the dollar store, I go to yard sales, I go to thrift shops, I go to fabric stores - I buy way to much at all of these places, sometimes I do buys things I need - and that is OK. But many times I buy things I do NOT need - and I am done with that!

My husband asked me "what are we doing tonight?", my answer today was "we are going to save money, either you can BBQ or I can fix dinner, after that we can go for a walk or watch a movie (I even said we could rent one off of the TV)"
Why do we feel we need to go "out", is it a better meal at taco bell or Carls Jr? NOOOO!! it is not, and we pay way too much for it.
Tom was out of town for 3 days this week, and ate out a few times (packed some sandwich stuff also), he is NOT deprived in any way if we do not run out and get some fast food tonight.
It is not just him, it is me too - I like a night off from cooking, I like a "date", but it can be a date from home sometimes also.

Maybe it is not the new year, but I think I am making a mid year resolution to work on saving some money and making more peace in my life. Wish me luck!!

Wass Girl Cousin Gathering (the story)

As most of you know (who would read my blog) my Dad came from a really big family, and I have a lot of first, and second (and third, etc) cousins on my Dad's side of the family, the Wass side. Most of us grew up in the central cali, Mariposa is close to the center of the state, many did not travel far or moved back when they could, most of us love it here even though we are currently seeing hard things in this state, the drought and politics especially. I have thought of leaving and knew I would miss my wonderful family too much.

This past Easter Party (every Saturday before Easter we have a large family reunion - usually at the fish and game building) some of the girl cousins were getting our picture taken and a few commented that we really do not get together, it is true, it is sad. We all have busy lives, most of us work outside the home, or run day cares out of our homes, or manage their home/family (and we all know that is the hardest work of all!)

So I volunteered to host a gathering, picked a Saturday in July (I liked the ring of 7-11), and sent out the word through the mail, and Facebook (a great tool to get the family together and to gather addresses)

Not sure how many showed up, at least 25, we had a blast!! Everyone was so happy to get to know each other a little better, to show love to each other, to talk, and to laugh and eat of course. I enjoyed it so much I did not take pictures, I knew there were enough phones and cameras around I would just "borrow" others pictures.

We have all vowed to take turns hosting the annual event, but I would host again in a heartbeat! Love you all, thanks for a very special day!

Wass Girl Cousin Gathering

At the last family reunion a few of us cousins had this thought that we do not get together (at all or enough) so I volunteered to host a gathering, got the word out, gathered the ladies, and here are a few pictures to share (I did not take any of them, I was busy enjoying the day)

Tom, thanks for all your hard work getting the place together, and for taking some pictures too!

 Ronda, Amy, and Cathy

 A couch full!! Ronda, Tanya, me and Marie!

 Missy, Tanya, Ronda, me, Patty and Marie

 me and Tanya!

Debbie and Shelly

 Amy and Missy (sure look like sisters)

Cheryl, Terri and Aunt Rena (also my neighbor) 

Visiting Jack and fmaily

Have not had a chance to see my son Ryan and his family since they moved to Washington, got to go last weekend, had a sweet visit, hope to go again soon.

Day one of our visit, Jack going crazy with some sugar (from Grandma)

Ryan fixing some dinner, taught that boy right!

Danielle, Jack and Ryan - Jack not so happy about Mother's day Photos

Gma and Jack - Jack not loving the photo op

Gma, Jack and Papa, life if better when Papa holds you.....

This was a BBQ at the farmers market made from a horse trainer, cool

Papa at the air museum 

Jack - ready to fly!!

Quilts, Quilts, Fabric and Quilts! (and friends)

A few friend and cousin Missy and I went to the Best of the Valley Quilt shop hop a few weeks ago, 9 quilt shops in 2 days - we had enough time in each shop to look around and shop, and buy beautiful, fun fabric. We did not win any of the prizes but had a blast, cannot wait to do it again next year (truly needed a nap the next day after we completed this trip though!

The first day, our selfie in front of Strawberry Patches quilt shop in Bakersfield
Cindy, Anne, Missy and I
We are raring to go, money in our pockets!

at Strawberry Patches

quilt inspiration

Day 2, in the afternoon, me, Anne, Missy, and Cindy - getting down to the last few shops

Cindy drove and did a great job staying focused on the road with all the chatter in the car, we all picked up a piece of Christmas fabric and have promised to each make a different square and meet up in the next few months to swap square and then we will all make our own quilts and compare. I hope we can all get them done before the Mariposa County fair to enter them all. Cindy's 2 daughters did not make the shop hop but are going to also make blocks for this project (we volunteered them)

We truly had a great time, laughed, and ate, and shopped, and visited - it was a great girls weekend! Thanks Ladies!!