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.
Thursday, January 7, 2016
Monday, October 26, 2015
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.
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.
Thursday, October 1, 2015
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.
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.
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| my Christmas gift this year from Tom - can't wait to see it!! |
Cathy's birthday
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| Shelby's 2nd birthday |
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| Pat and Ralph's 50th wedding anniversary signature quilt |
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| the big machine and frame |
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| Shirley and Rodney's 50th Wedding Anniversary signature quilt |
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| Danielle's Christmas a few years ago |
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| Jelly roll quilt - one of my favorite things to do |
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| My mantra (but I am currently off the DCs) |
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| one of my many babies!! |
Thursday, September 3, 2015
Colorado Trip
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| 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
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.
Saturday, August 8, 2015
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!!
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!!
Monday, July 13, 2015
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!
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)
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