Victorian Motto Sampler

Let’s all wish the wonderful Nancy Turner a very Happy Birthday on August 14. We need more people on this planet like Nancy😘

Spring is Coming

This has been the longest, coldest, snowiest and just all-around difficult winter that we've had in a long time. First of all, mom had so many health traumas - she did have her kidney removed on December 10 after several delays and complications - and surgery was followed by more complications. But she has been steadily regaining her strength and stamina and today she drove for the first time since she got sick back on Thanksgiving. So we are thinking that once the warmer weather arrives and the birds are singing and she is able to get out and about a little more on her own, she will feel 100 percent better. The past couple of weeks have also been filled with flu, colds, etc. So that will hopefully go along with the huge piles of snow that are everywhere these days. I started a needlepoint project that Chris got me for our anniversary - it is a kit from the UK and hopefully will be as awesome as the picture of it is. Last week I finally gave Chuck his Chicago Bears quilt that I made for his 40th birthday. My friend Sue and I are going to the International Quilt Show in Rosemont in April and we have committed to "just looking" and not buying like we did last year (my car was FULL). I have so many projects to do - I need to live to be 250 to stand a chance of getting to them. I am once again trying to be on a frugal kick - I am determined that next December we'll get to Disneyworld with the little ones.

Thanksgiving

This year's Thanksgiving did not start off as nicely as we would have liked. It seemed like everyone was scattered all about - Carol, Rebecca, and Will took a trip to Kentucky for a quick visit with her grandparents and other family members as her grandfather had suffered a stroke the previous week. Chuck had to stay home with a BAD cold and fluctuating work schedule. Scott, Shannon, and Anderson were far far away at their home in Henderson enjoying the warm weather but being sadly missed by all their family and friends back here. Brother Bob and his family were all at their home in Arizona. Brother Dave, Dorrie, and little Bob were in Peoria visiting Dorr's mom and family, Sister Sue and Sean were home "by their lone" as Ross and Ian took a quick road trip to Albequerque to pick up some family heirlooms left by his father. So that left Rita (Mom), Sue and Sean, and Chris and I but mom had not been feeling well lately and didn't feel like eating a big meal and Sue was looking forward to a quieter more relaxing Thanksgiving for once. Not so much: The night before Thanksgiving mom was in excrutiating pain and so Sue decided to take her to the emergency room - tests revealed a large mass in her kidney and the doctors delivered the news that the kidney must be removed. Bob flew in from Arizona on Sunday. Scott flew in on Thursday. After many more tests, complications, setbacks, and schedule changes surgery is now scheduled for Monday afternoon, December 10 at 3:00. Mom's spirits are still good - she is very anxious to get this behind her so she can get back to her busy volunteer job with the Township and get back to her adventures with her friends. We are all hoping and praying for that to happen fast too. She has been through enough and we hope this will get her back on her feet and feeling good again soon.