Fall

I know this is not a good photo of my first granddaughter and believe me when I tell you, my files are full of adorable pictures I'd love to share, but since Blogger doesn't have the best system of privacy and my DIL is very careful about what we post online, this will have to do. I'll have to find some ways to be more creative with pictures of her. 

Our first meeting was Thanksgiving. There is something indescribable that happened in my heart the first time I saw my son, my first born holding his first born. OH MY GOODNESS!! 

Even though she was already a month old by that time she and her mother were still trying to make sense out of the whole nursing thing and there was a lot of crying and very little sleep going on. Hubby had to get home but I got to stay for a total of four days. It was wonderful and awful. Wonderful because I got to be with my son and hold my granddaughter but awful because I felt so helpless and there really was very little I could do to help except do dishes of which I did...a lot. It was difficult to witness the struggle between new parents, wanting to butt in and knowing I shouldn't. GD, DIL and Hubby had all been sick the week before, I came down with a slight case while I was there and Son came down with a big dose just before he had to drive me home. I felt so bad for him. I loved loving on my GD, but I was so very happy to be home at the same time. 

Our second meeting with her was New Year's Day. We made a day trip out of it and that was much better although I'm not happy with winter driving in the dark...even as a passenger. She grew and changed a lot in a month and every time I leave her my arms ache to hold her again. I try to stay busy and not think about it too much. My DIL is very good about sending lots of pictures and video. 

I have officially joined the ranks of doating grandmothers.

I'm gonna rock this gramma thing!

Life Goes On

I'm finding it slow to get back into a normal routine after the emotional drain and business of last week's funeral. My mind keeps going back to the family that has lost a loved one and to my own daughter who lost a dear friend. Once again I am struck by the fact that life must go on and life does go on. The body is laid to rest, family and friends gather for a meal and some memories, everyone goes home, goes to bed, gets up the next morning and for most of us it's back to our normal routine...whatever is the next thing on the calendar or our to-do list. It's sad in a way and hard to think that when our time comes the same thing will take place. People move on and pick up any slack we may have left behind, our spot is filled except for perhaps in the hearts of a few dear ones where we may leave a hole for a time. That's the way it should be, but sometimes it just seems strange to think just a short time ago that someone was walking, talking, doing their work, serving the Lord and carrying on conversations with us...now they're just gone...just like that...poof, it's over. I don't mean to sound all depressing, that's not the point and I'm not at all depressed...just being realistic I guess and thinking that life is short and life is precious. 

As of today, we are planning a trip to visit our son and daughter in law this Saturday. It will probably be only a day trip as Hubby has things to do and responsibilities to return to. We'll be moving some things down for our son...things he left behind until he had a place of his own to keep them. I'll be taking my rocking chair...I'll have to get a good photo of it before we load it up. It's the chair Hubby bought for me when I was expecting our son. It rocked all my babies to sleep...lots of stories read while we rocked. It is sad for me to part with it, but at the same time a joy as I pass it on to the next generation. My son was the first baby to be rocked in that chair, now he will rock his baby in it. It just seems right. 

The sun finally came out...just in time to set. It's been gray and dreary all day. 

The "Black Prince" rose bush has blooms again. This is a clipping from my mother in laws bush. Hubby's sisters say the original blooms were so dark they were nearly black - hence the name, but now they have turned a magenta/pink. It almost seems each year they get lighter in color. 

I am so pleased with the work I was able to accomplish last week, despite the reasons behind my motivation. This week I've been working on more long term projects and ones that are less physically demanding. I'm looking forward to really digging into them next week. One of you asked what the goals are I have been talking about...there is quite a list and perhaps next week I'll be able to share....that is if you're still interested.  

I'm looking forward to tomorrow...I'll be back to tell you all about it. 

Throwback Thursday

Yes...I'm participating in Throwback Thursday...my first. I don't know how often I'll do this, but it works for today. I've been working to clean and organize my computer files like I mentioned in yesterdays blog entry and I wanted to share a couple with you today.

The first one is only a throwback to last weekend...LOL. I began making artist trading cards again...I'm not real happy about it because though they are fun, they take up way too much time that I want to spend scrapbooking. Why am I doing it you ask? Well, since the scrapbook store closed, just like I feared, I have lost touch with my friends from there. Without the store, we don't have a reason to get together regularly and easily except for the monthly ATC meeting. SOooo...in order  to see my friends I'm making ATC's. :P Anyway, I was not excited about the ones I made this month, so I didn't take any photos of them, but while we were at our meeting, our hostess took our picture of us posing with her cat, Bob.

Three of these ladies are dear friends and have taught me so much about paper crafting...we have so much fun when we're together. Mary is next to me, Linda is next to her (she is the expert on "tea bag folding" and "spirelli"), and across the counter from her is Jeanne (I can't even count the number of things she has taught me). At the bottom of the photo is Mary Ann, I don't know her very well, only from the ATC meetings. I am planning a get together after the holidays to have them over for a crop.

The second photo throws us back much further. In my file organizing project, I've run across an annoyance on my computer. I can click on a file, open it up to view, then click the arrow which should take me to the next photo on the list, but instead it jumps around randomly to other photos and I haven't been able to figure out where it goes or why it chooses to display the particular photos it displays. It's quite annoying when trying to work with a specific group of photos. Anyway, I was working away and clicked on this recent photo of me and my son on his wedding day.

It's a new favorite of mine for obvious reasons. I then clicked the next arrow and it took me here:

Suddenly the tears were flowing. Pretty weird if you ask me.

Three students scheduled for today...one made it so far, the others just rescheduled for tomorrow, so I'm done for the day. Calico beans for supper tonight with corn bread. Not much excites me about food these days, but this does. :)

 Well, I'm making a little progress with my project, more to come...stay tuned...

What a Beautiful Fall We've Had This Summer!

Which makes me wonder just what fall and winter will bring! 

I continue to stay busy, trying to harvest the garden before everything freezes and catch up on all the chores I was supposed to do this summer but instead spent most of my time sitting on an organ bench LOL! I've finally cleaned the basement and the garage. I still need to scrub down the ceilings and walls - between the wood stove and all the mosquitos we squashed this summer, they're gross! 

You may have seen on Facebook that we had an organist meeting last week - we hadn't had one in a quite a while. We headed over to the Heritage Center following dinner and played the pipe organ there. I'm planning on everyone coming over for dinner on the 3rd of October, then heading over to our church to try out our "new" organ...now that it's been here for almost a year LOL! 

It's been an emotionally trying week. Most likely we will be voting PT to be our Pastor in October, but before we do that he wanted to give members a chance to meet with him to discuss any concerns about his vision for the church's future. Hubby and I didn't sign up, but PT asked for a meeting with us. That took place over breakfast at our house, Monday morning at 7:00. He wanted to meet and pray with us regarding his decision to not marry Son and his intended. He also wanted to discuss church music and the fact that people are complaining about the new organ. Just as I thought I finally had everything as it should be, had a successful concert, etc., now I find out I have to go in today and rethink everything I've been doing. I have to try to balance allowing the instrument to do what it is designed to do and still make "everybody happy". It's finding out that though I had thought I was aiding in worship, I have been hindering it. I feel like I've been punched in the face. Praying God will give me wisdom in what changes to make. 

Monday I unloaded on Mentor and he understood completely and let me have my rant, then he consoled me and told me what my next step needs to be. I honestly don't know what I'd do without him! He always knows just what to say to help me keep my focus where it should be. Monday night I felt like a wet dish rag. 

Yesterday I tried to put it out of my mind and I spent the day pulling up garden vegetables and preparing them for the freezer. Also I finished work on my studio website so it is up to date for the coming year and I signed up my 16th student! Last year I prayed for 15 and God gave me 13. This year he has brought me 16. I haven't met them all yet, that will come next week. 

Today I'll spend the afternoon on the organ bench trying to figure out what needs to be changed. I hope I'll be able to practice some as well. Also, a lady from church who has been a "fan" all along has asked to be introduced to the organ as far as finding out what everything does and what I'm doing when I'm up there. I don't think she has a music background at all, so....interesting. She plans to stop by sometime this afternoon. 

Lunch is leftovers and supper is probably stuffed baked potato and maybe some fresh carrots, broccoli and beans from the garden. I'll have to go out in this rain storm to gather them.  

Son called. He wanted my opinion on the suits and ties for himself and the guys and also the sashes to cover the chairs that his intended doesn't like. He told me he signed up the caterer that we talked to last time they were here. I'm glad because it will make things so much easier, but I'm also concerned about the money aspect. They are coming up on Saturday and I'll go with Son's intended for her final dress fitting and will be at their beck and call for anything else they need done. This is most likely the last time I'll see them before the wedding. 

I honestly don't see things settling down until after the wedding - then it will be time to prepare for Christmas! I know once winter settles in and Hubby goes back to hockey, I should have my evenings more to myself...I think...who knows! 

I do miss blogging regularly and hope to be back at it...someday soon. Please don't forget me. ;)

Summer Begins

I'm sorry I've been gone so long - I've been reading, just haven't had the time to respond. Let me see if I can update you without getting too long winded. 

Son and his girlfriend came for Mother's Day - it was such a nice visit, she and I are trying to get to know one another better. 

Son bought girlfriend a ring...hasn't popped the question yet, but has the ring. They just bought a house - it's been stressful as you can imagine, but the house payment will be less than the rent on the apt., so it should be a good move providing Son finds a job soon. He only has another 4 weeks before he loses his unemployment - he's been sending out resume's but no takers. Please pray something turns up soon.

Daughter#2 got an internship at Quicken Loans in Detroit. It's not what she wanted, but it's good, paying work for the summer. She is a tiny, country mouse in the big city and she's not liking it one bit! This is her first time away from home completely alone. Please pray for her safety in the big city.

I'm missing all my "babies" and my mother a lot lately. I'm so lonely, but I'm digging in to some neglected projects around the house. I started work on my studio - the clutter is closing in on me. I've gone through and reorganized all the music by level and now I have to reorganize my scrapbook/card making supplies. It's a mess!! I hope to have gone through everything by the end of the month and be completely done with the house project by the July 4th weekend. My neighbor said if I have anything to sell that I can put it in their sale at the end of the month. That's a motivator right there! 

I just found out this week that the scrapbook store where I go to purchase all my supplies will be closing their doors by the end of the summer. Businesses are dropping like flies around here. I will no longer have a place to get supplies for my scrapbooking and card making. I'm so mad and sad all at the same time. These ladies in the store have become very good friends as well. It's the last place in town where I could go to see people and enjoy conversation. 

Also this summer I'm trying to shed some pounds...I have a good start, but haven't lost anything yet. I'll also be practicing a lot, teaching a few students, gardening, and deep cleaning the entire house. 

Student recital was last week...Thursday night. That's everyone , minus Carol who takes lessons via the internet. It was a big night as we focused on a senior recitalist. Everyone did very well and I was so glad when the evening was over and it was very stressful.  I have leads on three possible new students for next year! I'll lose one (my graduate) but might gain three, that's good!

With all my projects, I've been trying to better discipline myself and make better use of my time which means the computer must come last. I miss being on here, but I must do this for now. Also, the screen on my laptop is still broken and I have to borrow a computer. Please pray I can get the screen fixed soon. 

Hubby planted the garden on Sunday, he also purchased a new machine (on faith). We pray it will be the thing to get our business back on it's feet, making a profit. 

Our weather has been beautiful, coolish but mostly sunny. I'm fine with the temps in the upper 690's and 70's! 

That's about all for now. I hope to be a more regular poster once I have things more in order around here. 

Remember Me???

I know, it's been way too long. Life seems to be speeding by at an ever increasing pace and there are never enough hours in the day to do all I want or need to do.  I've spent a considerable amount of time catching up on all of you this morning - forgive me if I didn't say much, there was just so much to read...my fault, I know. 

Despite what a couple of you believed the last time I posted, the snow had not yet left us. It wasn't until this weekend that our yard was finally free of it's white, wintry blanket. Even now, there is a patch of snow in the back yard and lots and lots of puddles! There are still walls of snow across the street where the plows had it pushed up - hopefully soon we'll be able to access everything, but not yet. 

Last week was so busy and yet as I look back I can't figure out why except that Daughter #2 finished out her semester (with straight A's!!) and came home to "crash" for a couple of days which meant a distraction for me...albeit a welcome one. Not much got accomplished on my new organ music I have begun studying, but I am enjoying having something specific to work on with my mentor again, and I truly believe it's been good for him as well - having a goal like this and something to actually "teach" again seems to have really perked him up - I truly believe he needed it as much as I did. 

I did get the bathroom cleaned..."spring cleaned", which meant getting on my hands and knees and climbing on a step ladder, but it felt good to have one room completed. Just as I finished this chore on Saturday, my son and girlfriend pulled up and surprised me with a visit for Mother's Day! The entire house including the bathroom needs a good going over again now that they're gone - but I'm so glad they came. My studio is the next on the list, though I'll have to be scientific about it as it has to stay accessible to students as I re-organize. HMMMM. 

Mother's Day came and went. Like I said, my son surprised me on Saturday and we spent the day shopping and visiting. Sunday was church of course and Daughter #2 planned a light lunch of finger foods as our dinner reservation wasn't until 5:00. Daughter #1 called and we chatted for a few minutes -

she sent flowers and a lovely tea cup and saucer from Crate and Barrel.

Daughter #2 planned the meals and gave me a flower...I don't know what it is.

Hubby bought me 3 red roses - one to represent each of my children. Son gave me a book I had been wanting about re-growing food from scraps and he and his girl dug up a lonely Crocus

they found on the trail and potted it for me, then they did some raking in the back yard while I fell asleep in the sun on the deck. I woke up with quite a sunburn!! Since Son's girlfriend was able to take a 3 day weekend, Monday was spent antiquing. We also had lunch out and stopped by the church where I practice to show Son's girl a real pipe organ. She has no musical experience or knowledge whatsoever, but has been curious about what I do on Sunday mornings. Mentor was there and was ever so gracious to give an impromptu introduction to the instrument. 

That brings us to today - I'm supposed to be doing my housecleaning and my work-out, but I'm so tired from the weekend and so behind on emails that here I sit. The afternoon will be full of students and the week will probably be as busy as the last. My online time has been limited as I have been focusing on some neglected projects and also due to the fact that my computer screen is broken on my laptop which makes reading and typing is next to impossible...it gets worse by the day. We are in the process of trying to locate a replacement but in the meantime, I'm using the desktop in the basement where it is ccccold! 

I hope to be able to check in with you all at least once a week. 

Tuesday Tid-Bits

Today has been a bit mixed up. Last night a parent called wanting to reschedule lessons for today so she could take another one of her children to the dr. this afternoon. That meant rearranging my day, but it worked out fine. Then I had another one call and cancel due to illness, so it's been a bit odd today. 

Our dog Gilmore is losing bladder control - we woke yesterday morning to him coming to get us, but peeing all over our bedroom floor, then he walked down the hall and into the living room all the while peeing away! We of course got him outside and cleaned it up, but when I did the floors it meant running the steam mop. I'm so glad we were able to put wood floors in this house! 

Yesterday I went down the hill to practice on the pipe organ. It is so nice to be able to do that once in a while now. David and I started work on our recital program, but I still don't know what I need to be practicing for certain. I have been very stressed about the whole thing all day today, not to mention he told me he's considering moving himself and his mother to Arizona! He had such a difficult winter this year that he's thinking of moving. I'm just in shock and I don't know what I will do without him involved in my music. 

Friday I tried a new exercise DVD. I think once I get past the initial problems I'm having it will be good, but my arms and shoulders were so tight when I started that I injured my rotator cuff on my left side. I was afraid I did some real serious damage because it hurt so badly, but after doing the ice/heat treatment and going to bed with an Ibuprofen I woke up Sunday morning feeling good enough to play the organ. I'm afraid to try it again until after I get someone to work on me. 

My son is still looking for work - he has a possibility, but he needs to learn a new computer program that his current computer is too old to run and without a job he can't afford to buy a new computer. SIGH. 

Daughter #2 arrived home safely from her backpacking trip and thank God He protected them when they had a close encounter with a big black bear!

Saturday I had the blessing of talking to my oldest and dearest friend on the phone for 3 1/2 hours! We've been friends since the first day of school when we were in the first grade! We don't get to talk often and she doesn't email much, but when we do get together it's like time has stood still...like we've never been apart. It's marvelous and I know how fortunate I am to have this rare kind of friendship. 

More snow is falling - we're due to get another 4-6 inches between now and tomorrow evening and it's possible we could get freezing rain as well. YUCK, YUCK, YUCK. It's only March, but I just can't take any more. 

Lots of things and people on my heart tonight...I'm feeling overwhelmed. I'm not sure how I'll spend my evening...I do wish I had someone to just sit down and talk with.

Here are a few cards I made recently. Most of you have probably already seen them on Facebook. I may work on some spring/Easter ideas tonight. 

Remember if you want to have a conversation to click the Notify Me box in the lower right hand corner of the comment area. If we can all remember to do this, it will be more like Multiply. 

Until next time my friends~

Thanksgiving Weekend

My Thanksgiving was good, though very painful. My son came up (he's taking care of his girlfriend's dog, Simba while she's out of town, so he came too) and of course Daughter #2 was here. Daughter #3 and her Hubby couldn't make it, but plan to be here for Christmas. Last Sunday my back went out, well, I went to the chiropractor on Wednesday and I was WAY OUT! She put me back in, but the muscles on one side were almost like they were sprained. She said I could even have some micro- tears in it and it would be several days before I felt relief and she was right. She told me walking would be fine, but no lifting. Sooooo the bad thing was every time I moved I was in pain...shoot I was in pain constantly, no matter what I did so cooking dinner was so hard! The good thing was I got much more help than I normally do...too bad I had to be laid up before that happened. Daughter made two pies and two cheese spreads and set the table. Hubby and Son helped with moving the turkey in and out of the oven and they both also helped clean up dishes after. It was hard to relax though no matter what I did. It still hurts, but it's much better. I just hope I can get back to my workouts this week. Even after all that, I'm so thankful for so much in my life, it would take volumes to list it all. 

Our houseguest,Simba afforded us lots of laughs, he sure is full of energy! He is a two year old Golden Retriever and poor old Gil at age 15 had a tough time keeping up. I'm trying to upload a video, but Blogger is just not cooperating!

While the turkey was cooking Son wanted me to show him the new organ, so we went to the church and I played for him. He and Daughter took video of me, but they have yet to send them to me. It made me so happy that he was interested enough and cared enough about me and what was important to me to ask to hear me play! That's so rare in my life these days. He said he liked it and said he was so happy for me.

Friday Daughter had to work so Son and I went downtown shopping. It wasn't too bad because most people were up the hill in Shop-Ko and Walmart. I bought myself a metronome for the organ and a new belt. My Christmas shopping is already done. Son was happy to find his girlfriend's Christmas gift. We had lunch with Daughter after she got off work, then spent the rest of the day/evening watching Castle and relaxing. Saturday I took some time to go practice and the rest of the day was more Castle...I got Son hooked  hee hee. He started watching them online and trying to catch up, so I was happy to help him LOL! 

Church went well today and Son got to hear me play again and sing with the new organ. We went out to dinner at a local Mexican place we all enjoy and when we got home he had to pack up and leave. Daughter is out with friends and Hubby is reffing a game. The house is so quiet now. I should be cleaning and taking down my fall decorations and preparing for Christmas, but I'm just not in the mood. It just doesn't seem like it's possible that's it's the Christmas season! My "to-do" list is so long and I just want some time to take care of personal things.