FCE - My 1st Meeting

1800's Fashion Show sponsored by FCE - at the TVA Fair - Knoxville TN Sept 2013

Today I attended my 1st meeting of FCE, a very nice group of Ladies.  FCE is  short for Tennessee Association for Family and Community Education an Extension of the University of Tennessee/Institute of Agriculture.  It is a group of ladies of the community who get together to promote ideals of family and community working together.  Last year when I had visited here in Sept I had attended the Tennessee Valley Fair in Knoxville and met a few of these ladies on a lovely day out.  The FCE group held a fashion show of the early 1800's fashion sewn by one of the ladies of the group and when I had decided to move here joining this group was one of the goals of my move.  It was a good day of food, conversation, learning, crafts and enjoying the company of these ladies.  I had already met some of the ladies of the group at different activities I had been going to so with my friend Valoriea who lives next door, I felt very comfortable there and look forward to becoming a part of this group.  
 

Getting Ready for my 1st Jewlery sale here in Tennessee

The Shepard's Inn, Dandridge TN

For the past week I have been getting ready to do my 1st jewelry sale here in Tennessee.  Normally I would just pack up my stuff and go but since this is my 1st show here I needed to spiffy up my packaging and business cards, tags ect. making sure I have my new address and phone.  It's a putzy job but one that needs to be done and it is helpful because I have to unpack my pens, paper, inks ect.  I am enjoying refreshing my packaging, although it is a little frustrating to go thru my boxes because I am not sure were all my stuff is.  At least I have a decent showing of jewelry for the sale.  Not the premium pieces but nice ones.  I am looking forward to the show.  I had the privilege of being recommended by my new friend Sally West to the owner of the Shepard's Inn, a Bed & Breakfast in Dandridge TN who was looking for jewelry vendors for "Ladies Night Out" on June 14th.  I'm excited and looking forward to this new adventure.    

I've been here 3 weeks already? Wow!

Yes! this has been a good move for me. The warmth has made a big difference in my pain level between the rheumatoid arthritis and my back. I am so thankful, the Lord is good!  

 

Yesterday I took a ride down to a quilt shop in Sevierville TN, for a quilt shop hop just to get to know the area and I also wanted to see where their were quilt shops in this area. It's called  I was invited to a meeting of the "French Broad Quilting Guild," at THE CHERRY PIT Quilt Shop but because of the Shop Hop they weren't meeting. So when I join I'll be know as one of the "French Broads" tee hee. Although I still belong to the Hudson Heritage Quilting Guild back there and do miss them. 
 I enjoyed their window display which encompassed 2 store windows and the fabric inside was just as wonderful and the Ladies were very friendly.  On this shop hop we got a free Pattern for an applique Block that the ladies in the store made into a lovely Pillow, 2 more Printed patterns, one for a simple but elegant table runner and another for making coasters plus a demonstration on using a specialty ruler & displays of projects in upcoming workshops.

I enjoyed the BOM (Block of the Month) Quilts that were hanging in the Store and was tempted join them. 

After I left The Cherry Pit I drove to Cosby TN and went to the Holloway Country Store to check it out.  I had been there last year and enjoyed their shop tremendously.  They have an array of finished wall hangings, panels and of course lots of yummy fabrics.  I noted that they had the Rooster Panel I had bought already to make into some Place Mats and Pot holders and they even had the border fabric to match along with a small print of white eggs on a black background.  I bought the remaining piece of it. 

A Rooster Pot Holder I made with a square from the Panel

IT'S GOING TO BE A WARM DAY!

Good Morning, it's going to be a very warm day I

hear. It is a little cool this am at 48 and the birds are singing in the trees outside my front lawn, such sweet sounds to wake up to. I put up the bird feeder yesterday and just put more seed in the feeder.  The pigeons and the doves love to eat what the smaller birds drop.  note the Cardnial on my neightbor's fence across the street watching the pigeon as he comes to feed.  I've seen cardnials, canaries, finches, doves, oreo's and of course the pigions.  I love to watch the doves because the boy dove keeps following the girl dove and she ignores his advances. lol  I'll dress and put some more feed out for them this morning before it gets to warm.

The second picture is of my front porch with my new tomato planter.  It is looking across to my neighbor Valoriea's porch.  I feel very blessed to be in this peaceful spot. 

A Sunny Sunday!

A view from my Sewing/Quilting Studio of the Barns in the Pastures behind my apartment

I am sitting here at my desk with my front door open to the porch and the screened porch door latched., listening to the birds outside chirping at times.  You can tell it is late afternoon because they seem to have a quiet chatter in the afternoons as apposed to the early morning.

Today has been just a lovely day.  This morning I went to church with my friend Valoriea at the 1st Baptist Church in Dandridge TN.  I enjoyed meeting everyone and the service was nice.  After church we came home and ate lunch, changed and then headed over to Greeneville, TN to their Iris Festival, (I thought it was going to be all about the Iris flower,) wrong lol. It was a street fair in the Historic Downtown section of Greeneville with lots of vendors, food and music.  The drive over to Greeneville was so scenic with rolling hills and the mountains in the distance.  I wished I had bought my camera.  We enjoyed walking around and peeking in at all the stalls, ate some Turkey, fried Pickles and Onions on a stick and fried zucchini...Yum!  While there I came upon a stall with handmade Jewelry. I noticed the girl there was using a Kumihimo braiding circle and we got to talking.  She had an interesting way to make her clasps and so did her daughter.  we exchanged telephone #'s, she lives in Kingsport TN.  I'd love to talk to her some more.  makes me want to get out my beads and such. While there I bought 2 Tomato Plants. one and Amish Heritage Tomato and the other a big boy... can't wait to get real tomatoes from them.  Now I need to get a pot & potting soil for them..  :) 

Yesterday I accompanied Valoriea to Grant's Chapel in Jefferson City to her Herb Workshop.  Wow! did she give an awesome presentation.  I learned a lot about Herbs, and some surprising tidbits too.  I got some English Thyme to take home and one of the ladies, Dee, shared a sprig of Cuban Oregano from her plant.  She had gotten the plant as a cutting from Valoriea last year.  I also sat by Frances who invited me to the French Broad Quilters on the 1st Thursday of the month in Sevierville, TN.  I am feeling so happy and relaxed here.  I can't believe it's only been a week already.

More adventures in my New Tennessean Home.

The view from my bedroom window

Friday May 16th - This evening proved to be a bit chiller than I would have liked only 56 degrees out and still rainy with intermittent sunshine.  I had to turn on my heat for a bit to get it back up to a comfortable level for me. :(  The bird feeder is up and the birds are enjoying it.  I have some Martins, Cardinals, Robins, Pigeons and Doves.  The boy Dove keeps messing with the girl Dove so she flew off leaving him to sit alone on the wires till she feels like coming back Ha Ha Ha...

The new MiFi is working well so now I have my printer operational and I am happy.  Can't wait to get my Direct TV hooked up.  Need to wait for funds tho so it might not be for a week or 2.  :{

I just had a great supper - a sandwich on Italian bread with garlic spread cheese slices and fresh tomatoes warmed in the mic.  yum!  Later I will have a nice cup of hot tea, for now I will rest a bit then unpack more boxes.  Yesterday I tried Goats milk for the 1st time.  It was good and did not upset my stomach at all like cows milk does.  I just might switch.  :} 

Tomorrow my friend Valoriea is giving a presentation on Herbs at the Jefferson City Sr Center and she invited me to go along with her.  I am looking forward to that.


Life is Good, God is Great! 

My Move to Tennessee.

Today is Day 3 of my new home in Tennessee.  I arrived here in Newport Tenn on Sunday, "Mother's Day", no less.  We had left Hudson Wisconsin on the 9th of May about 5:30pm and drove thru to near Rockford Ill on rt 39 in Illinois before we stopped for the Eve.  I rented 2 rooms for $75 each/night.  the Boys got to share a room while Beth and I took the other one.  It made me giggle because the boys are grown men now and the thought of sharing a room seemed strange.  "Tee-Hee" male bonding time for the brothers, Raymond, Micheal, Earl and Friend Marcelino.  After breakfast  we set off again for another long day of driving.  Beth rode with me, Raymond rode with Michael and Marcelino rode with Earl.  We drove thru Bloomington/Normal in Illinois then over Indianapolis Indiana,

Adventures in my New Tennessee Home

The view from my Bedroom Window.  Sometimes there are even cows, or horses grazing  

One of the cows has a calf and one of the horses has a colt, both born this spring right here in the pasture. 

Friday, May 16, 2014 - Today I sit at my computer with my front door open and the screen down on the storm door it is the start of a lovely day, the sun is shining and the birds are singing in my front yard.  It is a cool morning, the beginning of a new day and my 5^th day here at my new home in Tennessee.  I am enjoying the chorus from the various birds at the feeders.  I sat on my porch eating my breakfast and watching the birds at the feeders.  Yesterday I bought a small bird feeder and a shepherds hook to hang it on.  Now to get the bird feed for it and then I can watch them gather around at my feeder.  Today I will go to Walmart or Lowe's to check out the cost of rugs to place by my front door and side door.  Money is very tight right now so I won’t be buying much, but window shopping is great! 

Today I plan to unpack a few more boxes and hopefully start sewing some mug rugs that I need for a swap,  they have to be in the mail by next week.   

Well I just returned from my trip to Walmart & the price of my printer cartridges are considerably less than Office Max to my delight so now I know were to get them.  I also stopped by the Verizon store to check out about WiFi and bought a MiFi so now I have Internet and I can take my WiFi device anywhere.  Yeah!  I'm hooked up to the internet - so now to call AT&T back and cancel service....  My next project is Direct TV.  Also stopped by the Electric Company and paid my fee so now I'm hooked up to my electricity.... and the bill that comes with it of course.  LOL 

The new bird-feeder is up and now I can watch the birds gather around it.  

The view from my front porch at my Neighbor Pat's house across the street

The view from my porch looking towards my friend Valoriea's truck and the 

        Barns in the pasture that borders her side of the Duplex I'm living in

 

Another Rainy Day! Another Rainy Day! ......

Today is day 7 of my Moving Sale.  For the past four days the song "Another Rainy Day"  has been going thru my mind as it has been so cold and rainy.  the 1st few days of the sale were good with an influx of people coming and going but then came the rain & it just does not want to stop.  I guess it could be worse...SNOW! NO!  There have been some snow flakes mixed in there but not much...  I have been continuing to sort thru my sewing room to determine what to keep and what to let go... either for sale or the thrift shop.  Yesterday my friends stopped by and did brighten my day with thier visit.  It is so fun to visit with them.  Thanks, Terry, Sue, Susan and Millie for your visit.  

I just closed the garage door to let it warm up a bit in the garage.  My daughter Nan had a brilliant Idea to keep the garage door opener with me and open it when I see cars or people coming.  what a great Idea.  

Well my coffee is finished and I must get back to my sorting.  Onward! - is my motto these days.  It's incredible to believe I will be packing the car and the truck for my move this day next week.... WOW! 

My neighbors have been so swell.  Artie, Verle, Paul, Janita & Kathy.  Thanks so much for your support and caring.... I am truly blessed. 

A rainy morning with a major winter storm brewing!

Outside my kitchen window is grey and dull with raindrops on the window and a light covering of snow on the ground.  A major Winter storm is brewing here in Wisconsin with the temp at 32 degrees to include rain sleet and a large amt of SNOW in the forecast for later in the day.  Inside I am warm and comfortable and EXCITED!  My move to Tennessee is becoming more real each day as I go thru my "STUFF" and pack.  Most of my "stuff" I'm putting in the "GARAGE/MOVING SALE!" box.  I am trying to pare down to the bare minimum of things to take with me.  Tuesday my youngest daughter came over to help me go thru the boxes in the garage and after 4 large boxes I have tagged 98% for the sale.  the bin under the table that I am keeping is only 1/4 full.  I feel very proud of myself.  I have found some treasures in the boxes.  One is a lovely white porcelain Tea Pot melter from Party light. I forgot I even had it, I'm keeping that of course.  Then I found some sculpting tools and finished pieces along with a lot of polymer clay!  I'll keep the tools and finished pieces and have tagged the clay for the sale.

Yeah!  Among the boxes filled with crafting items I found a basket filled with photo's of my kids/grand kids when they were younger!  I'm going to scan them 1st and then I would like to give them away to my children and grandchildren.  They were by far the best treasure yet.  3 boxes down out of many to go but at least it is moving forward.

My living-room is becoming a bit more organized as I push thru it, tagging most of my stuff for the sale and boxing up others.  Yesterday I finished packing 2 boxes with Photos, etc and have 1/2 box filled - Whew! quite a job.  Last night I was up till 3am (only because I drank a cup of regular coffee from Quick Trip late in the early eve!  It was sooo good I couldn't put it down until it was all gone, knowing full well how caffeine affects me if I drink it later in the afternoon.

I did take a nice little break yesterday afternoon and went over to the community Ctr and played cards with my friends for a little while... 

Well I better eat my breakfast late lunch right now and get dressed I'm supposed to go to a buffet lunch with my retired friends from Church. 

What a nice week it has been

Zuri learning how to use the Rotary Cutter Safely.

It's been a lovely week with my Granddaughter Zuri visiting Sunday we had supper at my daughter Beth's house, Monday we slept in late, had pancakes for breakfast/brunch then went out to the store and came home and had steak, potatoes and broccoli for supper & watched the long Island Medium.  Today we went downtown to my quilting group and she helped me cut squares for a baby rag quilt I'm making, had Subs for lunch and came home and watched movies, "Despicable me 2, Saving Mr Banks & Frozen then watched the little couple on TV - a nice "Movie Night".  Ate pot pies for dinner and snacked on pears, apples and cinnamon rolls.  Tomorrow we will go down to the Willow River Creative Ctr to work on making fused pendants then its time to pack up and take her home & Honey Home so when Mom and Dad arrive she will be there. 

It's a bright sunny and Chilly Sunday Morning

This is the Small Mug Rug I finished for my Granddaughter Echo.

I am so glad the sun is out today.  It is still  very cold her in Wisconsin, - 13 and that doesn't include the windchill.  There is a Wind Chill advisory out till the afternoon... Brrr - I'm so glad that I am inside nice and warm and safe.  I looked out my window this morning and saw fresh deer prints stretching across the side yard in the direction of my front porch.  I bet the deer was out looking for something to nibble at but the snow here is so deep all the shrubs are covered. 

I plan on working in my Studio today making more "You Have My Heart" blocks.  I made 3 already and sent one to my granddaughter Echo as a present for her 6th Birthday, (I included a small Doll and a hair bow along with a packet of hot chocolate).  I am enjoying paper piecing these blocks. Today I want to do one in Greens for March.


I also downloaded the paper pieced pattern for the March Paper Pieced Postcard BOM for my FB Quilting group so I will work on that today. 

Happy Sunday Morning - Sunshine and Blue Skies

Today holds the promise of a new day.  The sun is out and shining brightly on last weeks snow and the skies area a shade of light blue the thermometer on my computer screen reads 5 degrees.  Yes it is cold here in Wisconsin today. Each morning I look out my bathroom window as I do my exercises to see how the weather is, (see the picture below for the view from my bathroom window.)  The snow mounds in my back yard, (put there by the fellow who plows our road and driveways here at Heritage Cottages,) are covered in clean white snow and the small tree that was burdened with the heavy snow is now only lightly coated thanks to the whipping winds that come off of highway 35 as the cars travel 2 and from their destinations.  The Pines that line the edge of the property also are still covered in heavy snow giving them a "Post Card" look.  There are no deer or rabbit tracks in the snow today - it's just too cold. Boy! those animals are smart - they are staying under deep cover where they can be warm and dry.  That's OK the stalks from my flower bushes along side my patio are covered fully now with over 3' of snow on them due to the drifts of snow.  My Patio furniture and grill are huddling under a tarp that looks like a snow drift itself.   I just love it when it is this clean and white outside, don't you?  Here are the pictures taken on Thursday when we had blizzard like snowfall all day.

The View from my bathroom window 

The view from my Kitchen Window

Yeah! the weather has broke!

February Postcard  BOM Block # 1

My Russian Doll Applique

The Peace Dove

Yeah! I was able to go to my bible study group this am ... the Temp is 25 degrees above zero today no snow and minimal wind.  I was able to get out of the house for a short time to enjoy time with friends.  Only 2 hrs out but such a great relief.  I even was able to use my shoes instead of my boots today... I could have gone out with the retired friends from church to our monthly get together but I thought I should take it easy so here I am back at home.  I will eat a light lunch, rest and maybe even sew a little today.... I am taking it a day at a time and trying to be gentle with myself.  It's been almost 2 1/2 weeks since surgery and i am sore but healing great!   I went to my follow-up appointment with the Nurse Practitioner and have been cleared to carry 20# now and in 4 weeks I can carry 30#'s, then 4 weeks later I can carry whatever I can handle.  I don't have to go back unless I have a problem and the nerve pain/discomfort should be back to normal in 3 - 4 months.  Yeah!  Well, now for lunch and then I will watch TV for a while and later work on my quilting projects....  My February BOM Postcard block for my Facebook Group - Quilting, and Mug Rugs for my Swap with Michelle at the quilting Gallery.

3 days post op - home and healing

Today I'm 3 days post op from my back surgery.   I haven't been able to sit down at my sewing machine to quilt yet but I am definitely thinking about it which is a very good thing.  Monday I went in for surgery and when I woke up I found that I had to spend the night because I had developed a "leak" from a tear, not too bad but I had to be flat on my back till 6am in the morning.  Now I do not normally sleep on my back and spend less than 5 min on my back at a time so this was tantamount to torture.  so on Tuesday morning when they told me I could sit up and move around I was delighted.  I was hoping to go home that evening.  In the afternoon I was very dizzy with a stiff neck and a headache.  they determined that it was due to my pain med and that i needed to stay for another day... Oh my! but at least I could move around and sit on the chair to watch TV.  I arrived home yesterday afternoon before the snowstorm and got settled in.  I found that things were going to be ok, although I didn't feel up to sewing yet I could navigate my bed and home without too much discomfort.  I loaded my chairs with extra pillows, brought my iron patio chair with the arms in from the porch so I could sit at my kitchen table and retrieved my reacher so I would be able to pick up things off the floor without bending.  My daughter Beth stayed with me a while after I arrived home then my daughter Nan came over in the evening to help me with supper.  I went to bed early and slept well and found I could navigate around just using my cane.  I feel blessed by all the caring friends and family and many prayer warriors I have surrounding me.  Thank you Lord!  I really want to blog more but find I am not able to sit long at my desk so tomorrow is another day... maybe I'll be able to blog and put some pictures up.    

I'm back on my blogs! yippeee!

Thanks JC & Max for helping me to figure out why i was unable to post on my blogspot blogs.  It took a while and Max was patient with me allowing me to catch up when i got lost.  but now I am back on and so glad.  It has been a difficult week or two of posting from my tablet. sometimes not being able to post pictures, (which are a big part of my post's).  So now I can get back up to speed and work on my projects.  So Thank you Max and JC! I am ever grateful. 

it's an early morning for me. just woke up, looked out the window..

 The view from my bathroom window is limited, showing the highway lift up by the frequent headlights off passing cars, people on the way to work.  I'm so glad I don't have to go out this early anymore.  Ah! Retirement, whata sweet time in my life.  I have the luxury of time.  Time to take things at an easier pace and to rush only when I need to.  It's only 6:30 in the morning, in bask in bed writing this post on my tablet. LatelyI have been unable to access my blogs with my computer, a glitch in my windows program.  I've tried to fix it by downloading a newer version but it still doesn't work!  Darn! Any suggestions? Here is my picture for the day.  A rainbow from Ireland!  Ah' I remember it well.

A    

Christmas Eve 2013

It is Christmas Eve.  I am sitting here at my computer writing this blog, drinking hot chocolate & listening to Christmas Carols.  The weather outside is Frightful a full 10 degrees, windy and snowing.  A winter storm has started and should last all night with wind chill in the - 0's.  Brrrrrr. I tried to lay down for a short nap earlier but had to get up because my hands were so cold.  I put the electric heater on in my home because it was getting a bit cold inside because of the - 0 wind chills here today.  I have been finishing up so last minuet projects and decorating my tree then I
plan to watch more Christmas shows on TV for the Evening.  Earlier in the day it was sunny but very cold, now it is grey and snowy.  tomorrow is Christmas day and I can't wait to see my family.  We are meeting at Nancy's for Dinner.  The weather will be a bit warmer and the snow should stop around midnight tonight.  Merry Christmas all. 

my newest grandaughter

Last eve my newest grandchild was born to my younrst son Earl and his Fiance Rikki.  Little Amelia Lynn Elizabeth.  She was born 11 minutes to ten. A beautiful little girl who have stolen the hearts of her grandparents and Aunts and Uncles.  I feel truly blessed and deasrly love my large and growing family.

Baby Amelia's Birthday today?

The Mack and Swett familes are here at the hospital waiting for the birth of our granddaughter Amelia.  At 2pm they plan to start pitocin and then things should progress pretty fast for momma Rikki and Daddy Earl.  Grandparents Bobbie and Marshall Mack and Diane Swett (me) & Uncle Jacob are hear in the cheering section. Yea!  This will be their 1st grandchild and my 31st. Wow  i can hardly believe my youngest boy is going to have his 1st child, I feel truly blessed.