Happy, Happy, Merry, Merry

Some say “Eat drink and be merry, for next week we must diet” But we say “May all your dreams come true. Have a blessed Christmas and a merry New Year” We’re loving you.

Ed and Sandra.

Happy Happy Merry Merry Christmas.

And I have so much to be happy and merry about. My Physical Therapist was here yesterday. She says I have full range of motion in my right knee and about 95% in my left knee. That is 16 days from point of knife to full range of motion, PTL.

I have been blessed with so many cards letters and calls. My husband, (Mr. Ed) has been just wonderful. He could make someone a really good wife someday.:>) My daughter came for 6 days. She did something for me that no one had ever done for me before. She read an entire novel to me; one of Fiona Buckley’s series on Queen Elizabeth thie first’s court.

I went into this knowing that it would be hard, but it has not been as bad as I expected. I know I have a ways to go but I am surely on my way to a speedy recovery. Then it is on to see what I can get into in 2010. Be Blessed

Yooo Hooo, Where are you?

You probably have been wondering where this blog owner has been. I am her daughter and wanted to let you know.

Sandy now has two new knees (no, not "nieces," -- KNEES -- those bendy things in the middle of your legs!)

Sandy has been walking bone-on-bone for about ten years. Besides the obvious pain, this has been very difficult for such an active, vivacious septuagenarian.

But now, well, NOW, there's no stopping her! She has undergone two separate surgeries with stellar recoveries for each. She's surprising her surgeon, her physical therapist, the nurses, her friends and family with her joyfully gritted determination to get'r done and get home.

The usual holidays celebrations will probably have to be scaled back quite a bit. However, she's planning on dancing non-stop on Valentine's day!

Buttons Buttons Who 's Got The Buttons

Me! There is always someone bringing stuff to donate to the Senior Center where I teach. Some of you are familiar with process, cast offs. Well, today someone brought ribbons, lace,floral supplies and a jar of buttons. I dibbed them, you know put the make on them :>)

We, my class and I, had great fun over who got the jar of buttons . I plan to make jewlery, broaches, and the like. I may also make little dolls. Once some time ago my daughter ask "Mommy when you die can I have your buttons" :>)

I got the laugh of my life this morning. My brother and his wife came to give me a greeting card (they were in the area). On the front of the card was a picture of Roseanna banana, and on the front it said"SO" you open the card and a recording began to say " I'm depressed, I have a headache, my ankles are swollen, I'm, consitpated, my gums are bleeding, my sinus' are swollen , and I have gas.

Well I just roared :>) The message read, "When someone asks you how are after your surgery, give them this card."

Today was my last class, probably until February (knee surgery on Monday). I will really miss the laughter. We have the greatest fun. We also have some really good artist. Be Blessed

PIE IN HEAVEN

While I was cleaning a persimmon for lunch I though of blog. This is a new experience (not thinking but my blog) ;^).

Several years ago I bought my husband a Fuji persimmon tree for Christmas. Persimmons are such a beautiful fruit. They are bright red orange. In north Texas they sell for about $1.29 each.

Our tree attracted quite a lot of attention this last week. We had the doorbell to ring. I answered, there stood a Tonganese woman, whom I had never seen before. She ask if she could have some of our fruit, and ask, "what is it anyway". I told her that it was Fuji persimmon and that it was not quite ripe as yet, but she could have a couple.

My husband, who is a very generous man, went and got a large coffee can and filled it for her. She then proceed to reach up and take two more! The next day there was a ring at the door and I answered it. There stood a Hispanic man whom I had never seen before. He could not speak English, but made me understand that he would like to have some fruit. I said he could have a couple as they were not quite ripe. He proceeded to the tree and got two and put in his pocket. Then he reached up for more. I stepped out and said, "That is enough!"

Two days the Tongenese woman and her husband and child came to the door and ask for more fruit. Something came over me and I said, "No, if (his) wife had not taken advantage of my husband's kindness, I would have said yes."

Man, was my husband upset with me! Well, we went out of town for a day. The next day we found a branch broken out of our poor little tree.

Anyway, enough of that.

I wanted to show you the fruit and pass on a couple of recipes that I have invented in order to use the fruit:

Heavenly Persimmon Pie

2 large persimmons cut into slices or chopped in a medium saucepan cover and bring to a boil cook until tender.

Add 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 tsp cinnimon, 1 heaping Tablespoon corn starch, Add one can apple pie filling. Stir well. Poor into a deep unbaked pie shell, cover crimp and flute edges. Brush with milk. Bake 15 minutes at 425 lower to 350 bake for 45 minutes or until golden brown.

My son says if there is pie in heaven this will be it. ;^)

YUMMY PERSIMMON CAKE

Mix wet ingredients together:

1/2 cups butter

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup chopped apricots

1 cup raisns

1 cup Crasins (dried cranberries)1 cup chopped persimmons

1/2 cup prune juice

Dry ingredients :

1 3/4 cups flour

1/2 tsp ground clove

1 tsp soda1/2 salt

Cream butter and sugar together with egg. Add fruit. Add dry ingredients.

Pour into a bunt pan. Bake for 1 hour, check after 45 minutes. Yum

Waiting In The Wings

My double knee replacement surgery in only a few days away. I cannot say I am nervous or fearful. I am not eager either, but I know that it will change my life as; as my quality of life has deteriorated vastly. I am a very active body and to sitting months on end is not my character atall, atall. I haven't driven the car in nearly three months. The poor thing in whinning for lack of attention. I will miss my painting class as they are my salvation from tedium. I went for my pre-op this morning. I answered all questions they could think of to ask. They took the x-rays and blood I think they used a crow-bar to administer the process it hurt so bad.

I just had to see my brother before my surgery. My spirit demanded it. So my husband got me up very early on Saturday and took me to East Texas to spend the day. My brother and his wife are a hoot. We laughed and laughed; about nothing especially. We were just high on joy. My brother had a double knee surgery a couple of years ago. He had his surgery on a Monday and was back in church the following Sunday. I was telling my Dr. that and he said that was very rare. I replied that he is a Wasson and so am I ,and we are tuff. smiles

We had a really nice Thanksgiving. We went to my nephew's for dinner. He lived with us when he was a teenager (oh my god). He grew up to be such a nice young man. He has such a wonderful work ethic.

We watched the cutest movie the other night. The movie was filmed in the early 70's. Butterflies Are Free. It has some of the cutest puns. It has been years since we had seen it. If you haven't seen it in a while go to the library and check it out. It may have to become my favorite movie, after Thoroughly Millie and You've Got Mail. smiles

Simply Blessed and Thankful

Simply stated, by grace, my life has been truly blessed. I am continually amazed when I think about it. As I look back over our lives we were blessed to have healthy children. My husband and I have had good health. Good health can not purchased no matter how much money you have.“Simple Abundance Sara Ban Breathnach. A gift from above.

My husband never was without a job. That is a praise in of it's self. We made the decision early in our marriage that I would stay at home with the children, Especially since he traveled from early Monday to late Friday. We gave up a lot of frills in order to do that. “Homemaking when done correctly can kill you “ Erma Bombeck. Smiles My grandmother use to say “We don't have any good house keepers anymore, they all died of hard work"

We love our little house where we have lived for 45 years. It is just a little house-house , it is warm in the winter and cool in the summer .We have never wanted to move up to bigger and bigger houses. We have been happy to just be.

I am so happy to see a beautiful sunset, to smell the freshness after a rain, or look at beautiful flower, I can not resist gathering leaves in the Fall. My favorite time of day is late afternoon when the shadows are long.
In our yard there are several weeds that are just beautiful and they are hardy. We let them grow at random and it is refreshing to look at. Kinda of a country garden. We have traveled some. When the children were young we went to Colorado nine years in succession.

We took the children to Annapolis Maryland. To visit a brother

We took the children and their grandmother to San Francisco. to visit another brother .

When our daughter was one year old we took a babysitter with us. Remember my husband traveled.

Later when my husband retired we traveled extensively with his brother. We went all over the southwest across the south and to the Bahamas, We went to Mexico several times.

We have enough to share. We look at each and grin and say “Aren't we blessed”! So looking back we are truly blessed, and truly Thankful

Just Stuff

My double knee replacement surgeries are fast approaching. My husband and went to what the Orthopedic Specialist call JOINT CAMP on Thursday evening. They answered all our concerns. I know I must seem daft but I am eager to get on with it. I know that I am in for a world of hurt, but I am looking toward the light at the end of the tunnel. have endured this long enough. It was suggested not to wear gowns but P.J. I have been busy preparing outer wear suitable for Physical Therapy. Today I took inventory of the freezer, to make sure we have enough casseroles.
I have been planing art projects that I can do while recovering. I am not one to sit idle. My little great grand mother use to say “ Idle hands ore a devils workshop”. She came to live with us when my mother passed away when I was just 8 years 0f age. I can remember many of her colloquialisms. One that I live by is “Use what you have, wear it out, make it do, or do without” I worked on my little Christmas quilt as well. I embellishments to do as yet. Then I can begin the quilting process. I love hand quilting. I am not good at it but that is OK .My grand mother taught me to quilt when I was just a wee tot. As I grew up I was not impressed with quilting I thought it was just “Ho Hum” until Emanda took me to a major quilt show in Dallas Texas , was just over whelmed. at the imagination of the quilters. I was hooked. I never taught my daughter to quilt, she found that skill all on her own and she is awesome at it. I am so impressed with those who can make all the points match. I mostly make crazy quilts and cheater applique ( with wonder under) I like to embellish much ,much. My daughter says mamas favorite color is “Sparkle” and she is right I like beads and ribbon and lush fabrics. I am blessed with three friends who were decorators, who loaded me down with fabric samples so I did not go wanting with wonderful fabrics. At first I took the fabrics mostly because I was ignorant to the type of fabric that real quilters use, but I wanted it for my daughter. But she couldn't use so what was I to do but take up quilting. After I had gifted everyone with the larger pieces I started little projects and my daughter was good to help me with quilting techniques
Be blessed and remember “All our days come from the same Source”

Christmas Quilts (second time's a charm)

In all my days I have always loved Christmas. I love to decorate for Christmas. For about 10 years I have been making Christmas quilts. Here is 2008's Christmas quilt.

I am going to be sitting for several months with recovery from knee surgery, so I am into making 2010's , because I am going to want something to occupy my mind and hands since I just finished quilting this year’s. Early, I know, but I have been sitting for 2/12 months from a sprained knee. I Quilted 4 quilts already while recovering.

I have been working on my little 2010 quilt this week. I went to my sketchbook and took down my thoughts on secular Christmas images. Such as snowmen, Santa Claus’, Christmas trees , jack-in-the-box. I then thought what could I do to tie all different types of images altogether. I decided to use pin-dot fabric, in different colors.

I then went to the fabric store and purchased a navy blue pin dot for background fabric.

I have several colors of pin-dot in my stash. I chose dots because of snow. I thought I could make larger white dots for snow in the night scene. I also chose a multicolor funkie stripe fabric and the pin-dot fabric for the border. I decided to use the organizational principal of repetition in all the blocks and using the border fabric as accents in all the blocks.

Here are some images of the blocks.

Here's the Finished Top!

Frustrated

In all of my life I have loved Christmas. I love to decorate for Christmas. For the past few years I have made Christmas quilts. Here is 2009's Christmas.quilt.



I have been recovering from from a sprain for 2/12 mos. I got 4 quilts quilted and read 7 books. Now that I am going to have surgery I will need something to keep my mind and hands busy and off pain. I am planning 2010's quilt early yes. I have started over with this blog 45 times and every time I think I am going to conqure I lose everything and have to start over I have taken photos of the process that I go thru. but have been unable to get the blog process to co-operate so I will have to wait for Emanda to help me. Well what are lovely daughters for? If not to help their mothers .smiles

My Passion For Today

Have you ever been so excited about a new project that you just could not get it off your mind? Well that is where I am today. However I had to finish the watercolor I planned and dmonstrated on Friday. First of all to prove that I could and also because that is how I am. Here is the watercolor finished, Now I can get on with my passion. Will it is my passion for today. Because I haven't decided what I want to be when I grow up.

Amusing Myself

Have you ever bounced out of your bed the sun, shining and thought “Gee what am I going to do today”? I am the most happy when I can look forward to creating something, form nothing. Only thing is I just can't decide what I want to be when I grow up. Yesterday I called friend to come paint with me. Our fall weather is just lovely so we painted on the patio for hours. I amused myself with drawing parallel line designs. Then went for lunch at a little restaurant near our home.. When we returned I set myself to planing a watercolor from a original photo of a setup I had arranged. I will demonstrate the process to my students on Friday. To day I am planing my next quilt. I will first go to my sketchbook to get all my thoughts down before they vanish. This an example of my latest. I call it My Seed Catalogue Quilt.

Be blessed

All Soul's Day

I have a couple of daily reads. Anna Griffith's In His Arms and Sara Ban Breathnach's Simple Abundance In simple Abundance this morning she speaks to All Souls Day. Which really got my attention. Only after all of creation did the great CREATOR breath, breath into the soul. She ask us to examine ourselves as to what it will take to nourish the soul. For me each day it is to create something. It is color that speaks to my very depth. I have been creating quilts using fabric samples to their full potential. When I learn to upload images I will send examples
Be Blessed

More about me!

Hey there it's it's a lovely Scottish like day. All our days come from the same source. It's what we do to them that makes the bad days. I have never been to Scotland but this is what my daughter tells me,smiles
I have a husband of 53 years and two lovely children. A daughter who is sooo talented it exudes from her finger tips. And a son who is so tall and a wonderful pilot , and very talented as well. I could go on and on. What is a mother to do.
I am a watercolorists and an art teacher. I teach the seniors at the Senior Center. Don't think poof! I have some very talented students. More later Sandy from MY COLORING BOX

Sandy's Coloring Box

Hello World, Here I am -- I LOVE, LOVE, love color! One of my some favorite things to do is to pull out my watercolor palette and play with the colors to see who plays best with whom. Follow me on my color journey!