Wanda

Saturday Is Race Day

Published on July 9, 2016 by WandaLeave a comment

Tonight is the NASCAR race in Kentucky. Qualifying was cancelled due to rain. They will be lined up according to owners points. Kasey Khane starts 18th. He hit the wall in practice and they spent a lot of time repairing his Great Clips car. So, I really don’t know how much practice he actually got. I am beginning to think that if it were not for bad luck, he’d have no luck at all. He’s certainly been in a terrible slump for a couple of years. I just can’t figure out what the problem is. He’s talented and has good equipment. Hopefully this lull he’s been in will end soon.

We had a terrible storm last night. The wind and lightning was unreal. I’m so happy to see sunshine today. I didn’t sleep too well with all the noise from the storm, so I read in bed. I’m having a lazy day here at the Pallace. I don’t want to overdue so that I stay awake tonight to see the race. 🙂

I’m off to make some spool pin doilies.

Have a nice day!

Happy Friday

Published on July 8, 2016 by WandaLeave a comment

I have a few book reviews today. I actually found that there were a few books I had neglected to add to my spread sheet or to my Goodreads. So I spent some time getting that all caught up this morning. So here are my newest reviews, just maybe not in order.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another classic reread. It’s still as good as it was when I read it years ago.

A Soldier’s Promise by Laura Scott

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a Christian based love story set in the fictitious town of Crystal Lake. Julie, an ER nurse is on duty when Derek and his six year old daughter Lexi are involved in a motor vehicle accident. Having no one in town, Derek accepts Julie’s offer of them staying in her vacant townhouse. She lives in it’s twin next store and has been renovating the vacant one. To repay her kindness, Derek works on the renovations. One thing leads to another and Julie learns that Lexi’s grandparents want to take her away from her dad which has caused them to flee St. Louis. Julie convinces Derek it is better to go back and face them then continue running. It is a touching story with a happy ending. 🙂 I loved it.

When Love Calls by Lorna Seilstad

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A lovely story about Hannah Gregory who is raising her sisters due to her parent’s death from influenza. She struggles to find a job where she can manage to follow the rules. She meets the handsome Lincoln when he show up at her family farm to inform her that it has been repossessed by the bank. She attempts to fight it, but she and her sisters are left homeless. She sees an add for telephone operators. The “Hello Girls” at the Iowa Telephone Company. She procures a job, and meets Rosie. They become fast friends. When Rosie realizes Hannah must find a place to live, her mother rents her small cottage to Hannah.

True to Hannah’s personality, she has trouble with all the rules at work. She is reassigned to evening shift to a more relaxed supervisor, but still has trouble.

She is surprised that Lincoln shows up the day she has to move out. He brought a wagon to help them move. She is furious; he is the one taking her home away. But since no one else is there to help, she relents and they get her moved into a small rented house. She questions his motives. After a lot of fireworks, she realizes that Lincoln is being sincere with his intentions. And love blooms.

However there is trouble. Someone is setting fires; Hannah’s life long friend is accused of setting them and is arrested. Lincoln represents him which causes a problem for him at work. The senior partners are not sure that he should continue representing Hannah’s friend. It gets a little complicated with everyone having their own agenda. I enjoyed this book very much.

A Mother’s Day Murder by Dee Ernst

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another cozy mystery series. This is the first I have read this author. She had a bit more mystery to it with a couple of things I didn’t see coming. The heroine finds herself involved in looking for the missing mother of two little boys that go to school with her daughter. She catches their father in a couple of lies that lead her to the conclusion that she has been murdered by him. A few of her friends jump on board with the sleuthing and they involve a police detective. Like I said there were a few twists and turns with a hint of romance brewing. A quick easy read.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is one of my favorite books from when I was a young girl. A timeless classic. Had to read it again. I have a quilter friend that made a quilt entitled Little Women. The fabrics are reproduction Civil War fabrics.

This has been a crazy week. We’ve had a lot of rain and it just makes me want to sit and read. Unfortunately, I don’t have a maid to do the chores. So, I have been dragging myself around the house doing the cleaning and…well you get what I mean. I have gotten a little sewing done too. As soon as I get some pictures taken, I’ll post them. As you can see I haven’t even been blogging. I don’t want to fall into that habit again. I really do like sharing my thoughts with ya’ll. Did you like that “ya’ll”. I am becoming southern. 🙂 I think I always belonged down here in the South.

Read something good today, take a stitch or two, and have a blessed day.

Happy 4th of July!

Published on July 4, 2016April 27, 2017 by WandaLeave a comment

So, what’s everyone doing for today? Picnic? Parade? Fireworks? All so much fun. I, however, am home with hubby watching TV. Our kids are all tied up with things and I have to say it’s really too hot to be outside. At least for me.

I finally got a couple of books read. My Fibro acted up, so have spent a few days doing nothing but reading. I am finally starting to feel better today. Not great, but much better. This fibro is a mess, it won’t kill you, but it sure can wish you were dead. If you know what I mean.

We are having picnic food for dinner. Hubby is cooking it now as I write this. He does spoil me. 🙂 He has actually been doing most of the cooking for years. I had gone back to school and was working full time. He really pitched in. Oh, he does the laundry too! Yes I am one blessed woman.

Needless to say I have not gotten any sewing done. But got fabric cut, and patterns pinned. Tomorrow I will get them cut out.

Happy Celebration Everyone!

Happ Birthday Alannah

Published on July 1, 2016April 27, 2017 by WandaLeave a comment

Today is my granddaughter Alannah’s 8th birthday. She is quite the young lady. She loves dancing and shopping. Yes I said shopping. She loves to shop for clothes and shoes and jewelry. She definitely takes after her mother’s side of the family.

Alannah dances in competition. She started when she was 5. She usually wins too. She is such a delight. I call her my Twinkle Toes. This is a picture of her at her recital in May.

Today is also the day we lost my father-in-law, Hal Williams. We can never celebrate Alannah’s birthday without also celebrating dad’s life too.

Spend some time today with a needle and thread.

Wild Wednesday

Published on June 29, 2016April 27, 2017 by WandaLeave a comment

This week’s feature is the Sandhill Crane. This photo was taken in Longwood Florida along one of the State Roads.

Photo by Red Huber

These cranes are monogamous breeders. The young are able to follow their parents away from the nest within 24 hours of hatching.

You know, I just love birds. Well that is I love to watch birds, especially ones that were so foreign to me growing up in the North. To see these birds along the road as you are driving is amazing to me. I always have my camera with me in the car. Even here in southeastern North Carolina, the birds are amazing to me. If I can safely pull over, I am out of the car with camera in hand.

Have a good day!

Tuesday Guild Day

Published on June 28, 2016 by WandaLeave a comment

Today is my guild’s program day. We meet twice a month and the second meeting is usually for a set program. Today’s program is a workshop by one of our members, Donna Lockwood. She will be teaching the Wacky Nine Patch. The tutorial for this can be found here. I looked at the fabric requirements and I realized I didn’t have a layer cake and didn’t have enough time to cut yardage for the project so I decided not to go. I also didn’t particularly want to make this quilt.

I ran into one of my fellow guild members at Walmart yesterday afternoon. It was good to see Ellen. I feel like I have been away so long. I am anxious to get back to quilting again. I picked up the cutest outfit for Isabella for her first 4th of July. I hope to get some of those fancy pants made today so that tomorrow I can get them in the mail tomorrow.

It’s Race Day

Published on June 26, 2016 by WandaLeave a comment

The NASCAR race is in Sonoma today. It’s a road course, not my favorite type of race, but I will still be watching it. I have to cheer my driver, Kasey Kahne on. He’s not having a great year. It is, however, better than the last two. He finishes well here. Maybe his first win of the year will come today. I sure hope so.

My kids call me a Redneck. Can you believe that? They think it’s funny that I watch the races. Funny thing is, I got interested in it when my son was young in the ’80’s. He teases that since I have moved south I have gone over to the dark side. LOL

My husband has been a fan since before we were married. We actually were going to a race at the Trenton Speedway and it was rained out. Of course his favorite driver was Richard Petty. He never liked Ernhardt. If he was the bad boy of racing, Petty was the gentleman. Now that I understand about racing, I can understand why Petty was his favorite.

Have a good Sunday.

Slow Moving Saturday

Published on June 25, 2016April 27, 2017 by WandaLeave a comment

I’m sitting here with my second cup of coffee wishing I was still in bed. Ever have days like that? It started storming yesterday afternoon and it continued through the night. It still looks like rain outside this morning. It would definitely be a good day to curl up with a good book. I can’t believe how much the grass and trees are growing from all this rain. Before I know it our forest will grow back again!

Speaking of reading. I haven’t read a book all week. I have started a couple, but just couldn’t stay with it. I guess maybe I needed a break, or maybe it was the books not appealing to me. What ever it is I hope it goes away. I have my goal of 100 books to read this year. And I would really like to meet that goal.

I have fibromyalgia and this weather plays havoc with my body. It won’t kill you, but it sure makes you miserable at times. Hubby worries about me. He has a hard time with the concept that I can’t stay in bed because I am having pain. And he thinks food makes everything OK. I am so blessed to have him in my life. He is always there for me no matter what.

So, as I was sitting here I was thinking about cows. That’s right, I said cows. I am surrounded with them in my office. Or at least half of my office. Hubby and I actually share our office. So on his side he has sports memorabilia. We each have our own desks and desk top computers. He hates when anyone touches his computer, but let that computer ask him a question and he calls me to take care of it. LOL

We have live cows that live on the small farm across the field behind us. I love to hear them moo, especially at night while I am lying in bed. We used to have a farmer across the highway from us who had quite a few cows, but he moved away and took his cows with him. 😦 But that’s OK, I have my own herd all over my house. I have 25 cow cooking jars here in my office alone. They make me smile. No matter what my mood, it always improves when I look at my cows. Take a look. See what I mean?

Stay dry and enjoy your day!

TBT

Published on June 23, 2016April 27, 2017 by WandaLeave a comment

Well yesterdays plans didn’t work out. I got nothing done in my quilting room or anywhere else for that matter. What can I say. I really am a lazy one. 🙂

Today’s TBT subject is…

Can you imagine making large family dinners in this kitchen? Well, this is a picture of the kitchen in my house growing up. We lived in Levittown in the Levittowner model. There was no counter space! Yet we had no problems cooking in there. (This picture by the way, is one from the net.) But the model came just like you see it here. Black tile with spatter marks in it throughout the house. A deep stainless steel sink with stainless steel drain boards. Cabinets right above the sink. A corner space with a butcher block top that lifted up so you could hang you pots and pans in it. Next a very small four burner stove with oven and small drawer.between the stove and small refrigerator was a small cabinet with three drawers. The top one for silverware, The middle one was a bread box, and the bottom one was for what ever. Notice no separate freezer. The freezer was inside the refrigerator.

Above the corner butcher block was an open cabinet. Then two more regular cabinets. Across from the sink on the other wall was the heater, washing machine and broom closet. Next to the refrigerator was a door to the outside. You can just see a small part of it, but between the sink and dining area is a bamboo curtain. So you could pull it and close off the kitchen.

A lot of people put portable dishwashers in that corner. The ones that opened from the top. My aunt had one like that. We had one that opened from the front and we had ours right next to the sink. We had this really great big round table in our kitchen. It was great for when friends or family stopped over. We rarely sat in the living room. It was always around the table with coffee and some delicious treat mom or I had made. People just dropped in back then. There was none of this call first nonsense. I miss that. The idea that your home is always open and you are always welcome.

I learned to cook in this kitchen. We often had Thanksgiving at our house for the whole family, so we made some really big meals. I can’t for the life of me imagine having to do it today. I am spoiled with a large area of counter tops and a huge island in my kitchen. And for some reason I use all of that space when I cook.

Although this was a very small kitchen, it was warm and inviting because so many memories came about in it. I guess it’s not the size of your kitchen, or the length of your countertops, it’s the love you share while you are in your kitchen that matters.

Make something special for dinner tonight.

Wild Wednesday

Published on June 22, 2016April 27, 2017 by WandaLeave a comment

Today my wildlife picture comes from Sneads Ferry in North Carolina. That’s right near Topsail Beach. Check it out.

He’s one big alligator. He was stopping traffic trying to get across the road. The gator was caught and relocated. Hopefully he’ll stay away from the area now.

Alligators are all around where I live. The preserve that they relocate alligators to is right across the street from me. My neighbor had one in his pond. We have learned to look around really well when we venture out of the house. The truth is that they usually see you and run away. But, if they are hungry they will go after a small child or animal. And during mating season, they do get a bit testy. 🙂

It is so sad about the little 2 year old who was taken by an alligator at Disney. My heart breaks for his family. I don’t know how they will be able to live with what happened. I pray that the Holy Spirit gives them the strength to get through this tragedy.

I am spending my day putting my quilting room back together. Before we went to Florida, I rushed around getting a few projects done to take with me. So, I sorta tore through my quilting room like a tornado leaving stuff all over in there. There are a few projects I would like to get finished. My UFO list is pretty long. I read over what I have to finish and I don’t even have half of what I need to finish on my list. I am bound and determined to work on UFO’s before I start on any new quilts. Now, that doesn’t mean I won’t sew for my Isabella. I love making little girls dresses. 🙂 When Alannah was younger I made her dresses too. It was so much fun.

Have a great day!