Happy New Year

New Year means Fresh Start

Who doesn’t enjoy the promise of a fresh start or clean slate? This is why even the unbelievers in New Year’s resolutions still create those goals or agendas for the New Year. It is certainly exciting to anticipate something more or better for the coming year. It’s a healthy exercise in positive thinking. Goals may range from tangible such as decrease debt or cut out all sugar (in your dreams) to the intangible goals such as worry less, or have more fun. Since I automatically work on tangible goals on-going; I think it might be more therapeutic this year to create some of those less tangible goals, such as laugh more, be more spontaneous, and get excited about learning something new. I hope that all who read my blog have a great year and think of this year as a fresh start on a bright future.
Happy New Year!

Community Development Department

This is my work group. Really Great group of people.

Thoughts on the coming New Year or Day

Nirvana is not the blowing out of a candle. It is the extinguishing of the flame because day is come.
– Rabindranath Tagore

Just Eager for Christmas

I am so ready to be with my grandchildren again. I hope the weather cooperates so they will make it here safely. Christmas shopping for the grandchildren is done, it is those difficult parents I am still racking my brain over. I guess I will fight the crowds tomorrow to finish things up. Lots of cooking will have to be done prior to their arrival on Tuesday. I basically believe in pre-prepping so I can spend my time playing with Max and Maycee.

More Thanksgiving Photos and news

Paul and Cassie had sonogram photos showing us our newest edition to the family (see photo with sonongram photos on the table with Robbin and Max), little Jeffery Michael, named for Cassie's Dad and Michael Yates, long time stand in dad to Paul. We are excited to meet him and I am sure Max will lead the way in all the fun boy activities.

Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving I had the opportunity to spend time with my Son's, daughters in laws and grandbabies in Tulsa at Robbin's mom's new home. Max is three and definatley plays the role of cowboy and Maycee is nine months and is momments away from walking (she balances on her own already.

In the works

These are my Hawaiian needleturn applique squares that I have not put together yet. I am waiting to find an elongated Hawaiian Applique design to use on the borders, which will determine on point placement or not. If anyone has any ideas, please share.

Ideas for baby room

International Quilt Market, Houston

I had such a great time viewing all the new lines of fabric for quilters, home decor and clothing. I spent four days going from one vendor to the next and learning alot about various new products on the market and how to use them. The displays of clothing were especially exciting. It made me think of all the sewing I want to do for my little grand daughter. See the photos of a few booths I liked.

Letter from Alice Walker to President Obama

Letter to Barack Obama from Alice Walker

Nov. 5, 2008

Dear Brother Obama,

You have no idea, really, of how profound this moment is for us. Us being the black people of the Southern United States. You think you know, because you are thoughtful, and you have studied our history. But seeing you deliver the torch so many others before you carried, year after year, decade after decade, century after century, only to be struck down before igniting the flame of justice and of law, is almost more than the heart can bear. And yet, this observation is not intended to burden you, for you are of a different time, and, indeed, because of all the relay runners before you, North America is a different place. It is really only to say: Well done. We knew, through all the generations, that you were with us, in us, the best of the spirit of Africa and of the Americas. Knowing this, that you would actually appear, someday, was part of our strength. Seeing you take your rightful place, based solely on your wisdom, stamina and character, is a balm for the weary warriors of hope, previously only sung about.

I would advise you to remember that you did not create the disaster that the world is experiencing, and you alone are not responsible for bringing the world back to balance. A primary responsibility that you do have, however, is to cultivate happiness in your own life. To make a schedule that permits sufficient time of rest and play with your gorgeous wife and lovely daughters. And so on. One gathers that your family is large. We are used to seeing men in the White House soon become juiceless and as white-haired as the building; we notice their wives and children looking strained and stressed. They soon have smiles so lacking in joy that they remind us of scissors. This is no way to lead. Nor does your family deserve this fate. One way of thinking about all this is: It is so bad now that there is no excuse not to relax. From your happy, relaxed state, you can model real success, which is all that so many people in the world really want. They may buy endless cars and houses and furs and gobble up all the attention and space they can manage, or barely manage, but this is because it is not yet clear to them that success is truly an inside job. That it is within the reach of almost everyone.

I would further advise you not to take on other people's enemies. Most damage that others do to us is out of fear, humiliation and pain. Those feelings occur in all of us, not just in those of us who profess a certain religious or racial devotion. We must learn actually not to have enemies, but only confused adversaries who are ourselves in disguise. It is understood by all that you are commander in chief of the United States and are sworn to protect our beloved country; this we understand, completely. However, as my mother used to say, quoting a Bible with which I often fought, "hate the sin, but love the sinner." There must be no more crushing of whole communities, no more torture, no more dehumanizing as a means of ruling a people's spirit. This has already happened to people of color, poor people, women, children. We see where this leads, where it has led.

A good model of how to "work with the enemy" internally is presented by the Dalai Lama, in his endless caretaking of his soul as he confronts the Chinese government that invaded Tibet. Because, finally, it is the soul that must be preserved, if one is to remain a credible leader. All else might be lost; but when the soul dies, the connection to earth, to peoples, to animals, to rivers, to mountain ranges, purple and majestic, also dies. And your smile, with which we watch you do gracious battle with unjust characterizations, distortions and lies, is that expression of healthy self-worth, spirit and soul, that, kept happy and free and relaxed, can find an answering smile in all of us, lighting our way, and brightening the world.

We are the ones we have been waiting for.

In Peace and Joy,
Alice Walker

A New Dawn is Breaking

Tag your it

My daughter in law tagged me as it to tell six things about myself. I tag Lucy and Rebbecca next. Hope to read their six things soon.
So here are my six things:
1. Presently I am passionate about my canidate for President for the U.S.(see photo, Mike and I at the political rally in KC last weekend)
2. I am compulsive when it comes to keeping busy, so sitting and doing nothing at all is actually hard for me.
3. I love to bake bread, cakes, cookes etc... not very good at pies yet
4. I love to excercise, yoga, palates and walking are my favorite
5. I love to read, and these days I especially love to read to my grandson Max.
6. I am passionate about making a difference for good in this world.

My sewing room play

I have so many fun fabrics that I needed to start using up so when I go to market I won't feel guilty for buying more. These are a couple of child gardening aprons I made. They criss cross in the back and button at the sides and have a three way divided pocket on the front to put gardening supplies while helping mom or grandma in the garden.

One of my favorite Poems

Solitude


Laugh, and the world laughs with you;
Weep, and you weep alone.
For the sad old earth must borrow it's mirth,
But has trouble enough of its own.
Sing, and the hills will answer;
Sigh, it is lost on the air.
The echoes bound to a joyful sound,
But shrink from voicing care.

Rejoice, and men will seek you;
Grieve, and they turn and go.
They want full measure of all your pleasure,
But they do not need your woe.
Be glad, and your friends are many;
Be sad, and you lose them all.
There are none to decline your nectared wine,
But alone you must drink life's gall.

Feast, and your halls are crowded;
Fast, and the world goes by.
Succeed and give, and it helps you live,
But no man can help you die.
There is room in the halls of pleasure
For a long and lordly train,
But one by one we must all file on
Through the narrow aisles of pain.

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Thought for the Day

Success is never found. Failure is never fatal. Courage is the only thing.
- Winston Churchill

May 10th Tornado After reconstruction

This is a photo of the main dystroyed room on my house and the full reconstruction following. Pretty great that it is all fixed.

Great Book!

I started reading a new novel this past weekend. Away, by Amy Bloom, (A New York Times Best Seller) truly a fascinating read. It is filled with great characters and an epic story of a woman who has fled her home town in Russia and made her way to America. I don't want to share too much, but if you get a chance to enjoy a great read, this is a story that will draw you in.

Photos from Robbin's blog

New photos from my daughter in laws blog. Macey is about 8 months and Max is three, this is a special day at the zoo. I miss them so bad I ache.

Rules to Live By - Robert Louis Stevenson

12 Rules to Live By - Robert Louis Stevenson
Make up your mind to be happy. Learn to find pleasure in simple things.
Make the best of circumstances. No one has everything and everyone has something of sorrow.
Don’t take yourself too seriously.
Don’t let criticism worry you. You can’t please everybody.
Don’t let your neighbors set your standards; be yourself.
Do things you enjoy doing but stay out of debt.
Don’t borrow trouble. Imaginary things are harder to bear than actual ones.
Since hate poisons the soul, do not cherish enmities and grudges. Avoid people who make you unhappy.
Have many interests. If you can’t travel, read about places.
Don’t hold post-mortems or spend time brooding over sorrows and mistakes.
Do what you can for those less fortunate than yourself.
Keep busy at something. A very busy person never has time to be unhappy.

Work Matters

Today is the first day of emergency energy assistance for the elderly and disabled. Several folks have come in without service at all. Incomes generally range from $700. per month for singles to $1,200. per month for couples. With the current scenario playing out in congress I wonder if the assistance to the poor of this country will dry up. I believe helping others is a Christian way to deal in this life but I have concerns who we are in debted to when we keep borrowing? Does China own us? What are your thoughts. Click on the title of this post and read the attachment.

Color

You Are a Green Crayon
Your world is colored in harmonious, peaceful, natural colors.While some may associate green with money, you are one of the least materialistic people around.Comfort is important to you. You like to feel as relaxed as possible - and you try to make others feel at ease.You're very happy with who you are, and it certainly shows!Your color wheel opposite is red. Every time you feel grounded, a red person does their best to shake you.

Quilting Passion

This is a design that Bittersweet Quilts Owner, Robbi Tripplet drew for me. I got to choose from her beautiful batik fabrics and creat her design in quilt form. This is a 3-D explosion design.