Our Precious Blessing ...

Exactly one week ago after more than 25 hours of labor on June 15, beautiful little Morgan Nichole Perry made her way into this big old world weighing 7 lbs. 4 oz. and 20" long at 10:48pm. Words cannot begin to express the multitude of emotions at that moment. Witnessing the miracle of birth is, without question, awesome. Witnessing the miracle of your very own grand daughter entering this world is breathtaking. She is so perfect in every way. She is beautiful, of course - that's a given. But more than that, this little one has brought our family together more than you could ever imagine, as only babies can do. I will always be eternally grateful for that.

You know that babies are born knowing their Mom's and Dad's voices. But seeing it in action is something to behold. As Morgan was lying on the table to be weighed, measured, foot-printed, etc., her dad bent close to her head and started talking softly to her. She immediately became quiet and just listened to his voice. Needless to say, she had to be passed around for everyone to steal a few minutes with her. She pretty much fussed with everyone else but became quiet and content as soon as she was placed back in her mother's arms. Amazingly, she was wide eyed and took it all in, looking around at all these new faces.

And "Gammy" is born. After months of trying to "pick a name" for myself, I finally settled on "Gammy" even if only temporarily. Who knows what she'll end up calling me. I'm sure I'll answer to anything - hell I already do! This precious little girl is going to share her life with four aunts, and is the first grand baby to all three grandmas. Wow! I guess if it's possible to love one too much, she's got a chance huh? It's been a hectic week, but I wouldn't have missed one opportunity to snuggle and love on that precious bundle.

And here's a few more hospital shots:


I got a little rocking time in after the ordeal of coming home from the hospital. :)


Just look at that face!!!


Obviously more photos coming later. For now a new grandma signing off ...

Magic & the Modern Girl

I finished the third and, so far, final book in Mindy Klasky's "Magic and the Modern Girl" last night at 12:45am. Even though this type of book is not typically my preferred genre, I really did enjoy reading something different. I must've enjoyed them to read all three books and try to research when the next one comes out. I will definitely keep my eyes open for more of Mindy's books in the future.

For now I will most likely go back to one of my staple authors (Iris Johansen, Nora Roberts, Karen Robards, Lisa Jackson, Karen Harper, Linda Howard, Sandra Brown, etc.) for my next book.

Cari and I fixed our treasured tomato and mozarella salad for lunch - with fresh basil picked from my new basil plant. Yummmm. Life is good. Remember, it's the little things.

Until next time ...

QB

Lessons Learned ...

Confession: I didn't go to the gym today. In fact, I haven't been since before we left for vacation. Honestly, I don't think I've been since Cari moved back home from college. UGH! That's not good. I need to get back to the gym. In light of that news, going for a bike ride after dinner tonight sounded like a really good idea ... one would think.

Last fall I took the bikes in for an annual tune-up. Everything checked out and they went back in the garage. I thought I was gonna use 'em. Had every intention of using them. In reality, not so much. So, they've pretty much been sitting since they were all gussied up. The weather was so beautiful today even I wanted to be outside. That's saying something. I'm not much of an outside person. I don't like the heat. I don't like to need a shower every time to come in from outside - translated, I don't like to sweat. I don't like the bugs (mosquitoes). Anyway, point made. I wanted to be outside today. I enjoyed a cup of coffee with my book for while this morning. Therefore, after dinner a bike ride sounded like the perfect way to end the day.

Here comes the first lesson - As I rolled my bike out to the driveway I noticed the tires needed a bit more air. No problem, right? We have a pump, right? It's hanging on the wall by the bikes. After several attempts at pumping more air into one tire, I tried readjusting the nozzle because it just didn't feel as if I was accomplishing anything (except working up a sweat - I don't like to sweat, remember?) After a couple more attempts with the same results, I called on Cari's expertise to see if she could get the damn thing to work. She finagled with the nozzle to the point of letting all the air out of the tire. Well that worked, huh? At this point I'm huffing and puffing (and sweating). I saw "screw it" to myself and run in the house to get the phone. I'm calling in backup resources - my neighbor - the one who's moving. I know she has a bike pump because she has three kids on bikes all the time. She says it may be packed up ... I wait. Jackpot! She found it!

So I ask the obvious question, "May I borrow it?"

"Of course," she replies.

My next question, "May I borrow you too?"

"Why?" she wanted to know.

"Because I want to make sure it's not the operator instead of the pump" I answer.

She walks up to the tire, attaches the pump nozzle and starts pumping air ... Oh My Freakin' God! It worked!!!! The pump actually worked!! Woohoo! We're in business! By now I'm starting to feel like I'd already been there and done that, but we'd put way too much effort in this to abandon the idea now. After she finished topping all all four tires, I asked her to test my pump out ... just so I'd know. So she attached the nozzle and after a mere three pumps stopped and said, "Yep, it's broken." UGH! Now I know. Guess where it went? It did not pass GO, collect $200, or ask forgiveness - it went straight to the trash can. That was Lesson #1 - buy a new bike pump.

Lesson #2 - Cari and I set off on our leisurely ride through the neighborhood. We really didn't have any destination in mind - we just wanted to enjoy the ride. We hadn't gotten too far down the road and I'm already experimenting with my gears. For some reason even the light gears felt a little stiff to me. Cari's lazily riding along, gaining more and more distance on me while I continue to fumble with my gears. After a few more minutes she slows down and waits for me to catch up wondering why I'm moving so slow. I have no reasonable answer to that.

In addition to my slow progress, I'm beginning to breathe a bit heavily - and to be honest, that's putting it a bit mildly. Cari and I continue along - on our leisurely bike ride. Another mile or so and I am about dying!! All kinds of things are running through my mind. I'm really getting concerned about my state of fitness. I really need to get to the gym! I had no idea I was so out of shape I couldn't even take a bike ride! I mean, hell, we took bike rides in Kiawah and it didn't wear me out like this. What the hell is going on here? I wondered if it was because of my asthma. I wondered if I was gonna pass out. I wondered how the hell I was getting home!

OK, I had to stop. As I got off the bike my poor legs were just shaking. I'm huffing and puffing ... and, yep you guessed it, sweating. As I tried to move my bike up level with Cari's I had a moment of revelation ... my bike wasn't rolling as easily as it should have. Hmmmm. When I checked the front brakes, they didn't move. In other words, they were already pressed against my front tire. I had ridden all that way with the brake on!!! You don't even want to know what went through my mind. It wasn't PG. It probably wasn't even R.

Now Cari starts to giggle. "It is so not funny!" I retorted - while I started giggling. It really wasn't funny though. Although I do have to say, I felt incredible relief at discovering why I was so winded and dying. The problem was how to adjust them so I could get my friggin' bike home! Cari suggested calling AAA as she laughed. I found a screw on the handle that turned easily so I tried adjusting it hoping maybe that would help with the brakes. Well hells bells, I don't know what it went to but it fell slam out - and didn't loosen the brakes either.

I don't know what other kind of fiddling I did to accomplish a wee bit of loosening, but the wheel turned slightly easier than before, so we mounted and set off again. Amazingly, it felt like a normal bike ride. I wasn't winded and dying just trying to keep up with Cari's slow pace. At least the second half of our "leisurely" bike ride was nice. For now the opponent is in the garage. Tomorrow it will go back to the "shop" and get readjusted again. Lesson #2: check the damn brake BEFORE you leave the driveway. That's enough for today ... dontchathink?

Some FOs (Finished Objects)!!

I've been researching some soft, lacy spring and summer scarf patterns for accessories. I love the results of this very simple "knit 1 knit 1 in the stitch below" scarf. I used a thin, soft cotton on size 11 needles so the stitches would be open and airy. I can't wait to wear it!

I finally finished this "Beachy" dishcloth set for a dear neighbor who's moving away next week. I wanted her to have something to remember us by. The variegated one is a simple slip stitch pattern; the yellow a starfish; green a seahorse and the blue a dolphin. The starfish and seahorse patterns are from Knitted Kitty Creations. I got the dolphin pattern from Knitting Knonsense. I love the way they turned out.

No baby update ... still waiting ...

Eating my words ...

While doing my normal domestic stuff this morning (you know, laundry, loading the dishwasher, picking up, etc.) I came across a stack of mail that, apparently, my dear husband put on the counter in my craft room. I decided to go through it right then and there just to get it out of the way. I saw a couple of magazine on the bottom and assumed the rest of the stuff was junk mail he simply didn't want to take the time to go through and trash (the bills had been removed). So I opened each piece, shredding required items and trashing the rest. I was on a roll. You know how your mind wanders when you're performing such mundane tasks? I picked up the "next" envelope in the stack and my eyes grew wide when I saw the return address: Coats and Clark. Uh Oh! Yup, you guessed it. Here was my refund check for below "Moda Dea Dream Vomit." Wow. I blew that didn't I? The check was dated 5/14, which is the day we left for vacation so I know it came with the huge stack for that week. Not sure why I'm just now finding the mail or why I didn't think of asking about it before now anyway. It's been pretty hectic since we've been home is my only excuse. Anyway, just wanted to retract my opinion that Coats and Clark isn't interested in us peons and doesn't provide customer service. I would've like to hear an explanation or apology but I'd rather have a check and no letter than a letter and no check, so I'll just shut up now.

My "Dream" Vomit ...

It has been about six weeks since I sent my disgruntled letter to Coats Moda Dea. I've heard nothing. Not a peep. Not an "I'm so sorry this happened." Not a "so sad, too bad." Nothing. So much for customer service. Guess I won't be buying anything else from this company. I sent the "package" certified so I know they received it. For those of you who don't know the story, let me fill you in. This is an excerpt from my letter to the company:

"I am writing to share with you my experience this week with the Dream yarn. Excitedly, I am about to be a grandmother for the first time in June. You can imagine my list of projects for my new granddaughter. I have been working feverishly trying to get as many as possible completed before the shower the later this month.

For one of my projects I chose Lion Brand Pound of Love in white as the body of the blanket. It’s a simple knit 3, slip 1 rib but oh so squishy and soft. Since the baby is a girl and this pattern is more unisex, I wanted something special to dress it up for the border.

As I wandered around Michael’s looking for a special yarn, my eyes landed on the Dream yarn. I thought it would be the perfect frame for this blanket. It’s so soft and silky feeling! And it was on sale for $2.99, which was even better! I bought four balls and headed home to play with different ideas and stitch patterns. After trying several things, I decided on a simple crochet ruffle. It was just what it needed to make it a bit more feminine.

Later that night as I was nearing the end of the second set of balls (I was double stranding with a P hook), I realized I was going to run out of yarn. Sunday morning I head back up to Michael’s to pick up two more balls. Sunday night I ran out of yarn once again with only about 2/3 of one side left. So Monday while out running errands I went by Michael’s once again to pick up two more balls. Imagine my delight and excitement over finally completing this project and being able to wash it and get it wrapped for the shower. I was stoked."

Now the fun starts:

"Now imagine my dismay after hand washing this blanket when I took a second look at the ruffle to see all these free loops hanging out all over the place. It honestly looked like a dog had gotten hold of it and chewed it all up. It was horrible! I was heartbroken! Not only had I wasted $25 in yarn (on the ruffle alone) but the time I had put into it as well. I wanted to cry."

Photos of the results:

and

and

Needless to say, I was completely heartbroken. There was simply no way to save this. The shower was looming closer and I'm facing having to rip the entire ruffle out and start over with it. Since I really didn't want to spend any more money on yarn, I decided to shop in my own stash and see if I had anything that would work. After discovering some Caron Simply Soft in a soft pink color I thought would work, I started playing to see what it would look like. While it wasn't as dramatic as my first choice, it worked - and I knew it would wash up beautifully. The final outcome:



My daughter was thrilled with it and that's what counts right? The ruffle looks much better, yes?

This experience prompted me to sort and sift through my stash once again, discarding ANYTHING that had any resemblance to chenille. I will never buy or use that fiber again.

That's my story for today. Baby update coming later ...

QB

I am not a painter ...

We have been our remodeling our third bedroom into a craft room for over a year now. It's been a very slow process - but when we take on a challenge of that magnitude it usually takes a while to complete it. That four letter word called L-I-F-E seems to constantly get in our way. Anyway, it's almost completely finished. We just have some cosmetic painting left and I worked on my closet doors yesterday. They're going to take a while. I put the first coat of primer on them. Looks like they're going to need another coat of primer. UGH! Painting is so not one of the things I'm good at. Oh well, I'm sure the end result will be worth it.

On another note, I did manage to finish the second book in the Jane Madison series my Mindy Klasky, "Sorcery and the Single Girl." It was really good. Had a bit more substance to the story than the first book. I'm looking forward to starting the third one, "Magic and the Modern Girl." Hopefully, I'll get a chapter or two under my belt today. Between painting, lunch with a friend and some much needed grocery shopping I probably won't get much reading in.

I also have some knitting I need to finish as well. I'm working on a set of beach themed dishcloths for my neighbor before she moves out to Dallas in a couple of weeks. AND I need to finish my Omega Wrap before our S&B meeting on Friday or my peeps will shame me terribly! LOL I had planned to finish it while on vacation but that didn't happen. All I have left is the band on one end, sewing the ends together and weaving in all those ends ... not my favorite thing to do, but oh so necessary.

Until next time ...

QB

Books I read while on vacation ...

I was in the middle of Sandra Brown's new book, "Smoke Screen" before we got on the road. I finished it before we arrived in Myrtle Beach. Needless to say, it was a page turner. I can usually count on one of her books keeping my attention and not disappointing me. "Smoke Screen" was no exception. It was wonderful!!

Deciding to venture into unknown waters, I picked up "A Girl's Guide to Witchcraft" by Mindy Klasky. I enjoyed the light-hearted, easy to read book. In fact, I enjoyed it so much I had to go buy the next two in the series. I didn't even know they existed until the end of the book. I read the first half of the next book, "Sorcery and the Single Girl" on the way home. Unfortunately, I haven't had the time to finish it yet.

The next book I picked up was a new author for me: John Sandford's "Silent Prey." I muddled through almost 100 pages before finally giving up. It wasn't so much the style of his writing, but more the substance of the storyline. The villan in this book was a demented doctor who gets his rocks off on draining people of their blood through the carotid artery and documenting all the mental and physical symptoms until they died. I just don't need all those details, thank you very much. I've heard lots of people like this series so I'll find another "Prey" book and give John Sandford another try sometime down the road.

The last book I completed while on vacation was Lisa Jackson's new book, "Malice." I loved it! Couldn't finish it fast enough. If you're looking for a fast action, page turner, pick it up.

TaTa for now ...

QB

Vacation Photos

I have finally worked my way through editing most of my vacation photos. I would almost rather take pictures than breathe. Then I have so much fun playing with different editing processes which give me all kinds of fun looks. These were taken our first morning at the townhouse. I love the mirror effect on the water. Unfortunately, it started raining a bit later and the weather just went downhill from there.

Monday morning it was so cold there was steam rising off of the water in the lagoon. I thought it was beautiful.


We toured the beautiful Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. I have always loved the gorgeous Spanish Moss that grows on the trees further south, so I was in heaving trying to discover unique ways to photograph it. Here's a couple of my favorites:



We decided to take the self guided tour through their Audubon Swamp Garden and were amazed at all the delights it held. Of course there were gators everywhere, but to see herons and egrets in their natural habitat was incredible. Upon entering the rookery (nursery) we were astounded at the racket (noise from all the babies) and number of nests. How many times do you have the opportunity to see an egret's nest? Me? Never until now. Awesome doesn't even begin to describe the feeling or the view.

One of my all time favorite shots was this one with the many nests in this tree and the gator and turtle snout to snout on a resting platform directly in front of it.


Just a bit further along the trail and we came across this scene ...

Back at the Peacock Cafe waiting for the guys to pick us up after their golf game, this little mother raccoon entertained us eating from the trash can.


That's all for today ... much more to follow.

QB

Dropping the ball ...

Well I really dropped the ball didn't I? It's now the end of May and I haven't updated since the first post in February. I'll strive to do better. I should have lots to share in the future. We just returned from vacation in Kiawah, SC. The weather sure didn't cooperate but we tried to make the best of it. Cari and I both read lots of books and that's always a good thing. I took so many bloody pictures of alligators I don't know what to do with them all. Oh and I have my first grandbaby (girl!) due in a few short weeks! LOTS of photos on the way! That's all for now - have to get ready for dinner with some friends. More later ...

QB