Good Afternoon, May 5th, 2019
I'm June's son. My Mom suffered a TIA also known as a minor stroke last weekend. With the Good Lord's divine providence, it was not as devastating as it could be, but the struggles are still there. She has asked me to come on this blog and let everyone know what had happened. As of writing this post, she is recovering, and I am hopeful she will feel better soon. This may be her last blog post, since she having these struggles. I please ask that you please consider praying for her and our family during this time. Thank you for your time and understanding.
Sincerely,
June's Son.
My son and I adopted a new kitten yesterday. He is solid grey, about four months old, and came from a farm near my daughter's house. He is into everything and has many of the same mannerisms as our Earl Grey whom we lost a year ago this month. So far he favors my son's company. Grady is eating like he's never had a can of catfood before and already looks like he's grown some this morning! This little cat will certainly make life more interesting, if not more lively. Happy Sunday, God Bless us all. Photo by Donald from his cell phone. Picture is very cute.
It's NOT about the bunny, it's about the Lamb!
"...while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
Have a blessed Easter.
Last Saturday my daughter and I drove up to Galax, VA to take the afghans and bears with sweaters that we had made. The Project Linus meeting is the first Saturday of every month and meets at the Public Library in Galax. VA. We ate at the Shoney's Restaurant (as usual) and stopped at the Fancy Gap Pottery and Fabric Outlet in Fancy Gap, VA on the way back. It has been several years since I had gone to this outlet and used to love to come here a lot!! For a long time, it hurt me to travel so far and I was homebound. It is so great to be able to get out again!! Thank God!! I bought only four one-yard pieces of calico, as I have a lot to use up. The above photo is of the Outlet that I got from the internet. The outlet is located just off of I-77 at the Fancy Gap exit just over the Virginia state line. Our only other place to buy is from the walmart and I do buy a few remnants from them. Hope you are having a wonderful week. God Bless!
Over the weekend we got seven inches of snow! It is not that unusual for us to get snow, but the bitter cold that came with it was a little hard to bear. It got down to 4 degrees, if I remember right. But the snow and ice is melting like crazy now, and I am very glad. Pretty to look at, but nice to be gone! We had a busy Holiday Season, and my daughter spent several days with us, before the weather turned nasty. My son and I got that bad cold that is going around here, but are on the mend now. He is back at work today, and the sun is trying to shine. Life goes on, eh. God Bless!
Hemi has turned into a mighty mouse-catcher. No, I'm NOT going to show you the dead mouse, in fact he didn't seem proud of his catch at all. Kind of looked at it and shrugged to say "what's that?". The above photo was taken not long after we brought him in the house, as he doesn't like to have his picture taken. I can sympathize, as I don't like to have my photo taken either! haha
My daughter and I went to Galax, Va last Saturday to the Project Linus meeting. I had finished one large afghan blanket and made sweaters for several build-a-bear sized stuffed animals. It was a cold and windy day, but we ate lunch at Shoney's and had a good day. I am taking one day at a time these days, and am missing my two little friends terribly (so is my son and Hemi). Christmas will be here before we know it! Have a happy one. God Bless.
Once upon a time there were three little calico kittens born in Ei-cho, Japan. Their names were Kaoru, Kenshin and Shizuku. When my daughter moved home from Japan, she brought her cats with her. Shizuku-chan outlived the rest and became my best friend. When my daughter moved into her own home several years ago, Shizuku stayed here. It was her choice to stay here. As I have told previously, she became ill at the first part of the summer, and became steadily worse until last Friday, when she passed over the Rainbow Bridge. She was eighteen years old. This is so hard. I am thankful that Hemi-cat is with us.
We lost our dear little friend, Earl Grey yesterday after a brief, but fatal illness. He suddenly came down with FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis). We decided not to let him suffer, as the Doctor said that he could not last over two months, and there was no hope for a recovery. We are shocked and saddened by his passing, and are reminded of how fragile life is. Rest in Peace, pretty kitty.
I have been reading a lot of Amish fiction this summer. The author I like the most is Beverly Lewis, my next favorite is the Guideposts Amish Mysteries. They are sent to me every month, and have the same cast of characters, but different authors every month. I like the Amish fiction because it is clean. No smut, or "sex scenes". I like descriptions in a book, not "mushy-stuff". Some of the Amish books are even set in Ohio, where I was born. I remember seeing Amish buggies every summer when we would visit my Aunts and Uncles. Wow! Anyway, after reading a lot of Amish books this summer, I decided to switch back to my most beloved mysteries. The books, Scottish Highlands Mystery by Hannah Reed caught my eye on Amazon.com and I ordered one. I loved it!! So I ordered the other two. The only bother is that they are only in paperback, and the print is small. (Break out the magnifying glasses that my daughter bought me, haha.) The above photo is from Amazon.com. Great reading!! Have a blessed day!
Due to the fact that my daughter's two male dogs prefer to run away and play at the park with visiting kids & families at the waterfall (they have done it several times now, with complaints), my daughter had to install fencing around about a third of her property to keep them in (hopefully). It took a lot of hard work on her part, and the volunteer work of a co-worker, relative, and kind Mormon volunteers. Even as I write, I bet those two devil-dogs are plotting and planning how to escape. I'm afraid I don't have any more patience or sympathy for them. I pray this is the end of the story. (Photo is of her house on the hill taken by my son Donald.)
Yesterday morning my daughter called me from her home (about an hour away). Her two male dogs were missing, and she was quite upset. Her girl-dog, Lucky, was at home. I am showing a photo of Hoshi, above, but I don't have a photo of Oreo (who is black & white). Later that morning, the park ranger from Hanging Rock State Park (about a mile from her home) called to say that he had her two fugitives in "lock-up" overnight & to please come get them. Hehehe. Those rascals. There had been an accident at the park on Sunday afternoon and a hiker had fallen from the trail. The dogs must have been drawn by the excitement. When she called me back later to tell me that all were home and safe, they were ALL very excited. I'm glad I don't have dogs. My kitties stay indoors, and the worst I face is Earl and Hemi using the house as a "race track"! No word on the condition of the hiker. God Bless!
This is Oreo!
I must report that Shizuku-Chan is feeling quite a bit better!! Thank God! We are keeping a watchful eye on her, but she doesn't seem to be in any pain, and her eyes "tell" me that she's doing better. Don't count the old girl out yet! Thanks to all who contacted me with encouragement, prayers and good thoughts.
This weekend has been beautiful here. Lower temps and humidity have been the order of the day. I want to wish a Happy Father's Day to all the Fathers in our lives and a very Happy Birthday to my son, tomorrow. Too bad he has to work all day.
Blessed Sunday to us all!
Several times this spring I have read on blog-friends blogs about their losing their older cats, for one reason or another. I hoped and prayed that it wouldn't happen to us. Yesterday we received the bad news from our Pilot Mountain Vet that Shizuku-chan is in kidney failure. After discussing the future with him, he made several good suggestions, and we will keep a watchful eye on her. I will not let her suffer, but I love her too much to let her go too soon (to meet my convenience). Your good thoughts and prayers for her (and us) will be appreciated. She is my best friend, and is now eighteen years old! God Bless!
Photo by Donald, taken about two years ago.
At long last, my daughter Kathleen has received her Doctorate of Philosophy in English. (I hope I said that right!) She is an English teacher at our local community college, and before that she taught English in a two-year women's college in Kagoshima, Japan. We are very, very proud of her.
Just think, the last time I posted, I was saying "Merry Christmas" ! Mother always said that "if you don't have anything nice to say, you should say nothing at all". I have lots of intentions, but don't get much done, that's for sure. I am doing some better, though. I thank God for that !
The above photo is of some sheepies that I watch for when we take the trash off on Saturdays. There were three new dark babies last Saturday. My son took the photo with his cell-phone through the car window. Click on the photo to enlarge it!
Am still making some Prayer Shawls for the hospital, but no quilting yet. Hope that will be possible when it gets warmer out. The cats are doing fine. Earl grey and Hemi like to race up and down the hall at least once a day. Shizuku turns 18 this month. She and I celebrate our birthdays together (although I am not turning 18). She is doing good for her age, but she does complain a lot.
It looks like Spring here, and I am thanking God for the flowers (not the pollen) and warmer temps. God Bless us everyone !
I'
m still here, watching the birds and trying to carry on with life. Can't do a lot anymore, but that's okay. Beats the alternative. I enjoy reading the blogs that I always read (mostly quilting blogs), and still like to buy fat-quarters of fabric when I get to the walmart. A few really nice people have been giving me yarn that they find at auctions and whatever, for me to make prayer shawls with. I'm grateful for their help, and I'm thankful that I can still do for others.
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, and God Bless you in 2016 !
The last time I went to a movie was ages ago. I think I went to see "Kung-Fu Panda". I have been a big fan of Shaun the Sheep since the Wallace and Gromit video "A close shave". I have to admit that I really enjoyed watching the new Shaun movie. Haven't laughed that hard in YEARS! The new theater in Mt.Airy is quite accommodating to handicapped people, also. It was fun...I highly recommend this movie! The photo is from internet.
I loaded a small Project Linus quilt into my trusty old Gammill quilting machine last October. I got it about half put-in when I had to stop. The Doctor first suspected a hip hair-line fracture. The x-ray proved nothing. (Maybe it was the one reading the x-ray?) I went back to the Doctor every Thursday in October, and part of November. I had two cortisone shots. The pain persisted. The Doctor then decided it might be Bursitis. Between Christmas and New Years I had TWO WEEKS of almost pain-free (Thank God!!!). Then it started again and has persisted until now. I can do very little besides sit still and knit or crochet. (Usually working on Prayer Shawls for the Hospital.)
I happened to think the other day....wouldn't it be nice to teach someone local to use my machine and quilt some of her (or his) quilt tops and mine too. Most of mine are for one Charity or another. My machine is over twenty years old now, but it is still working fine (as far as I know, since I have not used it since October). Like with a lot of quilters, I have a large stack of small to bed-sized quilts to get quilted. I have given up on being able to quilt them myself, as I would have to stand up to quilt them. I have a feeling that I may be in a wheel chair soon. What to do. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I miss my little green office trailer. I miss my old machine quilting customers. I admit defeat. God Bless us everyone.
(Photo is an old one, taken a couple of years ago, by me.)
Lunch at Chick-fil-A Restaurant in Mt. Airy. Everyone was visited by the Chick-fil-A mascot. Such a nice cow...shaking hands with a little child! My son took the photo, and asked if I wanted him to take a picture of me with the cow. I told him that it would be hard to tell which was which. He wasn't amused. Happy Memorial Day weekend. Thank you to all our Veterans, both living and passed on. We wouldn't be the great country we are without you!
Hemi is still an indoor cat! I thought maybe when the weather warmed up he would go back outside. He likes the food better in here and has about doubled his weight. Without weighing him, I'd say he weighs over fifteen pounds now. He is one of the best natured and sweetest cats I know. He loves to play, and even lets Earl Grey bully him around. (He loves to catch Earl half asleep and wash his face!) After a little research, I believe that Hemi is a Ragdoll! Shizuku-chan recently turned seventeen. She has her ups and downs, but is mostly doing well for a cat her age. Spring has sprung in North Carolina, it has gotten too hot, too soon. Thank God for the air conditioner!
This is Oreo!
