Happy Anniversary

In Remembrance of my Mom and Dad who would have celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary this month~

Bob and LeeElda were married August 12th, 1939 in Caldwell Idaho, when he was 19 and she was 17. They experienced many trials in those early years and I wonder how they survived at such young ages the loss of their first-born daughter, Bob going off to war, and many moves and beginnings.

They were always a great example to me of devotion to one another, and staying together come what may. (Mom hated this photo, but it cracks me up!)

Surprise!

We had an awesome surprise last Thursday morning. I went to the airport expecting to pick up the "cousins" and instead found Rachel and Casey and girls-so much better. Let me explain: My friend Shirley asked me if I would please pick-up her husband's cousins from the airport since she was out of town and he had a meeting at work, I said "no problem". Little did I know that Rachel had conspired with Shirley and it was all a ruse~when I got there I saw a couple that I thought might be them and turned to look in my purse for the paper with their names, I heard a knock on my window and turned to see Rachel and Megan! AAhhhhh!!! The screaming and whooping ensued! I was so excited and flabbergasted. They stayed for 5 days, which flew by as we tried to fit in every fun thing we could think of. Here are some pictures of a few things. Rachel has more on her camera that I will share eventually.

Casey and Draper with Addison. It didn't take her long to warm up to Draper.

Gramma and Meg-she doesn't like to slow down for pictures!

Gramma and the cowboy (Olson)

Addison with Mommy

Olson-master of the goofy face.

Sara and Deacon-both wiped out after a day at The Enchanted Forest

Deacon-he slept the entire night, even with all our talking, laughing and commotion going on!

Rachel and Mom, it was so wonderful to have her here, but it went so quickly and there is never enough time to just soak it all in. I always wish I could just stop time and enjoy it all, knowing it won't end.

We went to the beach and spent a night at Waldport before going on to Eugene for Draper's USMC Family Day. Addison eating a s'more.

Gramps and the boys tending the fire

Those Stinkin' Missionaries

Elder Yamada and Elder Bates~

We had the Missionaries over for dinner the other night, these guys are the greatest. If you've never fed the Missionaries, please do so, they're always so grateful and appreciative of the smallest things. They have the gift of bringing the Spirit into our home, and I am grateful for their efforts-each day trudging around looking for someone to teach the Gospel to-and often being met with slammed doors or indifference. But still they smile on and offer to help.

They showed us the newly re-vamped Mormon.org site and we looked around listening to some personal stories and testimonies from church members. I highly recommend it.

Also if you happen to meet a pair of LDS Missionaries, feed them-they will love you forever!

Catching Up

So I have a little catching up to do~I've gotten out of the habit of blogging and I need to get back in the groove~I didn't take pictures of everything we did this weekend, but here are a couple from the Farmer's Market in Vancouver. Gorgeous birds who are happy to ride around on this guys shoulders.

Our "Soap Lady" Kathy from Farm Maid Soap, we've been visiting her booth and buying her soap for a couple of years now, you could say we're "regulars". It is wonderful, it's all we use. She is planning a trip to China to teach Tibetan women how to make soap from their Yak milk. You can visit her site to learn more-so cool!

My first project for my Etsy site, a small baby quilt from Moda's Central Park line.

I think it needs more quilting~

This is my dream quilt that I started last summer. I finished the top and then waited till I could afford to get it quilted. That was a whole year of waiting. I took it to Dell Drake (Dell-lightful Quilts) who has a shop just down the street from us. I love doing things locally and she does an awesome job!

These are Amy Butler fabrics, (I can't remember the name of the line) and the pattern is Turning 20 Again, a very easy strip quilt.

Love love love them!

This is a top I put together years ago-maybe 2007-and finally had it quilted this summer. The pattern is Yellow Brick Road, an easy strip project.

It feels so good to get things done, it makes me want to sew, sew, sew!

Lost It

I'm home again, not by my choice but I am glad to be here. I wasn't " a good fit" for the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District (according to my supervisor) and I was let-go during my 6 month probationary period. Bummer. I didn't love the job, but was willing to put up with it because I loved getting a paycheck and I thought eventually I could transfer to another position that I would like better. Well, no such luck.
All the trite sayings have been going through my head: When life gives you lemons...,God never closes a door...,Bloom where you're planted...,(not sure that one fits) but I am trying to make the best of it and make lemonade, look for the open window and bloom!
It's really hard, even at my age, when someone tells you you're not good enough to keep motivated and not get stuck in the poor me's. I keep telling myself "well, it's their loss!" And move on.
So moving on will involve things I love: Taking care of our home, sewing, crafting, children and grandchildren, friends and family. I am in the process of opening an Etsy shop, and finding my niche in the crafting world.
I'm trying to look for the blessing in this small trial. Some blessings that have been sprinkled throughout my days so far:
*Talking to Rachel and the girls on Skype in the middle of the day for as long as I want.
*Helping Sara with a sewing project and reading to the boys.
*Not feeling hurried or tired.
*Making real dinners.
*Having fun times with Natie-our laughing trips!
*Getting more exercise.
*Reading
I need a good name for my craft/sewing business-any ideas?

I got it!

I have been absent from blogging the past few months because I just haven't felt I had anything interesting to say, and I mostly enjoy reading about other bloggers lives, they are so much more interesting than mine! But I guess I should do a catch-up post since I've had some excitement lately.
I finally landed the job I'd been longing for at the Library. After 3 tests, and 2 interviews I got it! I was even able to chose between the 2 positions I applied for. I took the full-time position at Content Management. Content management does just that-manages the content of what goes in the library-mostly books. We see the books before anyone at the library does. We are at a separate location and we receive the books and process them-start to finish-and then send them on to the library branches. I am still in training, but it is very similar to what I did at Clatskanie Library and I'm so thankful for the great training I got there (Thanks Elizabeth), except I don't have to/get to stop and wait on patrons in between the books. I do miss being with the library patrons, they are the life-blood of a library and I miss visiting with them and talking about books.
I am still adjusting to full-time work, after almost 4 years of no work it is quite a difference! Some days my arthritis makes any movement painful, so I feel like I am a slow mover and I come home and soak in a hot tub so I can try it again the next day. I miss my free-time and the time I spent sewing, talking to family and friends and just being home. I imagine I will feel better when that first paycheck shows up (I've spent it sooo many times in my head). I have to learn all over again how to manage my time and energy.
Calvin and Natie have been so helpful with household stuff and kitchen duty. I'm sure I'll get the hang of it soon!
So here's to a new beginning and a happy reading!

Valentine Crafts

I've been a little obsessed lately with all things banner-like~I'm not sure of their official names: banners, swags, bunting, but whatever they are I love them! These are the ones I've made for Valentine's Day~ Next time I will make the center pieces bigger and put bigger letters on them, they are kind of hard to read when they are this small, but that is all I had to work with.

Up close...

These are going in the mail~North to Alaska!

Not a good camera shot, but I'm working with a point and shoot here!

Closer view.

So far I started with a fabric banner for my back patio last spring, and then a bigger fabric one for Halloween and now Valentine's, I think I need one for everyday and maybe St. Patty's or Easter, or how about President's Day? I could could put pic's of all the President's....okay I think I need to stop!