Am I Missing Something Here?

Beat me up if you will and I am sure a few of you will, but am I missing something in the economic stimulus package and the new administration?

What is so damned important about the new digital cable versus the old that it warrants $650 million dollars to help people receive digital signals while it is okay to scrap schools?

Hello, did anyone ever read George Orwell's 1984? No, missed it? Let me quote here a few words from the very first chapter regarding 'Big Brother watching over us.'
'Winston is painfully aware of the telescreen, which is both a receiver and transmitter at the same time. It incessantly relays messages from the Party and simultaneously allows the dreaded “thought police” to tune into the activities of any individual at any given time.' (Copied from the world wide web, February 6, 2009 @ 1720. http://www.online-literature.com/orwell/1984/2/).

Okay, I know everyone is thinking I am screaming conspiracy theory, but I am not really, I am just stating that in 1949 when George Orwell wrote his book, the things we have and enjoy now were not around and yet, he had visions of them.

Why is it more important for us to have digital television capabilities over educating our children? Seattle closed several schools or they are slated to close very soon. The school district I work for is talking teacher lay offs, more students per class room, less teachers and maybe closing another elementary school entirely. Yes, I said another.

They closed one just prior to our moving here in 2007. So, what the new administration is telling me so far is that television is more important than education?

Please, spare me the lectures on opening up frequencies for emergency communications, I worked emergency communications for more than 12 years, I understand that concept, but not at the expense of educating our children.

We now have in the offering tax credits of $15,000 for home buyers to buy homes which isn't going to help if the banks that took billions in bailouts won't put forth the money anyway. How is this going to stimulate our economy?

If the banks won't lend the money and people must have perfect or near perfect credit now to get a home, what happens to those who lost jobs, lost homes and were hoping to get help? Where is that going to come from?

We have a Secretary of the Treasury who doesn't pay taxes and gets by with just an apology.
I keep hearing about roads and infrastructure paving way for more jobs, but I don't see where temporary projects in any one state is going to help stimulate the economy.

People want to make this a democrat versus republican issue and it simply is NOT! It is a sense versus nonsense issue.

How about the $1 billion needed to fix problems with the 2010 census and it hasn't even come to play yet. We set up a census and before it is even started taking baby steps, it already has $1 billion in problems?? I say scrap the census, fire the person that designed the flaws, but do something, this borders on the ridiculous!

We have turned into a greedy nation fueled by the rich going unpunished for their crimes, people being elected to government offices while acknowledging they broke the law or forgot to pay their taxes while the rest of us would be in jail or have the IRS garnishing our wages. Our nations children are already behind many other countries in education and we are willing to allow them to close schools?

I am stopping here before my mouth writes a check my behind can't cash! Peace out!

Tea Cozy

Since I have been talking about shopping local and supporting other bloggers that have businesses on my blog, it is with great joy, I post a picture of my latest mail delivery, my new tea cozy.

This is just beautiful and so perfectly put together. This is just the outside, it is lined with a flannel fabric. I loved the ribbon that ties it all together and yes, the teapot is mine!

It has just been recently that I truly learned the tricks to brewing a good pot or cup of tea and one of those tricks was to cover your teapot or cup to keep it warm and let the tea bags sit for about 5 minutes in the water prior to pouring or sipping your tea.

Explains why my tea has always tasted to watery or to strong. With this cozy, I will be able to brew a pot of tea and drink it without having to worry about it turning cold so quickly.

Here is another picture of the tea cozy and my pictures just do not do this piece justice. If you want to purchase a cozy like mine or another color or pattern just go over to:
http://byeldonna.com/store/
look around her site and let her know you came with my recommendation. I know if you decide to make a purchase, you will be satisfied with it 100%.

So, I purchased a tea cozy from eldonna's, 3 handmade valentines from Melinda, fabric & cards from Sherry and a skirt from an Ebay stay at home mom. These purchases completed my dedication for the month of January to purchase handmade and I will share the valentine pics and fabric when I receive them.

In the meantime, you can take a sneak peak over at Melinda's and Sherry's blogs on my sidebar.

Oh, how fun February will be once I decide on how much my budget can be used to support another handmade item.

In support of local, I purchased at the Quilted Cottage in Oakville which is in Grays Harbor County a part of my local area.

Here is wishing all of you good shopping experiences and I would love to see your purchases when you buy something.

**Don't forget, I do have several quilts for sale with fall themes for your walls or class rooms.**

Great Quilt Shop

For anyone wanting to visit western Washington beaches and will be down around Aberdeen or just passing through, I recommend you stop by the Quilting Cottage in Oakville. The shop sits right on the main drag (Pine Street) or as locals and travelers know the road, Highway 12 from Centralia to Aberdeen.

The kids and I took a Sunday drive out that way last week and the shop is very quaint. It has the old double glass doors and large store front windows in front. Then you step into the shop which is filled on both floors with beautiful fabrics and some of the best prices I have seen for bundled fat quarters.

I came away with this darling farm panel for my new granddaughters quilt (hopefully she will have it before she gets here), the girls picked it out. Then some soft checkerboard fabric for the backing (see it below) a crib size package of Warm & White batting, Moda blue marbled fabric and two packages of matching fat quarters for future quilting projects.

I stayed within my budget and even bought the kids some Strawberry Cheesecake jelly bellies.

The shop has kept its soda fountain decor which I think is great for those men that get dragged out to the quilt shops with their wives, they have a place to sit and relax and can watch the frogs on the counter terrarium.
The shop isn't normally open on Sundays, but they wanted to test drive their new equipment and I was blessed since Sundays are the days I usually travel through to Chehalis.

The customer service is friendly and they are really very down to earth ladies and I enjoyed my experience there.

If you do stop in, you might want to ask them about some of the super natural things that have been going on at the shop such as doors opening without anyone around, their dog that refuses to go into the attic and won't let the owner go up there, voices heard and questions asked and no one around.

Washington state has many old buildings, store fronts, homes that have been here since the 1800's and many families have passed through the homes. Some of them were stores, homes, stores, businesses, etc. there are bound to be some odd things that can't be explained.

I just loved these fat quarters when I saw them. They reminded me of spring time and little girls and I will probably use them for another baby quilt.

By the way, I had a $50 budget when I walked into the store and I walked out with all of this plus the jellie bellies at under $50. I had stuck to my budget by about $2.

No Words Necessary

Today's post is brought to you by Mother Nature. Enjoy!

God Knows What Is Best

Last year while working for Americorps, I had to find a job between school ending and the end of my Americorps term. I found the Historical Seaport in Junction City, the home of the wonderful Lady Washington.

I worked in the office going thru old records and files and organizing them. I organized the merchandise room, I answered the telephones and I worked on the scholarship program. During this time I was asked to bring in my resume and I did, but I did not get the job. Heck, I wasn't even given an interview.

My last day, I was bummed out as I knew I would be unemployed. I also felt badly because I had been working there for several weeks and the director knew what I could do, he had seen my work.

Today, the Historical Seaport laid off 6 people. My heart breaks for those who lost their jobs, because I knew most of them and they are wonderful people. It looks like all the people even down to the bookkeeper will loose their jobs. The spar shop is closing and these were the guys who worked all day and kept busy.

So, now I know why I didn't get the position. Because God knew I would loose my job and doubly bummed. I keep telling myself God has something better planned for my family and a better job for me. I guess this just sealed the deal in my mind.

Being Open To God

How many of us are truly open to the opportunities that God gives us each day to touch someone else? I know I am not always aware of these opportunities because I am always in a hurry to get somewhere, to do something, but today I was wide awake!

I had left the doctors office and was on my way to WalMart to pick up my medication. I had my oldest grand daughter with me because she isn't feeling to well today. When we rounded the corner the line was from the pharmacy all the way back to the aisle.

I could have left, but really didn't want to go back outside once I got home. We got in line and the woman in front of us was focused on reading a medication on the shelf, but when she put it down she was talking to herself and it was obvious by the way she was dressed and the things she was saying, she was a bit unbalanced.

She would remove things from the shelf, put them back, straighten it all out and then complain to no one about the items cost or packaging, etc. She would wildly spin around and then calm down and face forward, I kept the oldest as close to me as I could.

When the woman finally got to the front of the line, she just walked up in front of someone else that was being helped, but calmed down and went to the next window that was open. The lady behind me and others were making snide comments. I said nothing except, some people cannot help their behavior.

When I got my prescription, the clerk had to go get the woman's and in about 10 seconds she was wound tighter than jack-in-the box. Where did she go? Hey, I don't have all day? Get your ass back here, that was enough for me. I politely said, 'excuse me I would appreciate it if you didn't use those words around the little one.' She apologized, then started up again but without the cursing.

When it came time to pay her co-pay, she began to argue it should be paid by Medicaid, but the clerk explained to her it was with the exception of a fifty-two cent co-payment. Now, I have been around the block and it was obvious she needed this medication because when the clerk took it out of the bag, the woman grabbed it out of her hands.

Her hair was unkept, her purse strap was taped with duct & electrical tape, her shoes were falling apart, to her, fifty-two cents may as well have been $52 or $520. She wanted to take the medication up front to pay for it but the clerk said it was a narcotic so had to be paid for back there.

I asked how much my prescription was and I had enough money to pay for it, so during the time this woman was frantically begging for her medication and explaining she didn't have a co-pay, I handed the clerk $1 and said let me pay for it. She tried to give me her eighteen cents and the clerk tried to give me back my change, I told her to keep it all, she needed it more than I did.

How sad that someone can't afford to pay fifty-two cents for medication. This could be anyone of us. I has been me, it has been my children, it can be anyone and I believe God watches us during these interactions with others to see what we will do.

Matthew 25:35-36 tells us: 'For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' Isn't this what Jesus would have done? Perhaps He would have healed her, but I know on judgement day I want God to look at me and say: 'Well done my good and faithful servant.'


We will see more opportunities to help others, be watchful, open your eyes look around and reach out to those in need.

Doctor Report

I would love to say my doctor had great news, but it doesn't look that way. For the abnomally, she thinks I have Diverticulitis and not ovary problems, so she had to give me 2 different antibiotics because I am allergic to the main one that would help with an infection. So, she gave me antibiotics to see if that helps one problem.

I am scheduled for an ultrasound later this month to ensure it isn't a female problem. That takes care of the 2nd problem.

My MRI report was not something to write home about. My Spondylosis is still grade 2 slippage which means that 50% of my adjacent vertebra in my L5 area touch each other (bone on bone). That she explained doesn't or didn't appear to have to many changes.

However, the area of the spine where my nerves and all that good stuff go through, has narrowed so much that she is sending me to a Neurologist feeling that physical therapy at this time cannot change that area of my spine.

Thank you to all who are sending me well wishes and prayers. It is, what it is and there is nothing I can do to change it, but God can!

Cheap and Funky Sunglasses

As promised, here are the sunglasses I redesigned for my granddaughters. Even the tom boy likes them & she is the one modeling them.

I used to collect sunglasses and then I began wearing bi-focals and I went to purchasing clips when I bought new glasses.

I gave most of the glasses to the girls with the exception of these last 2 pair. So, while walking through Michael's a few weeks ago, I picked up some little plastic gem/jewels for under $2 each package.

Last night while sitting down, I took my nail glue/super glue from the artificial nails I wear on special occassions and began decorating. One drop of glue and place carefully the gem on and voila' here are the results.

Really very quick and easy. The glue I use is all natural according to the label, but the girls don't like the smell right away, so let them sit overnight and they are ready to wear.


Of course, depending on the size of the frames and the style, will depend on how fancy or how many items you can place on them.

Did It Start With Clothing?

This is going to seem like a rhetorical question, but what started our economic downfall and high end executive compensation and ignorance of the workers needs?

Was it when name brand clothing became popular? Was it when tennis shoes were costing more than groceries for a month? Was it the unions?

Growing up, I remember having everything we needed. Maybe not everything I wanted, but if you wanted something, you saved for it. Oh my, I remember my first portable AM/FM radio. It was a light blue with an all silver front and cost me around $14.00. I babysat making fifty cents an hour and when I got that radio, I had it for years! It meant the world to me.

I remember having a pair of shoes for school, one for PE or after school play and one for Sunday or going out and many times they were the same as my school shoes. We were taught how to care for our shoes and expected to take care of them because after all, money didn't grow on trees!

I can remember Sunday evenings sitting down with newspaper on the floor and having to clean, polish and shine my shoes for the week. Now, I am not even sure if I own a can or bottle of shoe polish (I did when I was a police dispatcher, because keeping my shoes shiny was important). To this day, I cannot just kick off my shoes without untying them, because if we got caught as a child doing this, we would be sitting down for an undetermined amount of time untying our shoes, taking them off, putting them on, tying them, taking them off!

I think I remember Keds, Converse, Adidas and Buster Brown. As I got older, I discovered Capezzio's. Shoe stores were Kinney Shoes, Buster Brown, Karls and probably a few others, but they were stand alone shoe stores and of course Sears sold shoes.

I couldn't wear jeans or pants to school until the 9th grade as my elementary school didn't allow pants or shorts unless it was PE. In the 9th grade, the high school allowed them, but my parents did not. I will never forget having my first job and buying my first pair of Levi jeans. I had bought the jeans and a pair of saddle shoes & put on a mans dress shirt a family friend had let me have.

My dad came home and saw me and almost had a heart attack! What was next? Wearing tee shirts with a cigarette pack rolled in the sleeve and NO, I was not going to be wearing Levi's, the usual teen vs. parent argument came around. Eventually there was a compromise, but Levi's back then were like $15 a pair.

Then one day I noticed people were talking about Nike and the cost of tennis shoes began to sky rocket and everyone seemed to be wearing them and not caring what they cost. What I never figured out was how parents could afford to buy them or would buy them while they wore rags?

Then came Jordache jeans and it seems it never stopped.

Perhaps it was the media that changed things or computers, I don't know. But I believe we as Americans and I am just as guilty in many ways began to think we were owed these things. We worked hard, we deserved these things!

I will say, I have NEVER paid $100 for a pair of shoes or jeans in my life. I have always been the type if I can't find it on sale and pay less, I really don't want it. This morning my husband told me he doesn't wear tennis shoes because he isn't going to pay $60+ for a pair.

CEO's have always made more than the workers, but when did it get so out of hand? When did it become a good idea to pay CEO's millions a year for wages, stock options, percs and even bigger bonuses if they destroyed a company and were fired? What about death compensation? Why should executives get money after they die?

I am not whining here, I am just asking where does it stop? People are loosing their jobs because our country got greedy! Boeing lost millions maybe billions of dollars last year and not because they couldn't sell airplanes, but because the union workers went on strike and production losses couldn't be recaptured! **This isn't about unions**

I just watched a video where Japan Airlines CEO takes a bus to work, eats in the company cafeteria with everyone else, pays for his meal like everyone else and in 2007 took a pay cut so the workers didn't have to. His pay? Are you ready for this? 90,000 per year.

Perhaps it began with overpaid sports players or computers in every home. I don't know, but I do know it is time to make some changes. When CEO's are making millions, getting millions more in stock options, bonuses while their companies are going down the tubes, there is something wrong! When we care more about bailing out banks and are letting our citizens become homeless, there is something wrong! When people are committing suicide and killing their families because of the bleakness in the economy, there is something wrong!

No, I can't find full-time work, but my job as a substitute teacher is full of hugs, laughs and touching others lives through mentoring. I can stay home when I want (no pay, but my choice) or work when I want. I have just as many or more degree's than some CEO's and board members but it isn't enough to help me find work.

We own outright a motorcycle and a truck and are making payments on my van. We are in debt and that I can blame on no one but us and our greed, our instant gratification and the move to Washington, but in spite of it all, I am not ready to toss in the towel and move!

I hope as a nation, we open our eyes, we see what is going on and we change. We have to! We can no longer afford to ignore the writing on the wall, it is here, people everyday are living it, loosing their jobs, unsure of what to do next. There are others who are still spending like tomorrow won't come!

I don't know where it all started, I am just concerned where and when it will all end!

Today I Was Blessed

Today hasn't exactly been the kind of day to write home about. I woke up in so much pain, I could barely get out of bed and then something happened that I had to do a second take on to believe it was happening. To personal to go into here, lets just say it was a medical abnomally & I am pretty concerned about it. I see my doctor tomorrow morning.

I could have gone today, but our finances require I make as much as I can between now and July and besides, I was teaching 2 classes at 2 different schools both of which I truly enjoy and I just didn't feel I could let them down. Yes, I know this goes against taking care of myself first, but that has never been something I have ever been accused of!

When I got home, my answering machine was letting me know there was a message to be answered and imagine my joy and surprise to hear Janeen from the blog site Your Impact Matters on the other end thanking me for the pin cushions and not only that, but letting me know how she enjoys my blog and thinks the changes I have made are positive ones.

Wow! Wow! She took time out of her day to call me at home and bless me! What was even greater was hers was the only message on the machine. There were no bill collectors, no hang up calls, just Janeen's sweet and pleasant voice.

I called her back and let her know how much I appreciated her taking time to bless me.

WOW! Thanks Janeen!

Prayer Requests Wanted

Good Morning and welcome to my blog. I am forming a prayer group that will meet on Tuesdays to pray for our nation and others in need. Please, we welcome prayer requests and would like to specifically pray for your needs.

If you have a prayer request, please send it directly to my email address and we will pray for you by name and request.

I believe God wants me to pray for those in need.

If you would like to join this team of prayer warriors, contact me and let me know!

Meeting Once a Week in Prayer

I have been doing a lot of praying and studying my Bible since the first of the year, I wanted to change for the better. I sit at lunch time and pray for the area I am working in, the school, the teachers, etc. I have even taken to driving around town and asking God to bless certain areas.

I am wondering if any of you would like to join me once a week for a short prayer meeting for our country, ourselves, our families, our economy? Or I can send an open prayer to you and you can add to it and I will post it when it is finished.

It breaks my heart that 221 people in our small logging town lost jobs when the mills shut down permanently. I haven't been able to find full-time work since July 2008. Our schools are talking lay offs and Seattle has shut some of their doors. Our banks refuse to be responsible now stating they would rather go bankrupt than answer to congress. Corporations are still trying to justify giving billions of dollars in bonuses and while the gas prices continue to rise, Exxon made an astounding $45 billion dollar profit.

Join me on Tuesdays for prayer if you would like. You are not being forced into it.

Hearts Giveaway at Val's Place

Hop on over to Yarnigras (Val's) blog and post a comment for a chance to win a cute heart pin she is giving away. Http://www.yarnigras.blogspot.com
While you are at it, let her know you came from my blog. I don't get extra points, but I think it helps all of us to know where newbies are coming from.

Also, you simply must go to Melinda's on the sidebar and see the most amazing valentines she has put together for my grand children's teachers, this lady is so talented!

February Sweetheart Giveaway

I promised to do something for February that would be heartsy or at least relate to Valentines day a bit. However, since this giveaway is going from now until the end of February, you can probably use these next year or even craft them into something else. Well, maybe.

This month, I am giving away 3 items:

#1- This adorable heart print flannel cut into 8 11" X 9" rectangles that is approximately a 1/2 yard of fabric. Use these squares for a baby quilt, burp clothes, etc..
This fabric is brand new, has never been washed and I picked it up today specifically for this giveaway.

2- I don't know about you, but I love silly socks and these just fit the bill for a neat gift. Trust me, the kids I teach ask me each day to show them my socks because I wear silly socks all the time & I will wear Valentine socks at Christmas, Easter socks on Halloween, the sillier the better.
These are brand new, never worn one size fits 6-10 women's socks. These are the top and bottom of the socks. There are NOT 2 pair, just one pair & aren't they cute?



3- The third prize is just this cute little craft or gift bag in red with hearts all over and tied with a tiny red ribbon. Along with the bag comes a brand new roll of 10 yards of red ribbon. Use it to tie a quilt, make crafts, pig tails for a little girl. Here they are, the ribbon and bag.

To have a chance to win one of these prizes, you must post a comment here. The contest will run from today until February 28th with the winners being notified and posted by 9:00 pm at the latest on March 1st.
To win you must post a comment on this post. That will give you one entry into the giveaway and one entry will enter you into each prize category.

If you post a link to this giveaway on your blog and let me know you have left a link, that will give you another entry.

If someone posts a comment here and tells me they came via your blog, that will give you an additional 5 entries and your friend will get an additional entry into the contest as well.

So, you have a chance to earn entries several different ways.

**If you want to just be entered into one of the prize giveaways, please let me know that as well for drawing purposes.**

Happy February and Good Luck!

I am sorry to report, only United States entries as it is to cost prohibitive for me to ship internationally. I am sorry. Not to mention the customs forms!

Feedback Please

I am looking to increase my blog following. I am asking for feedback from those of you who read this regularly for feedback. My blog is technically a huge part of who I am. Not just a grandmother raising grandchildren, but a woman who cares about almost everyone she comes into contact with.

I have met some wonderful people through this outlet. Other grandparents raising their grandchildren and been a shoulder for them as they have been for me. Others who suffer from Fibromyalgia, Arthritis and other chronic pain syndromes & on a bad day, their support gives me hope. Quilters, sewers, crafters that are so talented I am constantly blown away by the beautiful things they make. Supporters of my causes and those who don't agree & with each comment I learn new things!

I am aware I can be very vocal in MY stand on politics which not everyone will agree with me on and I don't expect nor would I want you to all follow my political views, but they are a part of my interior being, who I am.

My Christian views that I post. If I can reach one person or one person reaches out to me looking for hope, looking to find Jesus Christ, looks at their spouse in a whole new light or their immediate situation, decides that life is still good in spite of it all. Then I have done a small part in helping others.

HOWEVER...if you meditate, practice Buddhism, use alternative therapies to keep your life calm and chaos free, I am NOT going to put you down or toss you out. After all, I have done my share of searching for that perfect calm and I always come back to Jesus!

I would love to have more followers and I am reaching out to all of you for help. Is there something I should add, remove, leave the same? I want this blog to be a place you come with a cup of coffee and a smile on your face or walk away thinking you can help others.

You have already seen the first 2 giveaways of the year. Both of these were recycled items from my home or handmade items I made. There will be more giveaways, some will be handmade, some new, some recycled and I hope to keep this going with monthly giveaways. **Please post these to your blog when you feel they are worth sharing and share the site with others.**

No one knows when, but my 500th post will be coming up in a few months and the first person to post on my 500th comment will receive a gift that hasn't been chosen yet.

My blogiversary will open doors to a daily giveaway for an entire week as it approaches.

It is my hope to share life with you. Good or bad, up or down, happy or sad and that each one of you will share with me and together we can form a network of bloggers who care for each other and support each other where we can.

I have posted on my sidebar Etsy stores and bloggers that sell handmade items or recycled items made new or stay at home moms who sell things. I want to help support this unique and talented community. If you make items or know someone that does, please send me a link and I will look to see if it fits my blog and life.

If you notice a link isn't working, please let me know. If you get to one of the shops I support and it is no longer in business let me know. If you have done business with one of these shops and it was a bad experience, let me know! I want my blog to support real people, not scam artists, so I only recommend people I have done business with or know of.

Please, follow me and let me know what you would like to see more or less of. I already have received positive feedback and Emails on Sunday dinners, so that will stay!

New Winners Are....

Can I have a drum roll please? The winner of the Devotional 'My Time with God,' and the silly pin cushion is Dayna. So, Dayna if you will send me your address, this will go in the mail to you.

Actually, Dayna was the only one who posted a comment on this giveaway, so it was a pretty easy choice.

Congratulations Dayna and thank you for spending time with me.

The next prize (remember, I said I was giving away a small laundry type of gift).


Here it is. A cute Laundry Room print with hearts, clothes baskets flowing over with laundry and clothes hanging on the line (I miss my clothes line) framed nicely in a 4 1/2" x 11" silver beveled frame.

Alright already! The winner is Cathy of Illinois!

I took all comments posted after the 15th and entered them into my random number generator and Cathy won!

Look for February's giveaway to be posted between now and the 3rd as today is a very busy day for me!

Thank you for all who continue to follow my blog!