I can't believe it is almost Christmas. I love this time of year. I love Christmas and I love that Heavenly Father sent his son Jesus Christ (our big brother) to save us. "It's the most beautiful time of the year" the song goes. I think that is so true. I have finally gotten all the snowflakes done for Linda and am drying them now. I am posting some pics of Jamya helping make cookies this year.

This is something I found on the internet I thought was cute.

Your fairy is called Oak Elfwitch

She is a cheerful sprite.

She lives in forests of oak and lime trees.

She is only seen in the enchanted moment between sleep and waking.

She decorates herself with leaves and berries. She has delicate green wings like a cicada.

Get your free fairy name here!

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Bad Week

I am so glad this week is finally over with. We have had an exhausting and emotional week. Tim's mother passed away on Tuesday, November 13. She was 83. Calling hours were Wed., Thurs., and the funeral was today (Friday). We have also been trying to get ready for the craft show tomorrow (Saturday). She was a very fine lady. She cared about everyone, and always asked about my son Timmy, and daughter in law Angel. I am going to miss her. She liked doing crafts, and sewing. In fact she taught sewing in 4-H. She was nice to everyone. I am exhausted. I will write again later and post some pictures of her.

Jamya's Two!

I can't believe that Jamya is 2 yrs. old already. Above are pictures of her birthday with us last weekend - 10/20/07.


I have been at the Lockport Union Sun for almost a year now. Wow has that year slipped by quickly! Time sure flies when you are having fun, or when you are so busy you can't breath. But it is a good busy. It is not really stressful, and I love doing ads again. It is much more fun now that we have illustrator. We can be really creative now. I am loving it so much.

Yesterday we had "Christmas with Mom" at my brother's house. It has become a tradition that we eat an early dinner there, then we open gifts and then Mom's brothers and sister come to get together before Mom goes down to Florida. We had a great time, but we missed our church play which many of our ward was in. They put on Joseph and the Amazing Technocolor Dreamcoat, which is one of my favorites., But family comes first, especially when we won't see them for 6 months now. Mom made us each clocks on her embroidery machine. My clock has crafty woman on it with all kinds of crafts around the words. Tim's has tools and the words tools of the trade, Robins is dolphins, and Jamya's is sesame street. They all turned out really cute!

I need to get busy as the craft show is creeping up on me. I have lots of things left to make yet.

Make-over day

Well, I have done it. I got my hair cut today. I wanted to wait for it to be long enough to give to locks of love. It has to be 10 inches at the longest point. Mine was just 10 inches. My hair is pretty short now. I also had it permed. The girl I had do my hair cuts it for free if you are giving it to locks of love, then she takes your picture and puts it on her Locks of Love wall of fame. She is very involved in the Relay for Life also. Locks of love is where you donate your hair so they can make wigs for children who have lost their hair for medical reasons. I lost 2 cousins to cancer one was 3 yrs old and one was 33. I have a sister-in-law that had hodgkins disease when she was in high school, and my Dad had cancer. My grandpa had lung cancer and emphysema. My step father also had skin cancer. My dad and my sister-in-law are both survivors. So I look totally different now with short curly hair instead of long straight hair - my hair is pretty fine and thin and very straight, doesn't hold a curl very long. It's going to be nice to not have to put my hair in a ponytail or braids when I go to bed. If I didn't I would have a matted knot mess when I wake up. My hair snarles easily also.

I figure I don't have the cash to give, but I sure can give my hair!

I have gotten some rice bags done for the microwave heating pad. I have gotten one towel embroidered for it, and just need to sew the side seams. They are going to be nice, sure hope they sell!

I need to go to the hospital and see if they need any baby hats for newborns or premies. I have a lot of hats done for them.

I have been making a cute design for dishcloths to sell at the craft show. They look like little dresses. They are really cute and easy to do. It only takes me 1/2 hour to crochet one.

We had friends over to dinner last night. We were talking about craft shows, and how I would like to do the Lockport show but I would need a tent, because I cant be in the sun too long, and they said they have a 10x10 tent that they would let me use. He said he would put it up for me too. They are so nice!!! Her mother has an embroidery machine (a Brother) but doesn't quite know how to use it yet. I was showing her some of the things I have been doing. She does a lot of crafts too. It was a really fun evening.

Today we had the missionaries to dinner. They are sisters this time. It was really nice to have them and get to know them better. I figured since I was off of work this week it would be a good time, otherwise, I don't get out of work early enough to have them over to eat. 7:30 is kind of late to eat.

I will post pics of my new do, and the things I have been working on for the craft show soon.

I can't believe we have actually had rain two days this week. It is pouring out right now. It has been really windy today, but very hot. Even the wind was hot from the south. Then it turned around to the northeast and then came it was cool, then cam the rain. - no lightening or thunder though this time.

My husband had to go to the dentist today at UB, it is a dental school, so it is a little cheaper, but he had to go all day. He got home just in time to have dinner with us.

Sad Day, Craft Show, and more

Today is a sad day. I learned this afternoon that the Second Counselor in the First Presidency of our Church has passed away. I just watched "A Celebration of Life" (a tape of the President's 95 Birthday celebration in 2005) last night, and Pres. Faust spoke in it. It is sad for us to not have him here anymore, but I am sure that he is busy in heaven all ready. He was a good man and we will miss him very much.

I have made a scarf and have started another on the looms. The first one you can wear different ways, it was made on the large loom. this one is being made with the leftover yarn on the little loom. They are really pretty, made of fun fur yarn (I found at Michael's in Watertown, NY for only $2 a skein. I will post a picture when I have time. I am also working on some microwave heating pads. I need to get a lot done for the craft show in November. I just got our place in the mail today. Looks like we have a good place. I hope I sell more things this year. I have a pattern for making some foam animals that hang up in the light. Their belly's are made of CD's so they look pretty with the light shining on them. I got 100 CDs for $15 at Staples in Watertown. And I got 2 12 count packages of foam ( the large sheets) for $3.99 each at Michael's (the one in watertown). I will see if anyone likes them. I have to make some more earrings and lace ornaments also.

I can't wait to get up to the 1000 Islands to visit my Mom. I love it up there. It is so peaceful and restful to me. And it will be nice to visit with Mom by myself. We haven't had any time together by ourselves since I got married 8 yrs. ago. I love my husband, his daughter and granddaughter dearly, but there are times I just need to be by myself, and do what I want to do. You can bet I will be doing some loom knitting up there. And probably some sewing. Just to remind you what it looks like up there here is a picture taken from their front lawn.
















You can see why I love it so much up there. I love being on the water and near the water. I wonder if it has anything to do with being a pisces? Oh well whatever the case I still love to be near the water, weather it be a lake (Lake Ontario is less than 2 miles from my home) or a river (1000 Islands is in the St. Lawrence River).

microwave heating pad

Well, this week has been rather tough. My son and daughter-in-law have moved to Florida as she got a good job down there. I am going to miss them alot. I have never been separated from them. New York to Florida is a long ways. I guess I will have to call a lot. I am working on another baby hat. It is turning out really cute. I have joined a group called loomknittingnewbies and they are great! I love all their suggestions, and their patterns. I have tried a few. They have helped alot! I am also working on a microwave heating pad. It is a fingertip towel folded into an envelop basically. It is folded into thirds and sewn on either side with the middle open so you can put the rice pack in. The rice pack is muslin filled with regular white rice. You put the rice pack in the microwave for 1 min. 30 sec. to 2 min. and it is very warm. You place it inside the towel and put it where you have muscle pains, or tension in the neck. It works very well. I will post a pic of the one my mother made for me. I use it all the time.

Loomed hats, and more

Boy time sure does get away from you doesn't it? What with working full time, learning my new computer, and spending time with my family, there seems to be no time left for any thing else. I have so much I want to get done with my embroidery, and I haven't even hooked up the machine yet, from when I took it to church to do some humanitarian sewing. We sewed baby hats out of fleece with baby designs on it. they were so-o-o-o-o cute!!

I showed them the hats I have been doing on the knitting loom. They were pretty excited about them too. I have used a lot of small pieces of yarn to do the baby hats. and they are so cute. I need to get some together and post them here.

I am kind of bummed, as I am going to go see my Mother at the 1000 Islands next weekend, and I am going alone. My step-daughter is working, and my husband has too much to do here at the house, but I am kind of glad too, because I need to have some time to my self and spend with my Mom. I will actually be able to relax and take it easy, not have to worry about everyone having fun all the time, and getting no rest on my vacation at all. Don't get me wrong, I love my family more than anything, but I do need some time to myself sometimes. It is the first time in 8 years I will be going anywhere myself. Here are pictures of my work on the loom. The rectangle one is my first dishcloth on the loom. It turned out nicer than I thought it would.






With Mitt Romney running for president I have heard a lot of negative comments about my faith. I would like to clear some of them up. Yes we do believe in the same Jesus you do, and in my book that makes us christians, as we do believe in Christ. Isn't that what a christian is? We study the King James Version of the Bible for 2 full years in our Sunday School. One year for the Old Testament, and One Year for the New Testament. Then we study our Book of Mormon for one year. We believe in reading and contemplating and studying our scriptures everday. We also have family prayer in the morning and in the evening. We have a family home evening - usually on Monday nights, but it can be changed to accommodate family memebers schedules. We have a short lesson and then we can play a game together as a family, or sing or do both, or we could go and do service for a family in need, or something on that sort.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!

I know, most people say Happy July 4th, but I like to use the real name for this day as it is more than just July 4th. It is the day we celebrate our independence from a tyrany. I have been contemplating this today. Did you know that in the Book of Mormon, the war that we waged against the English was fortold by the prophets? It says that we would get help from God to win this war. Think about it, how could a bunch of colonists, not soldiers, beat the most powerful army in the world at that time? We must have been inspired and helped by our heavenly father. Christopher Columbus was also prophesied about in the Book of Mormon. When it comes down to it the writers of the Declaration of Independence were inspired to write it. Just read it for yourselves.

In the Book of Mormon, it also says that as long as this country is righteous, we will be favored from our Heavenly Father. We will be blessed with our freedoms, but I am fearful that I see this country slipping away from being righteous. Why is it that we cannot have prayer in our schools anymore? Why is the Ten Commandments taken out of the courthouse down south? Don't you think that our laws are based on those commandments? Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not commmit adultry, etc.

I give a BIG THANK YOU to the men and women fighting for our freedoms right now over seas. We love you, and appreciate you! My prayers are with you always. Come home safe. I wish I could give each and every one of you a big hug.

I can't believe that we have gotten 2 zucchini and 4 cucumbers out of our garden all ready. They were all a good size too. It is supposed to rain tonight. I hope so, it hasn't rained in so long. If it does we will have plenty more zucchini and cukes ready for picking. We have tomatoes on our plants but no red ones yet. the corn is about knee high. Our raspberries are doing wonderful - lots of ripe berries to pick every day. we have melons started and beans, broccoli, watermelon, cantalope, and peppers growing in the garden. I don't know how the melons will do with not much water this year. last year the watermelons did great, but it was a lot wetter. Our grass is all burnt from the sun and no rain. haven't had to mow the lawn in a while. that is not like western new york in the spring and early summer.

Just some thoughts

I hope everyone had a good Easter. We had a quiet one. We went to church, then went and picked up my husbands daughter and granddaughter. It was a nice day. Tim had hidden a bunch of plastic eggs and Jamya had a grand time looking for them and putting them in baskets. She loved coloring eggs also. She would stick her fingers in the water and put them in her mouth, so her fingers and face was different colors. She is learning a lot of new words, and has gotten alot taller. She is such a sweetheart. She wasn't feeling too good yesterday. She had a cough and was filled up.I hope she gets better soon. This weather is what caused it I think. It goes from being half way decent to snowing again. I can't believe we got snow again today. It is supposed to get up into the 60's by the end of this week. I hope so. I am so tired of being cold.

I didn't feel well today, so didn't go to church, I didn't want to make any of the kids in Nursery sick, and I ended up sleeping until 12:30.

It is times when I feel down like this that I have to remember all the blessings we have. I am finishing up a basket for a Chinese Auction at a benefit for a daughter of a co-worker. She has cancer (she is a young girl) and on top of that she had the tainted peanut butter and is trying to recoup from that also. She is having treatments that is costing a lot of money - just one treatment costs $500,000. So, we are having a benefit for her this coming Friday. I am embroidering some towels, and an apron, I also knitted some dishcloths, and am putting in some kitchen utensils for a basket. I am also going to make her some chemo hats on the knitting loom. She is such a brave little girl.

Knitting Looms, Conference, etc.

I have been making newborn and children's hats on knitting looms. They are fast and easy, they don't hurt my hands like crocheting and knitting do now. I have also made an adult hat and a scarf. They work up so fast it is amazing. And they don't use a lot of yarn, so I have been using up a lot of scraps. I am going to donate some to local hospitals and shelters, and I am going to see if I can sell them at craft shows.

I can't wait for the conference talks to be on the church web site. I love to go back and read them over and print out the ones I really like, and have touched me.

I was sorry to hear that Marie Osmond is getting a divorce. I feel bad for her. I wonder if the talk over the weekend on divorce will help her any. I hope so.

You know, we are so lucky to live in this great country, where we have our freedoms. God has blessed this country, and as long as we stay righteous we will be able to keep our freedoms. I pray that we stop losing our faith based government and keep righteous. We need to Keep God and Jesus in everything we do. We need to remember that we would have nothing without them. We are just here for a short time, everything we have belongs to them, we are allowed to use it while we are here.

Great Quote I Found

Today is the first day of General Conference in our church. It is a twice a year occurance. It is where we hear from our Prophet and the Quarum of 12 Apostles and other speakers that they have chosen to speak to us and bring us messages. It is very good, spiritual and uplifting. I love Conference! Today we stayed home and listened to it over the computer. I was also cleaning my sewing/computer room. I found this quote from Jeffrey R. Holland (one of our Apostles). He says "In the gospel of Jesus Christ you have help from both sides of the veil and you must never forget that. When disappointment and discouragement strike - and they will - you remember and never forget that if our eyes could be opened we would see horses and chariots of fire as far as the eye can see riding at reckless speed to come to our protection (see 2 Kings 6:16-17). They will always be there, these armies of Heaven, in defense of Abraham's Seed." Isn't that a great quote. It sure gives me comfort knowing that I am not alone in my trials, I have help from our big brother Jesus, our Heavenly Father and the armies of Heaven.

I walked back to our creek to see if there were any fish coming upstream yet, I didn't see any. Only saw a few geese. There have been hundreds of them.My husband even saw a few flocks of white swans resting in our field and creek.

I found some things that I was working on with my family history, and put them all in a file. I need to get back to working on that. I have found a lot of family on my Father's side, but not so much on my Mother's side.

I really need to get started sewing again if I want to do any craft shows this spring and summer.

Well it is getting late, need to get to bed.

Florida Vacation

Well, We had some much needed rest in Florida a few weeks back. We took my husband's daughter and granddaughter with us to visit my father and mother and step-father. It was really nice. The weather was great - we went to 20 degrees to 86 degrees in a matter of a few short hours (we flew down). Then when we came back it was about 40 in Florida, but only 6 in Buffalo. We were really busy down there. We went for a walk around one of the lakes in Lakeland (where my Dad lives), it has a lot of birds there like swans, pelicans, storks, ducks, geese, etc. We fed the birds some bread. Some of them would come up and take it out of your hand. The swans were as tall as us with their long necks. Our granddaughter is starting to say words now, like mama for grandma, bird, book, hi, ma for mommy. She is so wonderful to be around. The second day we went to the Zoo in Tampa, that was great! Third day we went to Cypress Gardens, that was super too! Dad took us there, it was nice to spend the day with him. Then we went to my Mother's the next day and went to the beach. The dolphins came in but not too close as there were people surfing. The first time I ever saw that in person (surfing). Although the waves weren't that bad, they didn't knock us over or anything. It was the perfect day to go to the beach, as Dad said it got in upper 80s and was really humid while we were gone. Then we went to the flea market and craft show the next day. Sunday we went to church, and rested, we had my husband's sister and brother-in-law come down and see us. We took them to the lake to see the birds. Then we flew back home, to cold weather. It is finally getting warm now, but is quite rainy today. It is in the 60s today.

I have a new job - I now work in production in Lockport. I am really enjoying getting back into it again. I love it. It is so much more relaxed there, even with the deadlines.