TSO!

It's that time of year again! If you haven't seen Trans-Siberian Orchestra in concert, I highly recommend that you do. I went 2 years ago...had been a huge fan of their music for almost 10 years before that. The live show is unbelievable...great music, great lightshow, great singing...an all-around awesome show!!!

I put a video bar from YouTube on my sidebar to the left...if you're not familiar with TSO, I urge you to take a listen. Here's their webiste - TSO.

Good news! At long last, they have a new album coming out...but not sure when..."Nightcastle"!

RIVEN...a novel

I have just finished reading what is, perhaps, the most moving book I have read in my entire life. "Riven" by Jerry B. Jenkins...author of the Left Behind series that I wrote about here.

Written inside the front cover: "When a condemned man with nothing to lose meets a weary man of God with nothing to gain, everyone washed by the endless ripples of that encounter will forever recall the day a little bit of heaven invaded a whole lot of hell."

It's a large book...over 500 pages. My sister, Joyce, had read it first and urged me to read it. Well, I am so very happy that I did. It is a moving story...one of hope and faith and loss and courage. Here is a song that is in the book (entitled, "The Love of God")...it so moved me...

Could we with ink the ocean fill

And were the skies of parchment made,

Were every stalk on earth a quill

And every man a scribe by trade,

To write the love of God above

Would drain the ocean dry,

Nor could the scroll contain the whole,

Though stretched from sky to sky.

I would recommend this to be the next book you read.

Happy Thanksgiving!

And the winners...

Brooke Burke and Derek Hough!

Yup...told ya!

I am happy!!!

Dream...

Working on Christmas gifts...still cannot show them...

BUT, here's a rug I just finished. It's about 9 1/2 by 23 inches...

Enjoy your short work week!

Simple Joy...aka Kaylynn Marie

After a tough week, I was really looking forward to my Granddaughter's visit today. Instead of going to her house, she came to mine this time. What fun to have her here! My heart sings when I am with her!

The first thing we did...sat in the big easy chair together while I mended her stocking cap...Tag had pulled the tassel off...bad brown dog!

We talked, colored, ate lunch, played outside and walked around the property, seeing the horses, cats, and chickens. She didn't like the smell of the barn (Gramma, it stinks in here), so we just took a quick peek. I showed her all the photos I have of her here on the computer, and she told me who all the people in the photos with her were. She ate a good lunch. She laughed and giggled.

She has a way of looking at you out of the corner of her eyes...makes my heart overflow! She is beautiful.

I took photos...

I hope you have a joyful day, too!

Being Appreciated...& other stuff

For those of you who know me, you'll know that I think my job is fairly boring. Well, if I were to be completely honest, I would have to say that it is mind-numbing. Anyone could do what I do...though, perhaps, not as well - or as accurately...that attention to detail thing I have goin' on.

For those of you who don't know...I am a certified veterinary technician but not working as one - except when I teach my online course of Veterinary Medical Terminology for the tech school's Veterinary Technician program. Because of an injury to my knee 5 years ago, I am no longer able to work in the Critical Care Unit at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (hereafter referred to as the VMTH). Being that it is the University of Wisconsin...ya know...the state...once my injury healed - 7 months off work...woohoo!!!! - they had to find me another job. Hence, the job I now have in the Medical Records department. My main focus is putting together charts for the next day appointments. I do a myriad of other duties, some more mind-numbing...some less.

So, here is what I actually wanted to write. For a portion of each semester, the 3rd year veterinary students of the VMTH perform ovariohysterectomy (spay) surgeries on shelter cats and dogs. The shelters send a specific amount of dogs/cats once a week. When they come in, the information on each one (species, breed, age, color, name) is given to me so that I am able to make up a medical record. Since the surgeries are scheduled at a specific time on a specific day...and the shelters aren't always organized, I sometimes have very little time to put together 7 - 12 charts. But, since I am very organized, it doesn't take me long at all.

Got all that? Bill, the veterinarian in charge of Junior Surgery, has always been very appreciative of my efforts to get the charts done right away so that his students are able to keep to their schedule. He thanks me for everything...which always makes me feel good.

Okay, I am FINALLY getting to my point!!! One day this past week, I was busy working (what else?) and Bill stopped by. He said to me, "I was thinking...I always thank you when I bring you stuff or pick up the charts...but, I was walking down the hall and it occurred to me that I never just stop by to say thank you. So, thank you!"

ohman, I just wanted to cry!!! How nice was that??? There was a small smile on my face and a warm glow within for the rest of my day. WOW...what a difference it makes when we know we are appreciated, hey? I will remember that moment for a very long time.

And, in the future, I will be more aware of showing my appreciation to others.

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Here's the aforementioned 'other stuff'...

One of my coworkers gave me a knitted stocking cap. Seems she made it for her husband, but when he yanked it on over his head, she felt he was being too rough with her gift. (yes, I grinned at that, too!) She wanted to give it to someone else...and because it matches one of my winter jackets...I got it!!! It's really nice and I will enjoy wearing it this winter. Only thing, there was an opening at the top cuz she didn't pull the yarn tightly enough. She brought me the yarn so that I could make a pom-pom to cover up the hole. So...here it is! (and...just so ya know, it's not square...I put it over a small box to set it up for the photo.)

I am sure me Mum could have made a perfect pom-pom, but I'm happy with it. Thank you so much, Heidi!!!

Got a recipe from Kimmer, but then did it my way...will still call it goulash. Put it in the crockpot a few hours ago...ohhhhhh, it smells soooo good! I'll let you know how it tastes...and share the recipe if you so desire. Going to let it sit longer...

( Click on the above photo to see what goulash actually is.)

And, here's the eagle rug all finished...edges bound and steamed...

The rest of this weekend will be spent on sewing more Christmas gifts. I wish I could show you all what I am working on...but then no one would be surprised! I'll try to remember to take photos as I get them done...and will show them after they are received.

Have a great weekend!

Tango in my easy chair...

I was at my computer a bit ago

and Tag started barking.

Not like an "ohmygosh, I see the cat!" bark,

or a "Mama, someone's outside!" bark...

or anything like that.

Just short, insistent barks.

I got up to see what he was barking about,

and here is what I saw.

First time ever, at least as far as I know.

I have never seen Tango in my chair before.

I am pretty sure that Tag

was barking because he thinks

that the big easy chair is his...

not Tango's (or mine, either!).

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Been on a sewing kick...

cannot show you anything yet,

as I am sewing Christmas gifts.

How Can One Person Be So Fortunate???

I have many thoughts running through my mind (more than just doodles!) but I know there is no way I will be able to express them all.


First of all, let me say this. I have been so blessed! No matter what trials come my way, I always seem to come through them...not, perhaps, with flying colors, but alive and, in some ways, a better person. I always used to say that I led a 'charmed life'. Not to say that my life has been all good...cuz I have had some real tough situations to deal with...and though the times have been no fun to go through, I do get to the other side. Know what? I think that I have been taking too much credit. It is not all about me. huh? That's right...it has been my Father in Heaven who has been (still is) taking care of me...I just haven't been aware enough to acknowledge that. Guess what...I am NOW!!!!


God is so good to me and has blessed me so very much. I have a wonderful and loving family. AND, though I don't have a lot of friends, the ones I have are the very best...more than one could possibly ask for! How does one get to be so fortunate as to have the wonderful relationships such as the ones I have? I don't have the cut and dried answer to that, but I do thank God everyday for them all.

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That being said, I want to tell you what fun it was to get home from work today! I pulled in the driveway and, much to my delight, saw 3 boxes sitting on my front stoop! OHBOY!!!


The first...a care package from Bren. She is such a fun person and it's difficult to comprehend that we have never met (you know, in person). We met online on the Wool Snippets message board. Because of our rug hooking AND because she is partially responsible for my acceptance of God back into my life, we have built a very close friendship.


Here's the photo of the care package. She sent some linen foundation fabric for hooking rugs...she doesn't like this type and knows I do. She sent - FINALLY, I might add - my birthday gift from February of 2007...not a typo, two thousand seven! Isn't that brown dog just adorable...so primitive and with greens for the background...awesome! Measuring ~13x18, it has a little cross in the lower right hand corner...which signifies my being a Christian...and that she helps me in my walk with Jesus. Zippers for some little wool things I am sewing. A piece of wool...cuz I mentioned one day not having much for light-colored woolens. A can of tuna so I won't starve (I believe this is the same can I gave her for her birthday!). A really awesome card...the picture of the pup is actually a magnet you take off and use. Sooooo cute! A pattern I asked her about a few weeks ago. AND, a roll of toilet paper! She wrote on it...blah, blah, blah...just something about necessities.
Here's a photo of just the rug...

The second...a package stuffed full of fabric!!! From Bren! We were talking on the phone about Christmas and ideas for gifts and how she has a ton (really, she does!) of fabric! So, she picked out some that were suitable for what we talked about and here it is!!!

The third...me Mum sent my birthday gift early (3 months early!) It's an afghan that she knit...isn't it just yummy??? ohman, so soft and I know I am going to cuddle in it all winter long! I had asked for an afghan and then saw this variegated yarn and told her about it. Next thing I know...she's knitting my afghan! Thank you Mum!!! I absolutely LOVE it!!!
All in all, it's been a great day and I am feeling very loved. I think that I will remember this day for a very long time...and it will fill me with warmth.

What Comes First???

Having one of those weeks. Ya know the kind...so much to do, so little time. Chatting with Brenis the other day and I now have some really great ideas for projects and things I want to make. Add those to the other things I want to do...well, I have no clue where to begin. And, I must begin!!! Most of these ideas are for Christmas gift-giving...and that's not so far off!

Do you ever have so much to do that you become overwhelmed and do nothing at all? ohman, that's the worst and it happens with me often. Or, are you the type of person who takes on something entirely unrelated to anything that you already have to do and work on that? (Bren is famous for doing that one...I call it "that thing you do"...hence the name of her blog 'That Thing I Do'.)

It's funny, cuz I just read that Tammy from 'skip to my ewe' is having the same sort of problem...so much to do, but where to begin??? Tammy, are you reading this?

So...here's my plan for getting organized...and for getting things checked off my list.

I'm not talking cleaning, laundry, doing the dishes, etc....this is my 'get organized for your crafting' plan...

1. Make a list with all that you need to do, along with the date it needs to be done and/or the order of importance.

2. Make a list of supplies that you will need to buy and put the list in your purse! That way, if you're out and about (or on your way home from work), and you decide to stop at your favorite store (Hobby Lobby), you will have your list with you!

3. Gather the supplies you will need for at least the first few projects you'll be working on (this is the stuff you already have). Starting is always the biggest obstacle to overcome, don't you think??

4.Work on more than one project at a time. I usually have at least 2 things going. That way, if I don't feel like hooking (for instance), I can do some stitchery (or other handwork).

5. Never do one thing at a time when you could be doing two! I don't watch tv much, but when I do, I tend to do nothing else during that time. Or, when I talk on the phone, I just sit and talk on the phone when I could be doing something else, too. I do have speakerphone...and an earplug! Girlie, you are wasting time, there!

6. Set aside a spot of time at a certain time of each day and DO SOMETHING on one of your projects! It's like the Flylady philosophy of taking x amount of minutes and working your hiney off getting things done and not stopping until the time is up...you'll be amazed to see how much actually gets accomplished! whew!!! I love that idea!

My hours for work changed...I now go in an hour later - and stay an hour later, too - but I get up only 1/2 an hour later than I did before...which means I have some extra time every morning before I leave for work! I've found myself hooking for 15 minutes, doing dishes, making the bed instead of just pulling the covers up, and little things like that...and was surprised to see how much I could actually get done in that amount of time!

So, there you have it. My plan of attack for getting all of the projects on my list done.

How do you cope with much to do? What is your plan?

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The header photo was taken out my back door at dawn today.

FOLLOW the leader...

Mornin'! I just added a 'following' widget to my blog...it's right there at the top of the left side. Please, won't you add your info?? Just click on the 'follow this blog' link. I would love to know if you are a 'doodlehead'!

(By the way...'doodlehead' is in no way a derogatory word. I used to call my sister's dog, Manley, Doodlehead. Cuz I love him. So, I guess you could say that it's a term of endearment. {grin} With the title of this blog being what it is, 'doodlehead' just fits, ya know?)

Have a great Sunday!

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY to me Mum!!!

78 years old today!

I love you.