The Choice Is Easy

 Lately, I've been reelin', watching the nightly news

Don't seem to find the rhythm, just wanna sing the blues

Feels like a song that never stops

Feels like it's never gonna

Gotta get that fire, fire, back in my bones

Before my heart, heart turns into stone

So somebody please pass the megaphone

I'll shout it on the count o' three

One, two, three

Oh, hear my prayer tonight, I'm singin' to the sky

Give me strength to raise my voice, let me testify

Oh, hear my prayer tonight, 'cause this is do or die

The time has come to make a choice

And I choose

Yeah, I choose joy

Let it move you (Move you, move you)

Yeah, back when I was younger, my eyes were full o' life

But now that I am older, I live at the speed o' light

Feels like the cycle never stops

Feels like it's never gonna

Gotta get that fire, fire back in my bones

Before my heart, heart turns into stone

So somebody please pass the megaphone

I'll shout it on the count o' three (Three)

One, two, three

Oh, hear my prayer tonight, I'm singin' to the sky

Give me strength to raise my voice, let me testify

Oh, hear my prayer tonight, 'cause this is do or die

The time has come to make a choice

And I choose

Yeah, I choose joy

Let it move you

Joy

Yeah, I choose joy

Let it move you (Move you, move you)

I need that joy, joy, joy, joy

Down in my heart, down in my heart to stay

I need that joy, joy, joy, joy

Down in my heart, down in my heart to stay, yeah

Joy

By: For King & Country

Honor

 Carl was so proud to serve in the United States Navy. He was a scrawny young man before enlisting and had to gorged himself on bananas to gain enough weight to pass the physical. He served on a guided missile destroyer during the Vietnam War.

That's My Dad!

Before I was born Carl was a volunteer firefighter. During most of my childhood he worked for Public Service/X-Cel Energy. He loved music. He loved taking his '55 Chevy Bel Air to car shows.

That's My Dad!!

When I was little he would carry me around the mall. He was always ready for a hug. When I was around 7 we went to Disneyland. We went on the log ride and I had the pleasure of sitting next to him. I learned a whole lot of cuss words (he was a sailor) very cleverly strewn together on the way down. I was laughing so hard at him that I forgot to be scared myself.

THAT'S MY DAD!!!

Last October Carl passed away. He was laid to rest in a military cemetery. My mom captured the moment I saw his tombstone for the first time.

I have been having a hard time coming up with the right words to convey how I was feeling. Thank you, Gus, for helping me find the right words.

P.S. My dad loved dogs and dogs loved him.

(Daddy, give Bear a hug for me!)

Fidgets

 Something weird about me, I fidget when I am stressed. I would crack my knuckles when I studied for school, which drove my mom absolutely nuts. So I started tippy tapping my fingers annoyingly, even annoying myself. Then I began clicking the back of the remote on off on off on off on off, and that explains why my Fire remote has a cover on it now.

I have found more productive ways to occupy my hands.

This is just a handful of the projects I have done in the past year and half.

Do you think that I might be a little stressed?

Do Something

Make America Normal Again

 I'm a 37 year old suburban, registered *Republican, white woman. And if Kamala Harris thinks I'll vote for her?!? Well, I already did.

*This will be the last election I will vote as a registered Republican. I would have changed my affiliation to Independent/Unaffiliated sooner, but I'm stubborn. I will see this election through as a Patriot.

Jamm'n Challenge!!!

Ah, summer. It comes every year.The birds chirping(not going to mention that crow). The smell of freshly mowed grass in the air. Mom chasing Thumps out of the garden(poor thing is sooo confused. She said not to eat the strawberries, now she is saying stay away from her lettuce and eat the strawberries). Itchy eyes, stuffy noses and all around itchiness from the strawberries on the counter. Guess it's time to make that jam we bought them for.

This is my little buddy.  He's so big because last spring he ate all of mom's newly planted strawberries.

Now comes the point that mom and I cant agree on which recipe to use. LIGHT BULB!!! We each make a recipe since there's more than enough strawberries, (that's what happens when mom tells me to pick out some strawberries since they were on sale, so I picked out 4 pounds)

Maybe I have been watching too many cop shows but man does this look like a murder scene.

I have helped mom out in the past but never all on my own. So here's what happened. After putting on some Jammin tunes for us to work to we got to work.

Mom's Jam

My Jam

Some how I ended up with over a jar less of jam than mom. Mine took half the time though. In the end we were both successful. Although I am fighting the urge to go and buy more strawberries for more jam!!!

On There...Two words I wish I could hear again

It's been a while, I know.  Things happen and things change.    Several months ago I started a Saturday sampler that I wanted to make for my grandma.  I had just learned to machine applique, and my first  project was a flower dog.  It looks a lot like Sassy, my grandparents' dog way, way, way back when I was little (Okay, okay. I still am little. I meant way, way, way back when I was young).

Last month Grandma passed.  She never got to see the quilt I was making for her.  She didn't even know about it.  Now it is a quilt in honor and memory of her.  I changed my ideas for it, and have decided to make it the most intense quilt I have ever done.

Here is the main part of Sassafras...

Each of the eight blocks under it will have to do with dogs or with Sassy, in particular.

Here is Block 1 of 8...

I miss my grandparents very much.  I never got to meet my mom's dad.  I lost my Grandpa when I was 12.  Now I have lost both my grandmothers within 6 months of each other.  This quilt will channel my grief in a productive manner and hopefully be as beautiful as all my grandparents deserve.

Kindred Spirit

Nona, I am happy you are in a better place.

I love you so much.

You will always be in my heart.

I will miss seeing your smile and miss hearing your stories.

Most of all I wish you all the peace you can find.