Quilts, grandchildren, and puppy news...

I was looking through the pictures on my lap top and realized that I hadn't posted these.  The first quilt was made by Mom. She used her Thangles buck a block squares that she gets from her favorite quilt shop.  It is a change from her usual color pallet.  She has been trying to get some quilts put together that her grandsons might like.  This thing was massive! I swear it must be between a king and California king.  When I had it in the frame, there were only about 5-6 inches of space on either side.  

The second one is Leslie's.  She made it right after she graduated from college.  She was housesitting for our friend Barbara one summer and made if out of all the T-shirts she collected through middle school, high school, and college.

Now that she is a mom, has a career and rather busy church calling, she doesn't have time to quilt.

I left her the binding, though.  I hate putting on a binding!

The grandkids visit quite often, considering school is back in full swing.  Seth is in a camera phobic stage.  I usually just get a picture of his hand; but, every now and then I catch him unaware and get a picture of him doing something cute or silly.

Leslie and the girls rescue Boomer on the days that Leslie isn't working.  They take him home to give him a break from the kennel.  He absolutely loves them!  They aren't too sure if his romping is fun or not because the puppy teeth are killer!  Here are some pictures of their last romp.

Boomer is getting so big! Due to the fact that we have never seen his parents and don't know how much of him is Basset or Beagle, we are waiting to see how he turns out.  He still has his cute beagle face, but his legs seem to be getting shorter and his body is getting longer.  I have a feeling he is going to be a funny looking fellow.

But, he sure is a comfort to snuggle with after a long, hard week at school.

Trudging along...

I have had such a battle with the blues lately, that I simply haven't felt like blogging.  But, I realized that if this is truly going to be a record of "stuff" in my life, the blues certainly need a place in the blog.  My sweet husband, Ron, who never seems to have a gloomy day doesn't seem to understand why I feel blue from time to time.  I can't ever really put my finger on it either, so I mostly try to ignore it because they eventually go away.  I try to count my blessings and stay busy, so that they pass more quickly. That works for me.
During the past couple of months, we have been pretty busy ending our summer and moving into fall. Ron wanted to visit his family in Ohio this year, so we took Becca, Seth, and Maggie with us.  It was a pleasant trip and we were able to see all of Ron's family and some of mine on our trip.  The kids traveled well, and we didn't have any problems along the way.  It was great for Seth to meet his cousin, TJ and find out that they have so much in common! We enjoyed going to the county fair and discovering that it is just like we remembered it.

Cousins TJ, Seth, & Maggie

While in Ohio, Ron and I were able to finally get a marker placed on the grave of the baby we lost early in our marriage.  He chided himself because it took so long to get it placed, but I reminded him that we've been busy with life; caught up in the challenges of raising a military family.  We are content and at peace with the choice we made for the marker. We hope that members of Ron's family will take us up on our offer to let them have the remaining 3 burial plots so that someone else in the family will be buried near our baby. Our intention is to be buried here in Texas because it is now our home.

My surgery to repair the heel spur and Morton's Neuroma went well.  I feel better each day, and look forward to being able to get out with Ron for our daily walks.  My co-workers have been helpful and check on me daily to make sure I'm doing okay.  I really work with wonderful people and am thankful for them.

Post surgery footwear... not cute, but comfy

Returning to school this year was difficult.  Not because of the surgery, but because I am just tired of working.  I am ready to retire, but still have at least 3 years before I can collect a full annuity.  I think part of my worries about working have a lot to do with how I feel physically.  It seems as I age, I don't have the energy I used to have or heal as quickly as I used to.  Therefore, I seem to work and come home exhausted.  Thank goodness Ron helps out so much at home.  He cooks, helps with the cleaning, and laundry.  He is a real treasure and I would be overwhelmed without him.

Ron and his mother, Marie

There are many moments of joy during my work days, which make it easier to keep working.  I have been at this school long enough to see many of my former students move on into middle school.  It is amazing how many of the big, tough 5th graders still run up for a hug when they see me in the hallway or on the playground.  I know in this day and age, hugging students is discouraged; but, I will never push a student away when they run up to me with arms open wide, just wanting a little affirmation that they are important to me.  The students in my class are very sweet and adorable.  This year, I am working with struggling learners again, and that melts my heart.  They challenge me and make me want to be a better teacher.

The classroom on Meet the Teacher night

The family is healthy, clothed, housed, and (for the most part) employed.  In these troubled economic times, those are great blessings.  My parents seem to be doing well physically, and that is a comfort to me.  We still enjoy gathering the kids and grandbabies with them on Wednesdays for food, laughter, and noise.  They are crazy evenings, but we all love them.

Mom & Dad... LOVE these two!

Our furry friends have had some ups and downs lately.  We lost Sassy to complications associated with diabetes. Then, as soon as we got back from Ohio, Buddy had to be put down because he had tumors on his kidney and liver.  But, we have our newest little friend, Boomer to cheer us up.  He is the cutest little mixed breed (beagle & basset hound) that we bought at a flea market while we were in Ohio.  He loves the grandkids, they love playing with him. and he fills an empty place in my heart that my Daisy girl left when she died.  He is a challenge to get potty trained, but we'll get there eventually.

"I got that Boom, Boom, Boomer!"

Our weather is starting to cool down now.  It is a welcome change from the oppressive heat we have each August, and the rain has helped repair some of the damage from last year's drought.  Most of all, it reminds me that fall is near.  It is my favorite season, and I love the weather; but, it is the feelings I have during the fall that I love most.  I can't quite describe it, but it feels like I have rushed through yet another year, trying to be everything that people expect me to be and thinking that maybe I did an okay job.  It feels good to think that I have another year behind me, and fall is wrapping me in warmth and comfort, preparing me for the rest that comes during the winter.  That rest gives me the strength to face another new year with renewed hope and determination.  Just knowing that this season of rest is ahead of me has brightened my spirits.  And, the blues will soon pass.

Defeat of da feet...

Summer is quickly coming to an end for me.  For the most part, it has been restful and relaxing.  I've spent time in the sewing room, finishing UFO's and getting some quilting done for Mom. I have also been blessed to have spent a lot of time with Ron this summer.  Thankfully, his work related traveling has changed from out of state to in state due to the new job.  He is now working as a process server for Bell and Milam counties.  There are a lot of hours spent driving around country roads, so I go along from time to time just so we can spend time together.  Occasionally, he takes our dog, Buddy, along with him.  We had Maggie's car seat in there on one trip and this is how Buddy used the seat.  He is just thrilled when he gets to go along.  The dog loves Ron so much! 

My goal to make 3 trips to the Temple in Dallas this summer hasn't yet been achieved.  Between stake obligations, family activities, and other less important things, we have only made it up 1 time.  It was a great trip, though.  Leslie and Gerson went with us because Becca and Uncle Eddie kept the girls for them.  We had a wonderful time.

Another time consuming activity that I have unhappily been involved in has been making numerous  trips to the podiatrist.  Several years ago, I developed a heel spur that was treated successfully with injections, alternating hot/cold soaks, physical therapy, and orthotic inserts for my shoes.  For some unknown reason, the blasted thing flared up again this winter.  In addition to the heel spur on my right foot, I developed a Morton's Neuroma in the left foot.  It seemed when one was bothering me, the other one would ease up, but they progressively got worse as the school year went on.  So, as soon as school ended, I told the podiatrist that I wanted to get my feet back to normal over the summer.  We tried the injections, soaks, and medication with no success.  Finally, he said I had several choices:  fix the neuroma and live with the spur, fix the spur and live with the neuroma, don't fix either of them and live with the pain, or fix them both.  I opted for fixing them both.  So, I will have to have surgery before I go back to work.  The doctor said, "I can do them both in a matter of 20-30 minutes.  Easy as can be; you will be in and out in no time. Afterwards, just keep your feet elevated as much as possible."  Several other teachers have had the same procedure done and it sounds like it won't be as quick a recovery as I had hoped it would be.  But, I keep telling myself recovery pain has got to be better than ongoing, endless pain.
So, between now and August 20th, I have to put my classroom together, go through pre-op, make a crazy trip to Ohio to visit Ron's family, come back on the 14th, have surgery on the 16th, and sit through professional development the 20th-24th, and greet the new batch of second graders on the 27th.

 Only 4 years to go until retirement!!!

Celebrating the 4th of July... Texas style!

When I was young, our family would celebrate the 4th of July by getting together for the day with our grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins.  It was my maternal grandfather Oscar's birthday as well as Independence day.  We would eat delicious food, make homemade ice cream, and enjoy talking or playing together, and occasionally drive to a nearby town to watch fireworks. When I was a teenager, I would also have to march with the high school band in some local parade.
After I grew up, married, and moved away from home I missed those family gatherings.  As our children were born, we tried to celebrate the holiday together by getting together for food and fireworks as often as we could.  Now that our children are all grown and Ron & I have found the house we intend to retire in, we have begun attending an annual parade in the small Texas town of Belton.  I really don't know what it is about the parade that appeals to me, but I absolutely love it.  There are representatives from political, sport, religious, and public organizations; as well as local bands, school, and families.  We see everything from trucks, lawn mowers, bikes, and horses decorated for the occasion.
Below are some of the pictures I took that day.  Some of them have a shadow on the corners where my lens cover failed to open completely.  That is thanks to the sticky fingers of my grandbabies.  I cropped out what I could, so most of the pictures have no shadow at all.  Anyway, enjoy the photographs!