Monday, October 29, 2007
Weekend Scrapping
Beth and I participated in a Scrapbooking Weekend. Normally, we trekked to Grayling for the Goosebump Patch Scrapbooking Weekend. At the Grayling event, there are usually several hundred women in attendance. This group did not offer a fall event this year, so scrappers from Sparrow created their own--much closer to home! We rented space at the Holiday Inn Express on Okemos Road. The hotel gave us great discounts on rooms. The banquet/meeting room was a perfect setup for the 25+ who attended. The hotel was much cleaner and more modern than the Grayling building and the hot tub, heated pool and free breakfast just made it perfect. On Sunday, it was a five minute drive home. I started by Christmas cards and worked on a retirement scrapbook for a colleague. Life is good.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Happy Birthday
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Noel celebrated his 4th birthday last Saturday with a party at Mason Lanes. There were six children, 3 of them cousins, in attendance. It took at least 6 adults to manage the party and the bowling! Even using gutter bumpers and a launching ramp, the bowling balls were agonally slow in moving down the lanes! We were even blowing, hoping a little breeze would keep them going. They all seemed to have a great time. It doesn't seem possible that he's four years old already.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
The Software
My new sewing machine is an embroiderer. The computer screen on the front of the machine is about 6 in x 6 in. When Noel first saw the screen, he yelled, "Grammy, there's a TV on it!" The software, loaded on my computer, is used to create designs to download to the sewing machine for embroidering. It is the most protected software I have ever used. The software, after the first ten times of access, cannot be used unless the dongle is inserted in a USB port of the computer. Each software package has a dongle specific to that software package. The dongles are not interchangeable. No dongle, no software. If you loose it, no problem - just re-buy the software ($700 - $2100 depending on the options you choose.) If you travel across the country with your machine but forget your dongle, you'll have extra time on your hands. You won't be sewing using your software. So, why cave in and buy it in the first place? Because it's the best.
The sample redwork snow[wo]man is one of the simpler patterns. (The "F" stands for Frosty!)
Friday, October 19, 2007
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Husqvarna-Viking
I bought my machine through the local Viking dealer at Joann's Superstore. I purchased one used as a demonstrator at the Novi Sewing Expo. The machine had been used for a few hours but it allowed for a substantial discount. I really wanted to have the machine to take on our sewing retreat, but the machine needed to be shipped to Lansing from the Detroit area. We were leaving early Thursday morning and they thought it would probably be delivered mid-day on Thursday. On Monday, Beth called me at work to say that the software for my machine was ready to be picked up at Joann's in Lansing---but the machine was not there. I stopped into Joann's very late on Monday to pick it up, asking again if there might be a possibility the machine would be there by Wednesday afternoon. The sales clerk was very elusive about the delivery date, so much so that I was wondering if I should have purchased it somewhere else. She was evasive about the machine but very open about the software I was picking up.
I got home about 9:30pm to an empty house. Beth, Billy and Noel came home about 10pm. As they entered the house, Noel was yelling, "Grammy, you got a new TV!" They knew how much I wanted the machine for the weekend, so they piled in the Tahoe on Monday afternoon and drove to Allen Park, MI to pick it up for me. I was wonderfully surprised and grateful.
Tomorrow--the software!
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Quiet & Serene
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
More About the Weekend Retreat
We set up our work area so that we had a great view of the lake. Carol drove her Chrysler Pacifica--and we were amazed that the equipment we hauled fit nicely into it. In addition to the tables required to hold the sewing machines and for work space, we hauled up an ironing board and iron, cutting boards and scads of fabric. Carol and Van each used two sewing machines-one for machine embroidery - which pretty much self-operates, and one for regular sewing. I took only one machine---but more about that tomorrow!
Monday, October 15, 2007
Up North
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Cooler Weather???
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The trees are starting to turn brilliantly beautiful. This one, along the west side of Hagadorn Road near Holt Road, is deeply into the fall color change.
Fall has brought some interesting new things to our household. Noel started pre-school. There was a lot of concern about him starting pre-school without being "potty-trained." Peer pressure must have been the key--he was wearing undies and using the toilet within four hours of starting pre-school. He loves his teacher, Miss Christy, and to the surprise of his mother, he's actually been behaving at school. (He saves his VERY best stuff for home.)
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Nostalgia
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Friday, August 17, 2007
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Sparrow Hospital
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Tavern on the Square
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Tavern on the Square is not a big place. There is sitting upstairs for about 12-15. Downstairs has the usual bar seating and several seating areas: a grouping of lounging chairs, a grouping of ottoman type chairs and a couple of standard table & chair arrangements. There is some seating outside but it's too dang hot to appreciate that right now. We are supporting the lounging chair area.
With the growth of Cooley Law School in the area, there has been a reawakening of the downtown area eateries and watering holes. It's not the same as when Arbaugh's, Penney's and Knapp's had flagship stores in the pre-mall days. But never the less, it's good to see the activity and vacant store fronts in use.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
311 South Fairview
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Note to Dorrie & Rich: The heart remembers most what it has loved the best. I love you both and send you love and hugs.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Batik Wildflower Quilt
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Tuesday, August 07, 2007
The Test of True Friendship
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There were some very significant ah-ha moments during the nearly eight hours we were in attendance. We worked very hard, but we had SO much fun working together. The wine provided by the hostess helped! Carol truly experienced how deeply our YaYa friendship has developed--she just left it to us as we wanted her to and enjoyed herself. And, lastly, her family and family friends commented on Carol's catering company-----maybe we've come up with alternate employment options!
PS: About the picture: only a true friend would change your dog's diaper!
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Rose of Sharon
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When we moved into our house in July 1976, there were three Rose of Sharon bushes on the property. They were in full bloom -- white, light lavender and dark lavender. For reasons long past remembering, all three of the shrubs were removed. Three years ago, I planted a light lavender bush near the deck on the south side of the house. It's had reasonable blooms for the past two years. Last fall, we cut the shrub back considerably. This year's blooms are not only many but there are many white blooms mixed with the light lavender. It's beautiful (and the bees like it, too!)
Saturday, August 04, 2007
Friday, August 03, 2007
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Godspeed, Noel.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Noel Christopher Rogers
Noel Christopher Rogers, age 33, died tonight at Cape Coral Hospital following cardiac arrest. Noel, son of Dorrie & Rich Rogers, grandson of Barbara and the late Wallace Hammond, my nephew and a true sweetheart, is gone but will never be forgotten. Noel was a big guy with an even bigger heart. I can't even begin to understand the impact of this loss.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Let's Talk About the Weather
I
I've had the last four days off work to spend time with my mom. I anticipated the weather to be horribly hot. To my surprise and enjoyment, it's been in the 70's with the hottest day being 82 degrees -- and sunny the whole time. We were able to sit outside under a shade tree on Sunday afternoon to read and relax.
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Sunday, July 22, 2007
Family
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Saturday, July 21, 2007
Binder Park Zoo
Friday, July 20, 2007
It's rather impressive
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Thursday, July 19, 2007
Noel's Quilt
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This is Noel's quilt, finished. He picked out the fabrics and played with the fat quarters for weeks before I started the quilt.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Day Lilies
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Given the number of orange day lilies in bloom in mid-Michigan, one might think it is the State flower! It's been a beautiful summer--warm days, cool nights and just enough rain for the flowers. The day lilies are pretty much no-brainers for those of us pretending to be gardeners. I found a nursery in Portland that sells only lilies. I now have maroon, yellow, and of course the orange. The orange lilies arrived after a sundown drive around Alaiedon township with a shovel!
Sunday, July 08, 2007
There's nothing like a parade on the the 4th of July!
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Noel rode his Tow-Mater bike in the parade on Wednesday. His friend rode her Lightening McQueen tricycle. Both trikes were decorated with red, white and blue crepe paper. Their little legs rode those trikes from the Mason High School, into town, around the court house square and back to the high school. It was a really nice home-town parade that included the high school band, politicians, right to lifers and about 3000 John Deere tractors.
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Field Trip
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On Saturday, the "girls" took a field trip to Jackson, Marshall, Battle Creek and Kalamazoo in search of quilt shoppes. Although we started out at our usual haunt, Country Stitches (only the Jackson version), our new favorite is the Marshall House in, well, Marshall, Michigan. The Marshall House is located in a former funeral home. There are many rooms, each with a fabric theme. At the Marshall House, they encouraged you to place the fabrics together to look at colors, to take it outside if you needed better light, and to look at "this." There was no pressure to buy, and once we brought our loaded carts to the cutting table, no complaints about the amount of stuff we wanted. I have just begun a new quilt through a Country Stitches class called Rambling Rose meets Jackson County. It's a pieced quilt with a variety of blocks in the colors of dusty rose, black and beige. Since I just invested in the fabric for this quilt last week, I tried to be frugal on Saturday! I did buy 15 beautiful batik fat quarters for a hand-appliqued wildflower quilt and six lovely moda's to border a Hummel embroidered block quilt.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Divine YaYa's
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Our group started on the beach in Pensacola, Florida about two years ago. Several of us were attending the same conference. We were overwhelmed at how devastated Pensacola was from hurricane Charlie and how poorly the city was recovering. We were also very pumped from listening to Quint Studer talk about his successes in improving the experience for patients at the hospitals he has led.
I love you all, my YaYa sisters!
On another note: Our friends, John and Judy are doing well. Beth accompanied Judy on a wheelchair ride about the Ingham Medical parking lot Saturday and John was determined to attend the NASCAR race at MIS on Sunday!
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
My "Wildflower" Garden
This will be the latest edition to my perennial garden! It currently resides with a friend, waiting for it's new home to be constructed in the backyard. Billy is erecting a fence along the current farmer's fence at the back of our yard. The fence will block the view of the field weeds and allow a better view of the perennial flowers planted all along the edge of the fence.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Environment or Genes
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Grammy, I want Ice Cream
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It was another rainy day in mid-Michigan. There was so much rain in so short a time this afternoon that many roads had 6-12 inches of standing water. On the side road to Leo's Outpost (I'll always remember it as DeMarco's!), a car sat in water up to the door handle. Since we couldn't cook outside, we went to Applebee's for supper. Guess what Noel had?
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Noel's Friend Clint
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Good Neighbors
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We moved into our house during the bi-centennial celebration in 1976---31 years ago. For all of those years, Mr. & Mrs. Smith have been neighbors, good neighbors. Nicky and my dad planted a seedling in my front yard from a red bud tree in Smith's yard. Today, the tree towers over the house and is beautiful lavender in the early spring. Yesterday, I noticed this curious peony bud growing in the base of the tree.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Entranced through Technology
Sunday, May 20, 2007
It's hard to believe
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The front yard smells deeply of lilacs as our bushes grown into full bloom. They are really much more "lilac" than white as in this picture. I remember when we moved into this house in 1976, there were 3 mammoth deep purple lilac bushes in the back yard that were a selling point to the house. We had to have them removed not long after we moved in because their dramatic root system interferred with the drainage system.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Night at the Mueseum
Monday, May 14, 2007
Great Lakes Mega Meet
For the second year in a row, Beth & I attended the Great Lakes Scrapbooking Mega-Meet at the Rock Financial Center in Novi, Michigan. It's awesome, sometimes tiring and overwhelming. The Mega-Meet allows one to buy supplies from over 400 in one location, take classes, learn techniques, meet friends and have fun! We left early Friday morning with the obligatory stop at Beaner's to get started. This year, we used Friday to focus on the vendors and spent Saturday in classes. It is amazing the number of people who scrapbook and the amount of money spent to mount photographs!
Sunday, May 13, 2007
It's An Addiction
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Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Against all odds
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Cape Harbour Marina
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Saturday, January 20, 2007
Sanibel Overpass
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Friday, January 19, 2007
Crab Legs & Lobster Tails
Peaches Marie Rogers
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