Clearing up stolen idenity before sewing

Monday morning didn't start as I wanted it to. Friday evening before going to bed I checked my checking account on-line. I noticed a $9.75 charge on Thursday. I asked BT if he had used the debit card, to which he said "no", and neither did I since I had worked all day. Saturday morning at 9:00 AM, I called the bank. They couldn't get into the complete file since it was a weekend and suggested that I call back Monday morning.

9:10, I called the bank, they conformed the charge. It was made with our debit card # in Boston MA. Melanie gave me a phone number associated with the charge. I promptly called it, got a recording made by a female with a heavy accent. I hung up without leaving a message. I googled the phone number, and saw more then I wanted to see. It was a scam! Other people had left their responses that their account had also been charged $9.75, it appears to be a bookstore front. I called the bank back and they put a stop on our account and reissued our debit cards. BT and I had been talking back and forth so I called him back and he went to the bank, located about 1 mile from his office and filled out a dispute charge form. Whew!....now I can get to my sewing.



I bought a cute little sleeveless dress for a wedding Saturday and just in case it's cool, I wanted a short jacket. I could find nothing in the stores to suit me so I am making one. It's outrageous what a pattern cost these days ($15.95). I tried to get it on sale, ended up buying it 40% off. (Hobby Lobby coupon!) But look at the bias tape I used on it. Can you believe the price on it? .25 cents Those bargain days are gone. My late dear aunt Faye had given me 2 shoe boxes of old trims. It always comes in handy.

Now here is my early spring view out my window when I sew. It only gets prettier as spring fills out.
For today's foodies, I fried up the mushrooms that the little boys found, and then scrambled me an egg and filled my last two homemade tortillas for lunch. YUMO! Dinner was fish taken from the freezer that BT had caught and flash froze, we also added fresh homemade french fries and coleslaw. Another YUMO!

After dinner we took our 2 mile walk around the lake and enjoyed the beautiful evening.


PS A friend sent me this link regarding Earthquakes. Check it out.

Morel hunting with the grandsons

Sunday we slept in, I got up around 8:30, BT got up about 10 and shortly after that the little boys called to see if they could come over and spend the day. I told Alex we could go mushroom hunting, he thought that was good since his Daddy had told him he found some over here one time.

I was making breakfast tacos when they arrived at 11:00. (Yes Rita, i got him to eat them 2 days in a row). Brady was ready to play Wii, but Alex was willing to eat a second breakfast with the old folks.

We were out the door by noon. This was our first stop between the house and the barn.

We then started down into the big rocks. The boys love to climb on them as the pictures show. Even Grandpa got into the act. Before long it was fun on the rocks and we all forgot about mushroom hunting. In the end Alex and I went back to the house, the little guy had enough of the weeds and rocks. Brady and Gpa continued on the hunt.





Final count 13!











Okay here is my favorite picture of the day..............



We took the boys with us to the neighbor's for dinner. They enjoyed jumping on the trampoline with McKenzie, while Eric, Kathy, BT and I visited. Little Colten was napping. Eric fried turkey for dinner outside on the deck, it was a beautiful evening with a view of the river.



Back home the boys got in a few more games of Wii, before their Daddy came. Then he had to try the Wii. Of course he also had to out do us with his big mushroom finds.

Zoom Zoom Zoom

Saturday we were out the door with caffeine before 8:30. After stopping for gasoline at $3.28 a gallon we headed for Excelsior, Missouri to a Mennonite auction, almost 40 miles from our home.


We arrived just before it was to start at 10:00. Inside the barn, the tables were filled with all antique metal toys. Ranging from match box, to scaled down tractors, trucks, airplanes, all the way up to toy riding tractors and pedal cars. The only thing not related to the toys on the auction were butter churns and 2 anvils and a forge. We decided to leave because the anvils would probably be the last thing to sell.



Back in the car we drove over hills, across creeks, up hills, around sharp curves and 19 miles later we arrived at a farm sale. Just as we were walking up the auctioneer said it was 6 minutes until he started and first to go were the things in the barn lot. Did I tell you it was drizzling and the lot was very muddy, plus the gravel road the sale was on was almost minus the gravel. So I tell BT , I will get the bidder number, he should go to the barn lot. He knew there were two post vises listed on the sale bill.



I was able to pick my bidder # and I chose 52, since 52 was a very good year for me. Luckily the 2 vises were in great shape and sold within 20 minutes of the beginning of the sale. I asked the clerk for the tickets and walked up the hill to the cashier and paid as BT was loading them up.



It was still early so we decided to go back to the 1st auction. Another 19 miles back.There my bidder # was 82. We stood around and watched the toys sell for high prices. It was nothing to see a metal truck go for $150. About noon, the auctioneer stopped and said it was time to sell the anvils and forge outside. They sold for more then BT could make a profit from. We drove the 1/2 block to the Mennonite grocery store. Outside a young man was tending his wife's bake sale. We spied homemade cinnamon rolls, and told him we would be back after shopping inside.



Without getting a basket, BT and I did $38 worth of shopping, including homemade Strawberry jam, Jalapeno jelly, bulk barley, Smoked cheese, a great meat fork for Sarah, 10 lbs. of potatoes and sorghum. Outside we picked up our Cinnamon rolls and there I found a package of homemade tortillas! What made by the Mennonites?



40 miles later we were at home. BT diced bacon,fried it with some onions and I added the eggs. We ate Breakfast taco using our fresh made tortillas. Yes Rita, he did, even though the whole time he kept saying I don't get this whole tortilla thing!



As soon as we finished our breakfast, lunch and dinner meal at 2;00 in the afternoon, we zoomed back out the door to St. Thomas, 5 miles from here to see the garage at Tom Monat's. For some history behind the garage, this building was built by BT's grandfather Albert Monat on the family home place many years ago. Tom is tearing it down and making way for a new bigger garage. Tom was operating his skid steer when we arrived. I snapped a few pictures for remembrance.



By the time we made it back home, we had used almost 1/2 tank of that expensive gasoline. I managed to get a load of clothes in the washer before we headed off to church at 5:30. another zoom of 5 miles one way.



We snacked on the smoked cheese and deer sausage while watching TV. It was an early bedtime for us.



Another piece of history hits the dust!

Teaching a paper-piecing class

I cut out of work an hour early, stopped at Walmart and then ran into Dillard's where I finally think I've found the liquid eye-line I might like. I have been on a mission to replace mine as it is no longer being manufactured. The deal was sweeter when the product I bought, Lancome threw in a nice gift bag, with another pink gift bag inside with eye cremes, mascara, eye shadow, and lipstick. That made me feel better since the makeup cost more then a Wal-mart purchase!

A quick drive through to McDonald's for a sweet tea and I was in the parking lot at the Missouri Conservation Runge Center with 20 minutes to spare before the Nature's Needles Quilting Class was to start.

Twenty-one women filled the room and Gretchen Hanna, my friend ,was waiting for me. The setting was beautiful with floor to ceiling windows looking into the woods. While Gretchen was talking I see the women turning their heads to look outside. Tom Turkey has decided to check in on the quilters.

The class was then begun with a talk about the "Bullfrog". A skeleton was passed around of a grown frog. OMG, did I have to come this night? Frogs are my worst fear. Then a cardboard colored frog about 15 inches wide and 12 inches tall was shown.........

I was introduced and I began by showing the quilts and wall hangings I had brought with me.

First were the wall hangings, the one of Bentley, our black Lab, then the MU tiger, on to the big quilts, first the Horse quilt, the Noah Ark quilt, the Dear Patti Quilt and then the sample blocks. My nervousness left then minute I started the show and tell, I was in my comfort zone.

The ladies showed the blocks that they had been working on, the Missouri paddle fish. Other show and tell started coming out, including a lap quilt given to Gretchen by one of the quilters there, Bee L. It was all hand pieced and hand quilted. It was done in shades of greens and browns in a crazy quilt pattern. Truly awesome. And to think I had the camera and didn't take a picture.

Assignments were then handed out for the their next project, of course it's a frog, now we know why the class started with the frog segment. A sewing machine was plugged in and I gave a very informal demonstration. Bad scissors and all! LOL. Several ladies needed a hands on demonstration.

After closing, Bee L. came up to me and we talked quilts for quite a while. I noticed while talking to her she had a cute handkerchief in her breast pocket with what I thought was crocheted lace on it. Turns out, it was knitted lace. I didn't know lace and/or doilies could be knitted. She then asked me if I liked doilies and pulled a roll full of them out of her bag. She told me I could take one. They were awesome, white, off white, pink, blue sparkles, etc. I took a square pink one. I told her she reminded me of my favorite Aunt, who was my quilt mentor and a doilie maker. I then teared up talking to her about Aunt Faye. We exchanged calling cards and gave a goodbye hug.

As I drove home the storm clouds were rolling in, the moon peaking through.

BT and I enjoyed a bowl of strawberries while reading the newspaper and catching up on our day.

It's Prom time

The girls are all a buzz, shopping for prom dresses, getting manicures, hair appointments and now even tanning appointments.

Years ago, we went pale, unless you used those self tanners that turned your sheets orange. As you can see I did have hair appointments.

I just couldn't resist showing my pictures!

It's hard to believe this one was taken 40 years ago this month.

This was taken my Junior year 1969.

Now I double dare all my blogging friends to post their prom pictures!

A walk in my park

I am so glad the weekend is over, I have recovered from the head cold and my Wii injury. Thanks to those who sent me their condolences.

After working all day and a quick dinner, BT, Bentley and I took our evening walk. I grabbed the camera going out the door just to show you what's in my backyard. It's a about a 2 mile walk going out our back door, down our drive to the private road, around the lake, along the river and back up the hill to our house.

I then came back, did my dishes, and snapped this shot of some more 4 inch paper pieced quilt blocks for the class I am helping with Thursday night.

To close with I'd like to tell you about a friend's blog. Blind Pig & the Acorn If you want some great bluegrass music check it out, it is so relaxing just to let it play and play and play.........

Go Green Shopping bag

For my quilter friends that read this

do any of you have a great pattern

for a reusable shopping bag?

If so let me know.

Thanks!