Hurricane Irene & a Wedding

 
Our friends got married in the midst of Hurricane Irene and survived!  
They were married at Sequoia, located at the Georgetown Waterfront.  This is the view from the restaurant, looking at the Kennedy Center.

 

 You can see the rain in the background and thankfully it didn't flood there like it did in April!

Here they are with just to show Irene that she didn't spoil their wonderful evening!

So I had to drive home from Georgetown at midnight, fun, fun!  It was raining and very windy with some tree limbs down along the way, but overall it was fine.  It took a little longer, only because I was driving slow to avoid hitting anything in the road.

At 2am, I was jolted out of bed by having this tree limb fall right over our bedroom.  Luckily it wasn't as bad as I thought and there doesn't seem to be any damage.  Paul had celebrated during the reception, so he slept right through it!

And here we have a huge tree limb that fell just down the road from us.  This side of the road still has power, but I don't think the other side does!  This was taken in the  morning and we just walked down this evening and it's still the same.

The gmen were supposed to start school tomorrow, but we found out that schools are closed.  Oh well, it was only 1/2 day anyway!  

We are very thankful that we didn't lose power and that the storm wasn't as bad as it could have been.

Pen Pal Fun & Mermaids

Leave it to Parsley to find more fun stuff to participate in!  I received a beautiful card from my pen-pal and also a nice postcard from Parsley herself.  It is nice to find something in the post other than bills and recycle material!














So I finally started stitching again after a long stretch of losing my mojo.  Remember...
 Where is it?

I've changed the mermaids to match my sister-in-law and nieces, who are all beautiful blondes.  Then I'm making one for me as is!  Starting back simple before I do something bigger and more time consuming.

Stylish Blogger Award Info & My Picks...

 Thanks again, Jo @ Serendipitous Stitching
for my Stylish Blogger Award!  Here's my seven boring juicy tidbits about myself...







1.  I have always wanted twins, but they don't run in the family.  I was kidding with the doctor when I asked if there were two of them in there and was shocked when he said yes!  And to think Paul only wanted one child - we've now got three boys.
2.  I love baking, especially cheesecakes - pumpkin is my favorite.
3.  I never really cared for the beach until I went as a sitter for a family I used to babysit for growing up.  Those boys really got me to enjoy the water & sand and I love going now with my family every year.
4.  I love dragons (that's the Welsh in me) and I also love mermaids, especially the project I'm working on now for my sister-in-law & nieces.
5.  I'm afraid of heights.  But I did a zip line in Hawaii and loved it even though I was a total "tree hugger" that day!  I'm also supposed to go on a hot air balloon ride soon, yikes!
6.  I'm thinking of starting a new collection with thimbles - but only from places I've actually been to.  Wish I had thought of this years ago, I'd have plenty by now.
7.  I would love to take Paul & the boys back to all the places in Britain that I've been to when I was growing up.  Especially Devon, Cornwall & Wales!

So now it's time to pass the award to 15 other stylish bloggers, but I'm not sure if I can get that many!  I follow a lot of blogs and most have them have quite a few followers already, but there are some who don't have as many as the others and should!  In no particular order, here they are...
 
Kay's Random World   
A Joyus Place 
Patchwork Stitches   
My New Perspective 
My Musings  
Fireflies & Cats in the garden 
All I want..... is everything   
.............................. Fly on the Wall  - This is a special one written by my old youth pastor and his wife who are now in Penang - "So we tell others about Jesus, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ. That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Jesus’ mighty power that works within me. (Colossians 1:28-29)" 
I do not expect them to pass on this award since they are so busy, but please pray for them - they even make it easy by having a prayer list!

Of course you can take a look at ALL the blogs I follow, there may be some there you haven't seen yet.

An Award and A Welcome!

 Wow, what a wonderful surprise to find out I was including in winning the "Stylish Blogger Award" from Jo @ Serendipitous Stitching

.

Thanks to her blog, I have many new followers looking to roast marshmallows!  A warm welcome to you all and I'll try to keep you awake entertained somewhat!  I'm hoping this is what I needed to get my stitching mojo back, I've lost it somewhere and would really like it back.

So now it's my turn and I'm sorry to say - I'm not quite ready yet.  I did thank Jo, but still have to write seven things about myself (could take a while) and then pass the award to 15 other stylish bloggers (could take even longer!).  Please be patient and I'll do my best to finish this week.

New Moon TUSAL for July!

Wow, I didn't realize I was so late in posting this.  Anyway, I found enough stitching mojo to finish Nathan's sampler, (I only had to add his weight and some outlining) but hardly enough to make a different in my TUSAL glass!

I started working on this before I found out I like linen so much better... darn it!  Oh well, at least it's finished and now all I have to do is frame it.  I'm not sure how I want it done yet, a real frame or quilt framed with dragon material.  I guess I need to do some shopping - as long as I get it done before his FIFTH birthday!


 






     


2011 New Moon Dates: January 4th, February 3rd, March 4th, April 3rd, May 3rd, June 1st, July 1st, July 30th, August 29th, September 27th, October 26, November 25th, December 24th

WHERE IS IT?!

So I've had a lot of help searching, searching... 

         

 On the 7th grade field trip...

             

While tubing and boating at Deep Creek Lake...

While spending the day at Hershey Park...

From the top of the Kissing Tower...

While strawberry picking on my birthday with the boys...

While Nathan was going through the tunnel in gymnastics...

 
Even the cats were searching, but it would help if Ming would open her eyes!

Darn squirrel even looked in the "squirrel proof" bird feeder for me!

But alas, I haven't been able to find it... I've lost my stitching mojo.  

I just don't know where it is.  I have plenty of things I could/should be working on, I see how well everyone else is doing, I even have new books and patterns.  

So what have I been doing?  Planning the 8th grade graduation lunch & reception, reading, trying to straighten up the house, going to the lake, chores, visiting PA, reading blogs/fb end of school activities, and now camps!  Oh, and I just had my friend that I grew up with come over to give me a exercise training session - which means I'm exercising too.  
What's missing?  Oh yeah, THE STITCHING!!!  I bring it all with me whenever I go to the lake or to my parents, but it ends up staying in the bag.
So, if anyone finds it or would like to loan me some, I'd appreciate it!

New Moon TUSAL for June!

Sorry this is late, way too much on my plate this past week.  As a 7th grade room mom, we are responsible for hosting the 8th grade luncheon and after graduation reception.  Also need to get back to stitching, very behind on that too!




 







 2011 New Moon Dates: January 4th, February 3rd, March 4th, April 3rd, May 3rd, June 1st, July 1st, July 30th, August 29th, September 27th, October 26, November 25th, December 24th

16th Wedding Anniversary!

 




16 years ago today, Paul and I exchanged those rings and walked down the aisle!  After almost five long years of dating, it finally happened!  Sometimes it feels like forever, other times it feels like yesterday.

This picture was taken after Paul ran to get me a chair because I felt like I was about to pass out from standing so much that day - my hero!  (I'm sure the champagne had nothing to do with it!)

 

And sometimes, you just have to have fun!  I love the candid shots, you never know what you're going to get.  It's nice to have the formal pictures, but I do love the goofy ones!

 
Saving the best for last - out the door, onto the honeymoon!  Wish I could say it's been a honeymoon ever since, but we live in the real world where life gets in the way.  But I wouldn't change anything well maybe a thing or two, and feel so blessed to be where I am.  Would I like a new house with new stuff... sure, but it's just stuff and if this is where we need to be, I'll go with it - we might just have to spruce up a few things!

Last night was not a good night, let's just say someone wasn't using their better judgment (and it wasn't me!)   This is where communication is so important and I'm hoping to have a better evening tonight.  Now I just have to get through the day and let it go - which is hard for me.  Maybe we should just skip the anniversary stuff and enjoy it every day!  

I wish I had a wedding sampler to show, but alas, I have none.  I have been searching for years to find just the right one, but haven't found it yet.  Do I want flowers, cute animals, wedding words, one of our pictures... I just don't know.  Any thoughts or fabulous websites anyone can direct me to?  Not like I don't have enough projects to work on, but what an incentive to get them all finished!

New Moon TUSAL for May! Mom's home!

 
Finally, it's May and we've got those flowers! Although tonight it's supposed to go down to 40... brrrr/grrrr!




 I thought I would show off our azaleas and of course, my dragon glass - I had hoped I would have more in there.  At least I can say I didn't have any froggies visiting me!

The bees have been going to town on our azaleas... and we've got quite a few for them.  The colours have been amazing, I wish they would stick around the whole summer.  Oh well, I'll just have to wait for some roses.

 

 2011 New Moon Dates: January 4th, February 3rd, March 4th, April 3rd, May 3rd, June 1st, July 1st, July 30th, August 29th, September 27th, October 26, November 25th, December 24th

 And look who's home, My Mama!  She still needs some out/patient testing for her throat, but is very happy to be home - and so is her "baby"!  Thank you for your prayers, please continue since she's not quite herself yet. ♥

Visiting Mom in the Hospital and Forever Love

 Well darn it, my Mom ended up in the hospital on Thursday.  She had a cough that got worse, so my Dad took her to the doctor and she ended up getting admitted.  They thought it was pneumonia, but luckily it wasn't.  She did have a high heart rate, so they moved her to the cardiac unit to monitor her.  I had already made plans to come to their house with Nathan on Thursday evening so we could watch the Royal Wedding together on Friday morning.  We would still be able to see her, just not at their house.  Dad & I got up at 4:30am to watch it - so beautiful!  When Charles and Diana were married all those years ago, I was actually in Britain visiting with my godparents at the time.  I would have loved to have been there for this one too!
  

For those of you not on facebook, this was the buzz going on -  

 Use your royal wedding guest name. Start with either Lord or Lady. First name: one of your grandparents' names. Surname: the name of your first pet. Then "of" and the name of the street you grew up on. 

Please refer to me as... Lady Gwynneth Tigerlilly of Wembrough

We went to visit Mom in the afternoon, where we were entertained by Nathan showing us his Tae Kwon Do, high block!


 

 

Saying goodbye to Oma, praying she sleeps better tonight - it's been a rough week for her.



 
   


On the way home from the hosptial, we stopped at the Fruit Bowl so I could get a few goodies for Nathan.  We had followed a train through Cumberland and here's Nathan watching it go by while waiting for me.

Here's my latest finished Oakhaven SAL.  Perfect for my next comment - While in the hospital, the elderly woman in the other bed was sleeping when we got there.  Her family came in later, but we had closed the curtains so didn't see them with her.  A priest came to pray with them and we heard that they have been married for 65 years!  About that time, Nathan was tired of watching his movies and decided it was time to roam the halls.  So from going in and out of the door, I saw them together - her in bed and him sitting by her side holding her hand.  It was so precious and touching to see the love that they still have after all these years.  What a picture that would have made and had even thought about asking if my Dad could take one, but didn't want to seem crazy intrude on them.  I figured Nathan was enough, but she did seem to enjoy watching him run about.

A blessed Easter

Peaking through the trees, is my Mother's chapel.  She has rheumatoid arthritis and basically has no immune system.  So my Dad had this chapel built for her to enjoy without the worries of going out and getting sick. 

This means The Little Chapel and my Mother's name is Ulrike. 

She spends up to two hours every day there.

 

 

My Dad gave this to my Mother today for Easter - it's hanging on the outside of the chapel, on the side.

 

This is the alter of the chapel.  Dad can't seem to stop giving her angels.  You can never have enough!

And here we are in the chapel, just before heading out to the lake.

Have a blessed Easter!

"For Easter is more than a beautiful story, it's the promise of life and eternal glory" Helen Steiner Rice

Buzz Inn at Deep Creek Lake

 

Welcome to Buzz Inn, named for Paul's college mascot, Buzz, from Georgia Tech.

 

Paul's Mom bought this house the second year we were dating, way back in 1991.  Since then, it's been painted at least once and the deck stained once - but the wood has been rotting away and needed some kind of facelift.

One weekend last September, we packed up the house and moved everything out into two storage pods that were placed on the driveway. 

 So here we have the removal of the old wooden siding.  I think it only took a couple of days to take it all off.  It looks so naked!

The roof was raised and three rooms and one bathroom were added to the upstairs.  The boys have their own bedroom now - it has two double bunk beds!  The middle room/great room will be for games and more relaxing.  I'm hoping to accomplish a lot of stitching in that room - maybe even this weekend after the furniture is moved in!




This is the finished house, they are just working on finishing up the deck and adding the stairs.  We are here with the extended family to enjoy a blessed Easter together, even my parents will join us on Sunday.