Ice Covered Tree

Ice Covered Tree
Originally uploaded by Andrea Rollier

While this photo was taken in 2008 @ Saratoga Battlefield, it reminds me of my childhood memory of an ice storm during the early 70's that shut down parts of the North East for about 10 days. We were without power for 2 weeks in rural Salem Ct, and actually it wasn't totally a bad thing.

Coffee Maker

Coffee Maker
Originally uploaded by Fosco Brown

Freecycle had a free cuisinart automatic grind n brew coffee maker up for grabs. I just happened to google it (mine is plastic, not exactly the same as the picture) and oh it's like 100 bux at the store. BUT the one I got has a broken gadget spring so you can't serve coffee before it's done brewing..... WELL DUH! You're not supposed to b/c it's not going to be even. Hehe.

Day 59: Wii Day!

Day 59: Wii Day!
Originally uploaded by Fanboy30

I suprised the kids with one.


My son had no idea, he just thought we were going to pick up a used guitar hero game, and used "guitar" to play it with. Heh. You should have seen Joe, and Tiffany for that fact.

are YOU talkin' to ME?

Bjorn Savage
Originally uploaded by super ninon

Priceless.

This reminds me of my idiot co-worker. But she isn't as cute or practical. Anyway she always has this rediculous sideways look, as she tries to look superior. It just makes her nose look bigger.

Underwater Dolphin

Underwater Dolphin
Originally uploaded by Richmann

I long for the quiet and feeling of weightlessness I had before. Things aren't really getting better, are they?

soarin' epcot

soarin' epcot
Originally uploaded by innitpam

Winter is inevitable but couldn't it AT LEAST be this beautiful and surreal? We are back from our WDW vacation. I am writing trip reports over on tripadvisor.com under the id 'n9' if you'd like to read 'em.

IMG_3369

IMG_3369
Originally uploaded by Sebastien Bretonneau

ahhh, those wonderful shexy blues. a trip to the paint store with this photo, and the matching results will make my life complete.

Beauty and the Beast

Beauty and the Beast
Originally uploaded by DerekBrad Images

Less than a week. I can hardly stand it. All systems go. We "will" have lift off on Saturday morning at 0830.


(excuse me while I run around the house squeeling like a school girl)

fall treats

Today I took my Mama out shopping at 2:30 pm. By 5:30 pm I was an exhausted, stressed out mess.

O great, and now I just watched a commercial, then swung my chair around back toward the desk and *CRACKED* my knee when I tried to quickly push myself up to the keyboard. Ouch.


Work is swinging back and forth between great!! and truely bad.... someone that wants to go back to getting tons of overtime is actively and deliberatly trhing to drive me out. Example:

(I am in the hall working 20 or so feet from the nurses station. She had returned from her lunch break at some point when I didn't see her come back. She is sitting outside of my field of vision.)

A voice: 'Are you going ?'

*me not answering because I had no idea who she was talking to and about what*

A curt, loud voice two seconds later:

'PAM!!!' Are you going to break now??!!??


Frequently, she askes me a question she doesn't officially make sure she addresses me, and then when I don't answer her immediately she barks at me. Literally, because when she does it in front of the nurses aides, sometimes THEY even will sigh and make a comment about her rudeness, so I know it's not my imagination.

This happens a handful of times every single day we work together. I have had enough of her nonsense.

Grand Central Terminal HDR

Grand Central Terminal HDR
Originally uploaded by andy in nyc

Walking around inside GCT makes my heart skip a beat and my breath quicken. There are millions of souls walking thru here every year, each with a personal journey. It's too bad there's no way to just sit and people watch for hours. That's what I would do.

D&G @ NM

D&G @ NM
Originally uploaded by innitpam

I want this really bad, but do you know that I can get my dream flat screen with hd for about the same price? Well, if you didn't you do now.

Sunday 03

Sunday 03
Originally uploaded by tstreet

I've got one of those head colds that makes your nose feel stuffy sore and just plain huge.


I hope everyone out there in blogland is doing well. Me, not so much. *sniffle*
Too bad I can't taste or smell anything because I am dying to make this http://fortheloveofcooking-recipes.blogspot.com/2008/10/pumpkin-bread.html pumpkin bread from For the Love of Cooking.

Yet ANOTHER reason why I must go to Morrocco

And HERE IT IS:

http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/moroccan-chicken-with-apricot-and-olive-relish

NO it's not just a link. It's a recipe for the most tremendous, ferociously delicious chicken dish ever conceived by mankind! And where does it come from? Morocco!!!!! Frikkin $%^&*&^%$@! MOROCCO!!! For many years I have been wanting to travel there. To walk where moroccan people and animals walk. And to even breathe in the same air and dust and bits of twigs and hair that make up the dirt of Morocco.

Funny things is, I don't really know why. Maybe it's because an elderly man (who had a very fulfilling life) told me just before he died that of all the places he had been to in the world, his trip to Morocco was the best one ever. He couldn't really say why either. The food, the sights, the people, they were his favorite. I liked him. He had a successful Italian bakery in Groton that was open for about 50 years before he got sick and retired. He had a couple of great kids, and a beautiful woman, who traveled with him, and was at his side when he died.


So, I want to go. Really really bad.

singer delux zig zag 628

singer delux zig zag 628
Originally uploaded by innitpam

This poor baby was sitting out on the side of the road in Groton. The house was set far back from the road, in a very quiet country setting. It had rained, so there was still some moisture clinging to it.

I took it home and just ordrered the manual from an online seller. Tomorow I'll try cleaning and oiling to make it work. My other singer has a power cord which may work with it. We'll see.

if only

My realtor contacted me with another proposal from the seller (bank actually since it's a foreclosure).

I have them where I want them, HOWEVER, I do not have my income where I want it, nor do I have the house where I want it for that matter.

The 2nd job isn't providing me with any regular income as it had in the past years, AND the house is still sitting in a bad neighborhood. So despite a very nice set of conditions, I am still going to have to walk away.

O well.

'N'other news: I decided to become an Avon Lady! Sort of a whim, but what the heck. I've always liked the products, and I feel ready to commit to making it work, unlike the past times that I've tried rep jobs for Lia Sophia and Watkins.

THIS is what happens when you're helping. Your apartment is chock a block full of stuff. Furniture, more linens, more cleaning products than you can shake a dirty stick at, old photos that you thought were lost forever, etc.

Slowly making headway here, and I am, to be honest VERY thankful that she is letting me keep pretty much whatever I want. Hey at least I won't need to buy towels, curtins, or paper products for another year.

Salem CT circa 1945

Salem CT circa 1945
Originally uploaded by innitpam

here's the thing: we spent most of the day clearing out her apartment and we're not done.

this is a pic of my Mom when she was a young lady living on the farm. she was usually a ball of fire. she loved coffee, could drink a pot a day. she looks intense in pretty much every other photo I have ever seen of her so this one strikes a strange cord with me.

as a petite girl, she managed to get picked to squirm into tight spaces on the submarines in making at the Electric Boat yard, as one of the first women welders. I am definately not pro war in any way, bit I do feel proud of her for being trustworthy and conscientous enough for that responsiblity.

well, after all these years she has very precious few items from the past. all of her things have come from good will, and some items are in triplicate, i.e. the little veggie choppers and lidless coffee travel mugs, etc. there is, however a pair of older cameras that I am in love with. a tiffany style lamp she got from wally world will go in my daughter Tiffany's room. but all in all, it's going to be donated or junked.

some of her old photos are scanned, and I will be getting to scanning the rest next week after I recover.....from sorting and packing and lugging. from cleaning. from ending this long chapter and starting another one.

I wish I knew why this is so hard. They're just 'things'. I guess it hurts that I have no support during it. My own kids aren't interested in helping, and they work so they're understandably reluctant to drag boxes and what not at the end of the day. My sister lives hours away and has had nothing whatsoever to do with the process. My ex, any friends I thought I had, aren't here to help.

My Mom wants her little 147.00 deposit back. She's not going to get it regardless of what I do because there has been some minor damage to cabinets, and stains on the rug.

I am tempted to take what I want and walk away. I can make more than 147 dollars if I pick up one extra shift this week.

Disney - Mad Tea Party

Disney - Mad Tea Party
Originally uploaded by Express Monorail

I didn't sleep much last night. There were ideas about people and shapes outlined in bold lines that wouldn't stop whirling around no matter how much self-talking and distractions I tried.

If you've ever been stuck... well, most of us know how that feels. Most grownups have either rented an apartment or attempted to get a loan approved for a house, and things didn't go right.

I think I've had a very close call at being a victim of predatory lending practices. It seems that I'm going to be ok, but I won't really know for sure today.

Mickey Topiary

Mickey Topiary
Originally uploaded by pfeifferphotos

Nope, I can't get excited about this yet.

I told the scheduler at work I need time in November off, and she said "put it in the book". Also it looks like I am not guaranteed the loan for the house, so I might be out 800 bux AND lose the big old house by the sea.

Sorry, Mickey. I'm not in the mood.

Living Room - 3

Living Room - 3
Originally uploaded by Thrift Store Addict

Here's the thing.....

When ever I contemplate decorating with an island or 'tiki' theme, I start thinking about vacations. Then, well, I sit down to really enjoy meditating on the memories of Puerto Rico and Florida etc etc. I might even log on and browse pix of such things and then nothing gets done.

Can you imagine how totally unproductive I would be if I was actually living in a room with tropical themed pieces? And colors? And maybe some slack key guitar music and cocoanut air freshener?

Just because the people across the street have already painted a large mural on their house with palm trees and a sandy beach doesn't mean I could get anything done if my living room suggested the great room of a fantastic Polynesian hotel. Theres *already* going to be salty sea breezes coming into the windows. You couldn't pry me out of there if I had wicker furniture and a CD playing Mitzi Gaynor's "Gonna wash that man right outta my hair" in the background. Go to work? What, not when there is pineapple juice to drink and hula lessons to be had.

I wonder where I can get a vintage South Pacific movie poster?

mutter

mutter
Originally uploaded by coquet's cache

Have you seen the commercial for the newest Kevin Costner movie? My favorite line from the previews is when one of the politicians says:

"If you knew my Mother you would understand."

That line totally is something I would jokingly say about my Mom. People who know us, know that we raise our voices and really just speak our minds without being cruel. Sometimes people step slowly and carefully away when we get started. Apparely they've never just said what they are thinking without reservation, knowing full well that their family member will forgive them and love them anyway.

So, I can joke with a clear conscience. She can complain about me to her hearts content, and it's ok. I couldn't love her more, regardless.

Now she lives in Mystic Manor. I feel good about her being there, and she really seems to be content there. Her health is 100% better, she sees us more often, it's become the silver lining, that's what I think.

collision course

This afternoon I was driving along in Groton. For those classic novel readers out there (o who am I kidding, classic novel readers aren't really visitin' this here blog now are they?) Groton is a place where part of the story of East of Eden takes place. The part where an evil young woman meets a very mean hard working man and they couple secretly, as the man's brother is made a complete fool of.

I don't know where I was going with that... you see, as I was driving I realized that I am having 2 of life's biggest most stressful events taking place concurrantly and it's ... well *whining* ittttts haaaarrrddd!

Mom is not doing well. Wish I could say more, but we never convinced her to give us power of attorney so now we are told nothing. Zilch. Zip. I just know that she's much MUCH more confused, and when I tried to spend a little time with her today, the tech was in process of wheeling her down for a CT scan. She's been having 'seizure' type activity several times a day. Last night she had another one and then ripped off the leads and pulled out her iv. Now she has a full time sitter until the seizures stop.

She has a benign brain tumor. It's been there for over 20 years, but it's just now finally gotten big enough to affect her health. She's also been diabetic for over 20 years. For anyone in health care, you know that adds up to a grim outlook.

I just don't want her to be in pain.


And as far as the house goes, I found out that there's alot of drug activity across the street from a guy I work with. His brother lives in the apartment building directly next door to the house. I'm sure he's right. So now I have cold feet. Don't get me wrong, I've lived across the street from drug dealers on and off and as long as I've minded my own business, there have been zero problems. But back then I was renting. I didn't care about stuff like property values, or stray bullets because we lived up on the 2nd and 3rd floor and the streets were fairly wide. Plus, this is New London, not Chicago or New York. Shootings almost exclusively happen between friends over money or love.

Part of the reason I got the place cheap is b/c the property values were driven down, I know that. Put it on a nicer street and it would be 100k more.

I'll have to pray, and sleep on it.

New London

here is a link to the sailfest vid on the local paper's website.

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1281296499/bctid1667925246

Funny how things unfolded. I found I had 2 messages on my cell phone Friday morning. The first one was my realtor:

"Hey Pam, just checking in to tell you that the bank countered with $$$$ .. let me know what you would like to do." (So I am thrilled b/c that was my target price! Happiness ensued!!)

Phone: next message:

My aunt Bev's voice comes on, and she takes a serious tone. "Pamela, your mother's in the hospital."


So I was thrilled about getting a price settled on the house for about um, 4 seconds. Eh, no biggie. That's been the story of my life.

another lovely Janet Bell painting

This art by Janet Bell sums up why I am moving. I know every day isn't pretty. Sea air can be the coldest air there is, but when it's a good day, it's heavenly.

housenumber4 update

Back in May I saw a 4 bedroom house in New London. Now, the listing had been showing up in my searches for the home, but I discounted it over and over again, until one day..........



I took a chance and saw it. My realtor and I had trouble finding it because it's on a somewhat secluded 1 way street. (bonus) It turned out to be a remodeled federal with hard woods, new tilt out windows, gas heat and a fireplace. Oh and off street parking too. (bonus bonus bonus bonus)

So I bid. The bank said it was such a low bid they wouldn't condescend to reply. I walked away and saw a few more houses.


Well.... This past Monday the bank decided to drop the price of the house from 150k to 132,8something. I resubmitted my bid, they counter offered a great price, and I accepted.

YAY!!!

House 9

House 9
Originally uploaded by coquet's cache

This might wind up being home if choice number 1 (aka house number 4) falls through.

It's on a quarter acre and is already set up as a 2 family, with plenty of off street parking, gas heat, remodeled 2nd floor unit, on a main bus route and 1/2 mile from down town.

housenumber4

housenumber4
Originally uploaded by coquet's cache

I'm waiting to hear on this one. It has my heart. Not sure if it's because it's so close to the waterfront of Long Island Sound, or because it's steps to the bus and train station, as well as having salty air and seagulls cries coming all the time. I sort of love this house a little bit.

home maybe

home maybe
Originally uploaded by coquet's cache

Putting an offer in today or tomorrow. It depends on what the realtor comes back with re: washer/dryer hookups.

The place has all my main requirements: family neighborhood on a bus line, gas heat, two decent sized apartments, off street parking, a yard, newer windows and roof, and the price is good.

And, the part of town it sits in is called "Greeneville". So, I'm going Green, maybe.

Stopped by to say hi to the MOM-ster yesterday and..

somehow we had words and then....
.... tempers flared. I got upset. She got upset. My kids got upset.


It didn't go well. Not at all.

young giraffe rubbing against its mother

young giraffe rubbing against its mother
Originally uploaded by mk_lynx

"my...*sigh*.... Mommy..." Nothing felt so good as to lay my head on my Mom's arm when I sat next to her. Half way through the public talk I got heavy-eyed, and minutes later I remember needing to rest my head on her soft arm. I didn't care that the man on the stage worked on his talk, overcame nerves to stand up there and deliver it, and might be offended.

She was ok with it until I was 9 or 10. That was pretty much the only time we could be very near to her. Once we weren't toddlers anymore she couldn't stand having us 'laying all over her.' I think she just didn't like us anymore.

Nowadays, I still have 'kids' plopping on top of me. Tiffany is famous for it. As long as she minds her knees and elbows, it's fine. I hope they will always want to sit on my lap, or lay her legs across mine on the couch, or put her head on my shoulder. Cara is over 6 feet tall, and she too will flop down, crushing me for a minute but I don't really mind as long as I can breathe. Mom's are for flopping on, that's what I say.

Just not when we're at a public talk and someone is delivering a discourse that they wrote. Cuz that's sorta rude.

Pay it Forward. Seriously, do it.

I saw this on little z's blog, and was tempted to comment there BUT she already has somone from the U.S. signed up, and I don't want her to have to send 2 gifts over seas. So I decided to just initiate this myself without expecting anything in return, so here goes.

Copied from Little Z's blog:


There is a new (well....it's new for me) thing going on in Blogger-land. It's meant to spread some happiness and handmade giving into the world. Here are the rules:

The promise: "I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I don't know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise! The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog."


So....Pay It Forward!

5 post card swap

5 post card swap
Originally uploaded by coquet's cache

Wha's that? You say you only can count 4 blurry post cards? WHY ... you're absolutely right!


No offence to the responsible, kindhearted people on Swap Bot that are great swappers, but it's been very dicey an experience for me so I'm not signing up for any more.

More often than not I have been matched with people who have flaked on (in Swap Bot-speak that means they didn't live up to their part of the swapping bargain... getting but not ever sending, etc.) 3 or more of their last Swap sign ups.

So, yea. 4 post cards received. I sent 5.

Um, and there's the person who will not be sending me any cupcake toppers.She has flaked on her last 3 swaps so I am not even checking the mail for them. I sent out 24 toppers to someone in Florida who kindly pointed out my error in misreading the Swap rules, so she is supposed to have not the 12 I made and sent, but indeed she is correct, I need to send her another 12 to fulfill the Swap rules so that she can give me a good rating, OTHERWISE she might be responsible for causing my sterling 5.0 rating to drop a little. But I am still not getting any cupcake toppers anyway.

For a Threads Swap, I sent out 3 good quality spools of new thread, monochromatic blue/greeny shades, AND just because I am a giver, I included a fat quarter of 'aquarium' printed fabric and a pretty
button. Hopefully the receiver is sewing her dear heart out over there in Japan. Back here in the USA, there's no thread in my mailbox because the sender is late, she's also very sorry, and she appreciates my patience.

(*This is where I am hitting ENTER hard twice)

So, it's getting late and I wait. Much like Chuck Norris, I don't sleep.... I wait. Sorry, every so often I remember that web page about Chuck Norris and I quote it, to take the edge off. Check Chuck out. Funny stuff.

And who am I kidding. I need to squeeze every penny out of my butt to cover college costs for the next 8 or 9 months. Then there's the Orlando trip to save up for, what with a villa and the cost of attractions. We're all going, did I tell you?

miniquilt

miniquilt
Originally uploaded by coquet's cache

I grabbed some scraps and sewed them together. The whole time, I was thinking about the house I just looked at, and whether or not to submit an offer. Sew, snip, clip, iron, sew again. Mindless, or so I believed.

When I was ready to machine quilt it, I held it up and behold, it was the shape of a little house. Hence the decision to quilt the yellow and red like a roof, and the bottom differently.

Today, I called my realtor and submitted what I think is a good offer. She thinks so too. Hopefully the bank agrees.

turqkitch

turqkitch
Originally uploaded by coquet's cache

You can't see in the picture, but around the kitchen walls there is black shiney tiles, and enough room for eating in.

IMG_2012

IMG_2012
Originally uploaded by coquet's cache

I contacted my buyer to see if she in fact received the item and here is her response:

Sent by ***b on June 21, 2008:

The apron arrived and I LOVE IT. I loved the picture when I saw it, but it is even more beautiful in person. It is a great addition to my collection.
Thanks so much- L*******

AWWW Garsh!! This made my day. People, like myself, are super busy. We don't take time to gush when things go really well, but we are more inclined to air our feelings of disappointment. So, maybe I will be sure to say a positive comment when someone's efforts turn out "just" fine...as expected... pretty ok. Even "just fine" takes effort, thought, concern.

On a different subject: I have caught a summer cold. AND also, I am doing WW Core for a while. The knees hurt some days. Maybe I can hold off on replacements for another 15 years if I keep my weight in check.

Congratulations Tiffany.

Today she graduates from Norwich Free Academy.

Tiffany has told me she is more scared than excited about starting college at Three Rivers in the fall. I know for a fact she will sweep everyone off their feet. You see, she did me on October 5th, 1989, and continues to do so on a dialy basis.

Despite the lost credit card, and the messy bedroom and occasional darkish mood. Because Tiffany is one of the smartest, kindest, most intuitive and creative people I will ever have the honor of knowing. I couldn't be more proud of this girl, my girl, Tiffany Rafaelle Roman.

baby quilt top finished

baby quilt top finished
Originally uploaded by coquet's cache

I am really REALLY upset.


After spending money on an open toed quilting foot for my Janome machine, and setting it up, then practicing a while...

... the machine quilting had to be ripped out half a dozen times. I was trying to follow a growing swirl shaped pattern from the centrs of the pinwheels, from the middle of the motif broading outward..

and EVERY. STINKING! TIME! there was something wrong. The tension. The starting stitches were far too small. The ending stitched were a mess, with a big tangle of nasty bobbin string on the back side.

So, yes, I actually did practice for a while on some small samples, and it went pretty well. Of course since it was smaller it was much easier to control. But I am horrible at hand/eye coordination. Also, I have trouble controling the pressure with the foot control .

In order for me to make anything resembeling a quilt, I am gonna need a whole lot more practice.

daydreamer

daydreamer
Originally uploaded by coquet's cache

I've said it before, so don't mind me please if I repeat myself and say I will miss this apartment when I finally do buy a house.

Things to do like swimming in the pool across the street with the kids, sometimes for hours. We talk, float, get a cold drink from the Coke vending machine. there is a bath house, and we can use the restrooms or showers with confidence 'cuz they are kept clean. Sometimes I sneak in white wine in a thermos container. We sit around the pool and soak up the rays or read or snooze a bit. I'm so proud of the kids, they are happy, and we are usually being silly and relaxed and people just enjoy watching us.

Or just gazing out the windows on a sunny day at well maintained grounds with the red cardinals and purple trees, these things feel so much like home now. Walking just across the street to
the Shop Rite, or the bank or pharmacy is sometimes done in our slippers.

I have great neighbors in this building, and we all get along well while minding our own business. No one has ever so much as asked to borrow an egg in the 4 years I've been here.

So, I am thinking very hard about moving. Once I give up this apartment I will not get it back. Frankly, if the rent doesn't go up much each year, I could honestly be happy to live here another 7 years, and then go into a 55+ retirement community.

Otis Library, in it's new and beautifully improved digs is 2 miles from here. Across the street from Otis is the YMCA with a pool and recently updated fitness machines. There's a fantastic resturant called The Red House, a dunkin' donuts, and a pawn shop downtown, also. And the post office is there.

Hmm.
Hmm indeed.

love hate relationship w/soup of the day

love hate relationship w/soup of the day
Originally uploaded by coquet's cache

So.... this past Sunday I just decided (blithely) to 'try' that Sacred Heart Diet for one week.

We will have veggies, we will have fruit. Yay! Heck, even at least 3 bananas one of the days. Double Yay! We will have a baked potato and butter, and eventually we will have large portions of BEEF. Yuuuuum for my tum..... How bad can it be?

This is how bad: You want it so bad, then you eat it and you can't stand to look at it again for a while, then you want it and then you can't stand to look at it... etc. etc.

All I can say is the last time I felt this way about anything, I was in my 20's, dyed my hair blond, and disco WASN'T dead yet.



*After one week, I am down 11 lbs. Mostly all water, but heck I feel lighter, and better. Two days off and I'm doin' it again..... and....I don't 'disco' anymore. Haven't for years. Just had to clarify.

wip

wip
Originally uploaded by coquet's cache

Funny how if you asked me what my fav color combo for a quilt is, I would 'say' pinks, pastels........ but this, as I see it take shape, truely is my favorite for a blanket.

So now I will get off the laptop and make block #6 before I have to go to the porthole to hell..er.. my job.

bump along the way

Today the weather is perfect. Perfect, only if you like honey sunshine, velvet breeze, and the prettiest clouds ever made.

I want to hold this perfect weather day in my hand and feel it's cool, fine surface and it's weight solid. But.. today feels rusted around the edges. Each time I tighten my grip, bits of the edge crumbles into my palm, reminding me not examine it too thoroughly. Just cup it in my hand for a few hours before the change from perfect to gritty happens.

Work again.. I can't help but think about how this stint is unfolding, and I'm turning around on a spindle over and over seeing myself at the root of the problem, and then again I have to accept that there are a few really odd happenings or coincidences. It would be easier to just say 'I started off badly, so all that needs happen is for me to just be kinder, problem solved, the end.' But there is more. Money is involved, a large sum actually. So, that is the one difference between all my other experiences with working and this particular place.

After all this thinking I remember the people in Myanmar, and China and the Middle East conflicts. Things haven't even gotten nearly as bad as I know they eventually will. Gas is 4.22, not 7 bux. My biggest stress is at work. I have a job and a home and clean water and plenty of food and my indoor plumbing works fine. I might even be purchasing a house near the ocean.

In sunshine, in rain, it helps to know that my Creator is on my side. He wants me to be careful, and kind, and I will. He has already given me so much. So, if I need to take one day at a time, so be it.

quiltalong #2

quiltalong #2
Originally uploaded by coquet's cache

The dark patches on the square to the left are actually a grey/black floral print. On the right, the black fabric is just plain solid black.

So far, I'm really liking this color way ALOT. (MORE PIX L8TR) Yay!

green can break your heart if you let it

This house, a green house, is breaking my heart. Here is a link to the realtor dot com listing. So far, the news that this house, which I have wanted for years to come back on the market so I can finally buy it......... *sigh* ... This news that is 'just went under contract' is truely upsetting and frankly now I want to stop looking for a while.

It was on the market for months, but I was not looking at single family houses, so I never knew. Yesterday I finally found the listing, and today came the horrible, heartbreaking news. "JUST" went under contract. As if, but some weird twist, I caused it to be unavailable simply by asking to see it.

I know that sounds stupid, and well it is. But I feel better just venting a bit.

pinning and machine quilting

pinning and machine quilting
Originally uploaded by coquet's cache

I wonder if everyone that quilts has a love hate relationship with pieces when they're almost finished.

This baby blankey/wall hanging thing is nearly complete and I alternate between being glad to finally finish and being sad that the experience will end and I have to give it away.

seaside artwork

Janet Bell now lives near the sea. Her art is clear, warm, and charming. If I had a wish list, this one would be on it. The color palatte feels familiar, like I've sewn an apron or something out of the same. At any rate, bravo Janet!

dirty deeds on Green Ave.

I saw a foreclosure prop on Monday and wrote up an offer for it the next morning. My realtor faxed it to the seller's agent that day.

We had been warned that another offer was expected on the property. As it was not actually made, we proceeded as the sole bidders.

On Friday we were told that my offer was not submitted until Friday because the 'mystery bidder' finally submitted their offer and NOW we needed to come up with highest/best. I have spent the weekend waiting to hear if my offer was accepted.

Sooo.. I purposefully, after much thought, bid not one more dollar than what I think the place is worth.

scholarship material

She had an art awards show this Friday, but never told me. I have to work every Friday night, so maybe it was better she didn't afterall.

From this day forward..

... my womanly 'bahzooms' will be henceforth referred to as:

HAPPY MARACAS!!!!

These PICTURED are from www.mumandbubs.co.uk for anyone who simply must have a set of their own happy maracas. Ole!!

quiltalong wk1

quiltalong wk1
Originally uploaded by coquet's cache

yes indeedy this is really my first quiltalong courtesy of Crazy Mom Quilts (over in the blog roll) and it wasn't so bad after all.

A yellow background with black or red squares and shapes appeals to me.

the good ole' new blues

Tiffany sat across from me in the restaurant yesterday. She loves 'greek pizza' with a thick, almost bisquit crust, so we went to the 'greek pizza' place down the street for lunch after taking the 2nd look at a property. It was after we got the main course that she looked at me quite seriously and said "It feels like all of our lives are about to change in a big way," and she was right. I nodded and had another crispy, ketchupy french fry.

In all of her 18 years, she's had a few big changes happen to her life. Her older brother was sent away, institutionalized for months, and only ever came home years later a very different person. She also saw her father file for divorce from me so that he could be with a young man 18 years his junior. For a few years she and her sister lived with Dad in a country setting, and then in her 12th year she came to live with me in a more urban town.

Yes Tiffany, you said a mouth full. Now, pass the Snickers cheesecake pie please.

bright crayon box quilt progress

wip
Originally uploaded by coquet's cache

Well, I'm more than half way done with the blox. I have the white strip material, and also the assorted colors for the little single squares b/t the blox.

It's getting easier to sew up neat rows using a self healing cutting board and my square plastic rulers, and a washable pen. In the future I would not sew a novelty piece in the center of a square, though, as it pulls and warps the square out of shape. Next time, I would just pick a novelty fabric that's suited better to this design.

So, now that I've had a delightful steak sandwich for lunch, it's time to mellow out a while before going to work. Ciao!

finally!

For now, I've given my highest and best offer on this 2 fam victorian near everything. Yes, the outside and yard is darling. Yes it's even got off street parking! But no I'm not making costly mistakes now that I've finally for the first time in my life been able to purchase my own home. I hope the seller will be able to agree but if not, I've got time. Plenty of time.

celebrity cook to the death match

The kids and I vote to have a Celebrity Cook to the Death Match with Team Flay, including Bobby Flay and Giadda De Lorentis vs. Team Bitali with obviously the orange clog-clad Mario flanked by none other than Rachael Ray. Team Bitali will be in black and we think they will 'overcook' Team Flay. MTV folks, take note please.

hologram horrors

hologram
Originally uploaded by coquet's cache

The tightly wound electric buzz in this picture is as close as I can come to illustrate how my brain has been on fire since around 8 pm yesterday.

At work, I (once again) misspoke and finished my evening in a very foul mood. This is the second time in a couple of months that I put my foot in my mouth. *ptewie!*.

What in The Sam Hill is happening? Cuz I really KNOW that I'm smarter than that! How do I know? Because in all the years doing this job, I've never had a problem with it, never had to explain my statements to the boss, etc. etc. Why now?

So yes, I am really confused and a little bit worried. I don't want to quit and be jobless again. But if I do go elsewhere, I don't want to leave because of something I said.

*edited to add that there wasn't any reprocussion when I got in on Wednesday. Way to go ruining my day off with worry over nothing.

Hillbilly Housewife $70 Menu

What a pleasant suprise! If you follow this link to the Hillbilly Housewife website, you'll see the shopping lists, menus etc. Tonight I am back from shopping and with the exception of the condiments (already got'em) and the flour, sugar and rice (got them too) I bought everything on the list and in today's market it came to 71.00! Had I explicitely followed it to a 't' I'm guestimating 89.00 give or take.

So... tomorrow morning I will make bread. I will need to follow these changes, b/c I have dd18 graduating, and then many large credit cards to pay off etc. etc.

AND ok, I'll admit it: I miss the challenge a little. When the kids were small and I was stay at homeing, I was allowed 60 dollars to shop for food and cleaning and hygiene products, and even another 5 dollars for gas in the car (yeeehaa! I didn't have to carry the stuff home in big baskets on top of my head!) to make the shopping trip. Most weeks I stayed within a few bucks. We ate alot of chicken with rice and bean suppers and had home made cookies for dessert every night, and we watched vhs movies and laughed alot.

Today I saw a house that I think I might love, and of course, it has no off street parking, BUT it's the right size and in a good location, it has enough bathrooms and enough room all around, AND the price is more than right. Time to scrape and save for a worthwhile goal again. If I do purchase a 2 family house, I can help my grown up kids. If that's not a challenge I don't know what is.

*Ahem* I do believe "I'm back."

Small fox, big world.

I found a great little blog, with a great little picture of a great little book. Look! Instead of leaving a note that I'm adding the blog to my list, I think I'll just quietly enjoy. Anyway, it doesn't matter, people very rately write back when I add them.

Well, come pick 'em up and take 'em home.

This is the most miserable week I've had (and am having) at work EVER. Two. More. Days.

Two. More. Days.

Two. More. Days......

lavenaria02

lavenaria02
Originally uploaded by dariosauro

Here's a shot of my new home, the modest entry way and hall leads off to the rest of the cottage ...........


Ok ok, so it's not mine, nor is it modest, but wowie zowie wouldn't it be fun???