Hanukkah 2012 has ended and we're heading into the other seasonal holidays: the winter solstice (longest night of the year), Christmas, Kwanza (I still need to read up on that one) and New Year's.
After the 25th I'll post pictures of gifts that we hand made this year.
Before Mom got sick we had bought a couple of gifts ahead of time. We do that, finding a perfect gift and getting it and setting it aside for Christmas or birthday. One was a cloth doll of an old woman with a purple dress and red hat. The dress says: "People Like You Are Why I'm on Medication" or something like that. It also plays a take on "Dontcha" - the Pussy Cat Dolls number.
"Dontcha wish your grandma was hot like me? Dontach wish your grandma was a freak like me? Dontcha?"
That went to our former Red Hat Queen, Lynn.
One change up we did was a gifting for friends that adopted us as family here (he became our handyman and then friend along with his wife). We bought two pieces of material that were going to be the center pieces of a string quilt. We didn't get a chance to buy the bulk material before Mom got sick. There's no way Jackie and I could do even a string quilt quick enough (machine pieced panels that are put on the quilting racks and yarn is sewn through about every six inches - in and up - and then the yarn is cut in the center and then the two strands are tied into a knot). So, instead of a quilt, Jackie made pillow out of the material for Chris and Georgia and stuffed them, I hand sewed them closed and did a wood burned project for each of them.
I also did wood burn projects for Jackie, my cousins and for Mom. A turtle for Mom, of course. It just felt important to do a gifting for her this year.
We were also very grateful I had the foresight to do our cousin Chris one of my fleece blankets with the yarn trim around the edges = a Navy panel for him. I had that done before he visited us for Thanksgiving. I think I've got a picture of it that I'll post.
Jackie crocheted Mom a long vest and liked it so much she did one for me. Mom didn't get to wear hers.
We plan on finishing the quilt Mom was working on and Jackie is going to see if she can get the hang of the rocking motion of hand quilting. I'm good at hand sewing so I can do the piecing and Jackie can do the quilting.
We're going to give it a shot, Mom!
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Thanksgiving and winter holidays
We had Mom home for Thanksgiving night and for a few days after that. She didn't want any pictures taken of her and we honored that. She was beyond delighted that her grand nephew Chris was here for the holiday. He sat and talked with her and watched a movie. It made her happy in a difficult time.
The flowers were from Lynn & Jerry.
My sister did a marvelous job of cooking the dinner and setting everything up while Chris and I waited at the hospital for Mom to be released. Everything tasted wonderful and it would have been a very horrible holiday if Chris hadn't been here.
Chris doing the manly carving of the turkey
Food, glorious food!
Darcy didn't want Chris to leave
Neither did Nikki
Ceramic ornaments that Mom painted in 1978. My sister and I are decorating a little at a time. If something doesn't feel right, we'll pack it back away. We're doing this for Mom. The only religious items out for the holiday season will be my menorahs.
and nutcrackers!
Nesting Santas
For Mama
My electric Hanukkah menorah for the window and three of my candle menorahs (I have a couple more in addition to these)
The flowers were from Lynn & Jerry.
My sister did a marvelous job of cooking the dinner and setting everything up while Chris and I waited at the hospital for Mom to be released. Everything tasted wonderful and it would have been a very horrible holiday if Chris hadn't been here.
Chris doing the manly carving of the turkey
Ceramic ornaments that Mom painted in 1978. My sister and I are decorating a little at a time. If something doesn't feel right, we'll pack it back away. We're doing this for Mom. The only religious items out for the holiday season will be my menorahs.
For Mama
Our Loss
It is with the utmost sorrow that my sister and I
have to let people know that Mama passed on this evening less than 24
hours after entering hospice. She was diagnosed on the 21st and passed
on the 1st. We are still stunned at how fast all of this happened.
It was a peaceful passing and she looked like she was sleeping without pain.
We played Rod Stewart; Blood, Sweat and Tears, The Who, Pasha an
It was a peaceful passing and she looked like she was sleeping without pain.
We played Rod Stewart; Blood, Sweat and Tears, The Who, Pasha an
d Guns n Roses. Yep, she had interesting tastes. I read from Khalil Gibran and talked and talked to her.
The staff at the hospital and the hospice were great and treated her well and us with respect.
She was visited by administrative people, workers and people from the senior center where she's been going several times a week. They all commented how bubbly and friendly she was, even when she was in pain. Everyone adored her and are going to miss her.
Jackie and I are shattered and feeling numb.
Mom didn't want a funeral or viewing. Her wishes were to be cremated. Jackie and I are going to open her Facebook page to everyone and we will send a link and ask that everyone post thoughts, prayers, remembrances and wishes. We are probably going to go to the center and spend some time with the people there and share with them.
Kathlene Sue **** (nee, ****) was 71, born and raised in the Ozarks of Arkansas, she loved the mountains of any state (she hated Florida because it's flat). She was an enthusiastic Red Hatter, a Leo to the core, and the most amazing woman we have every known. She had friendships that lasted years that went beyond "best friends" or "friends" - people became family. That continued here in our new home. She was strong but allowed herself to be vulnerable. A voracious reader and highschool dropout, she took her GED decades later and scored within the top 5% of the country and was quite proud of that and went on to take some college courses.
Her joy, though, was people. She was drawn to customer service jobs: either as a bartender, waitress, cashier/manager or bank representative (loan officer). Becoming disabled and unable to work was a blow to her. The Red Hat group in CA was a godsend and the senior center in our state here the same.
One of the main decisions facing my sister and myself - what to do with over 1,000 turtles of various kinds? Btw: one will be traveling with her. Mom's first tatt was a turtle, the other was a rose for a deceased friend.
Thank you all for the prayers, positive energy and support. Jackie and I will need those for a bit longer. Most everyone knows how close the three of us are. One of the sides of the triangle is gone.
We ask that no flowers be sent to us. If people would like to contribute to a charity in Mom's memory, please contact us.
The staff at the hospital and the hospice were great and treated her well and us with respect.
She was visited by administrative people, workers and people from the senior center where she's been going several times a week. They all commented how bubbly and friendly she was, even when she was in pain. Everyone adored her and are going to miss her.
Jackie and I are shattered and feeling numb.
Mom didn't want a funeral or viewing. Her wishes were to be cremated. Jackie and I are going to open her Facebook page to everyone and we will send a link and ask that everyone post thoughts, prayers, remembrances and wishes. We are probably going to go to the center and spend some time with the people there and share with them.
Kathlene Sue **** (nee, ****) was 71, born and raised in the Ozarks of Arkansas, she loved the mountains of any state (she hated Florida because it's flat). She was an enthusiastic Red Hatter, a Leo to the core, and the most amazing woman we have every known. She had friendships that lasted years that went beyond "best friends" or "friends" - people became family. That continued here in our new home. She was strong but allowed herself to be vulnerable. A voracious reader and highschool dropout, she took her GED decades later and scored within the top 5% of the country and was quite proud of that and went on to take some college courses.
Her joy, though, was people. She was drawn to customer service jobs: either as a bartender, waitress, cashier/manager or bank representative (loan officer). Becoming disabled and unable to work was a blow to her. The Red Hat group in CA was a godsend and the senior center in our state here the same.
One of the main decisions facing my sister and myself - what to do with over 1,000 turtles of various kinds? Btw: one will be traveling with her. Mom's first tatt was a turtle, the other was a rose for a deceased friend.
Thank you all for the prayers, positive energy and support. Jackie and I will need those for a bit longer. Most everyone knows how close the three of us are. One of the sides of the triangle is gone.
We ask that no flowers be sent to us. If people would like to contribute to a charity in Mom's memory, please contact us.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Slow Down
We're slowing down on the house for a bit because of recent health issues with by myself and my mom. We're working on deep, indepth cleaning with our fantastic cousin coming for Thanksgiving from a naval base in Florida.
I have a little dreidel.....
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Floor Progress
We obtained more tile (planned on getting more after the car repair - which cost more than anticipated. We hope to finish to the wall at least this one wide path. Then work to tile the rest of the family room.
The floor before the tile
In progress
The floor before the tile
Doors Progress
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Bookcase Doors
I started a new project (aside from house upkeep and car issues)
My bookcase in my room doesn't have doors and I want doors. Solution - make them.
I got a half sheet of thin plywood, cut lengthwise in half. Stencil a design on the boards and decide what to do after that.
Final stencil - large design on the outside, smaller on the inside and NOT centered. Trim also picked out
I had the idea to drill out the solid circles in the pattern. I then took a dremel and finished the edges of each drilled hole.
Next came the decision whether to drill out the lines down a level in the plywood or wood-burn the design along with the drilled holes. A test showed that the wood-burning is the way to go.
So, now comes the LONG part of the project - wood burning the design
Then will come the sanding and staining
Then the trim work
Then hanging them (already have the hardware purchased)
My bookcase in my room doesn't have doors and I want doors. Solution - make them.
I got a half sheet of thin plywood, cut lengthwise in half. Stencil a design on the boards and decide what to do after that.
Then will come the sanding and staining
Then the trim work
Then hanging them (already have the hardware purchased)
Thrift Store Finds
Awesome! I also found a nice brooch with the Chai in the center. Love thrift stores!
Also had fun explaining the differences between a Shabbat menorah and a Hanukkah menorah
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Sukkot Greetings!
A harvest celebration. We build a temporary booth that is open to the sky (covered with boughs and foliage). We eat at least one meal in the booth a day, many will eat and sleep in the booth (Jewish form of camping?)
Mine was built today in a light sprinkle with wood from last year and tarps (car repair ate into my lumber budget). Thank HaShem for my sister! I was too short to lift the frame onto the railings!
Beginning the build - remove the tubs and gardening dirt, gather lumber
Drilled pilot holes for the LONG nails - attach long boards to posts
Frame is coming together
The frame sits on the deck railing and is pretty darn solid.
Next comes tying the tarps to form walls and weave line across the top, forming a "cat's cradle" to hold the boughs
and cut some brush for the top
Tada!
Even Holly the cat approves
Mine was built today in a light sprinkle with wood from last year and tarps (car repair ate into my lumber budget). Thank HaShem for my sister! I was too short to lift the frame onto the railings!
Frame is coming together
Next comes tying the tarps to form walls and weave line across the top, forming a "cat's cradle" to hold the boughs
and cut some brush for the top
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Year One Progress
Packed up house and garage onto a tractor trailer
Packed a few items on top of the 25 yr old Bronco
Stacked cages/carriers of cats in back
Put dogs behind the seats
Drove across country – stopping each night – take luggage
into room, take each cage and carrier inside, walk the dogs, clean the cages,
feed and water cats, drop into bed
Get up
in the morning and reverse the order
Take
a day off of driving because of being heat sick
Switch
to night driving
Arrived in new state, new town, try to find house
Two months later, flew to CA and drove sister to new home
Bedroom 1
cleaned the rug, sanded the walls
Painted the walls,
painted stains on the ceiling
Painted baseboards
Painted
a border around the wall
Replaced outlet covers
Pulled
up the rug, padding and tack strips
Repaired closet doors
New/used
desk and chair
Decoupaged top of desk
New
mattress and springs
Hung shelves for collectibles
Decorations
Sewing table as nightstand
Stripped bookcase
and paint
Painted lamp, sewed beads on new lightshade
Hung mezuzah
Made Hanukkah menorah
Adapted
7 branch candelabra into SP menorah
Bedroom 2
cleaned the rug, sanded the walls
Painted the walls,
painted stains on the ceiling
Painted baseboards
Painted
a border around the wall
Replaced outlet covers
Pulled
up the rug, padding and tack strips
Repaired closet doors
New/used
desk and chair
New mattress and springs
Hang
shelves for collectibles
Decorations
New
headboard
Bedroom 3
cleaned the rug, sanded the walls
Painted the walls,
painted stains on the ceiling
Painted baseboards
Replaced
outlet covers
Pulled up the rug, padding and tack strips
Repaired closet
doors
Repaired cutting table
Repaired
desk
Repaired dresser
Paint
mirror frame
New mattress and springs
Hung
shelves for collectibles
Decorations
Painted
headboard
New/used nightstand
Bathroom 1
Repairs to the pipes
Bathroom 2
Hung a mirror
Put
together a cabinet and hung it
Painted
Laundry room
Repaired dryer
Built
laundry cabinet
Table for laundry things
Shelves
for canned goods
Dining room
Repaint trim (still working on it)
Repaired sliding
glass door
Tacked down lino at threshold
Hung mezuzah outside
Put together bookcases, place broken/repaired hutch on
top
Painted around sliding glass door
decorations
Living Room
Cleaned rug
Replaced
outlet covers
New curio cabinet
Decorations
Pulled up carpet, padding and tack strips
Chiseled up broken
tiles
Repaired damaged wood
Built
new threshold
Laid tiles
Hung mezuzah outside
Hallway
Pulled up carpet, padding and tack strips
Chiseled
up broken tiles
Repaired damaged wood
Built new threshold
Laid tiles
Sandpapered
walls
Painted walls and ceiling
Hung pictures
Family Room
Cleaned rug
Replaced
outlet covers
Decorations
Pulled
up carpet, padding and tack strips
Chiseled up broken tiles
Repaired
damaged wood
Painted plywood
New entertainment
center
New desk
Filing
cabinets used for DVD movies
Numerous bookcases
Repaired
furniture
New easy chairs
New/used
side tables
New/used table
Built
curio cabinet for table
Rolling wooden chair
Kitchen
Touched up trim
Replaced
broken items
Had electrical worked on
New/used
microwave table
New microwave
Plumbing
work done
Hung strip of wood with hooks for collectible cups
Cleaned and stain grout on floor
Cut breakfast bar, sand bar, reattached edging
Basement
Swept and cleaned
Organized
boxes, tubs and trunks
Caulked walls
Wet/dry
seal lock paint on walls
Replaced water heater
Drain
line repaired
Overflow line run from the water heater installed
Outside
Handrail at back screened in porch installed
Burn barrel taken down
Sewer repair/access line put in
Eave replacement
Gutter repairs
Roof
repairs
Bushes trimmed
Repair to
retaining wall
Garden cleared out (garden overrun by weeds at times)
Pane replaced in window
More
gutter repairs
Water pressure cleaned pavers
Painted pavers with
skid resistant paint
Painted steps in back
Driveway
regarded
Downspouts extended
Painted
front door red
A/C repair done
Planted
flowers, plants
Sept/October
Set up Sukkah on small porch off the dining room
Take down Sukkah
Screened in porch
New futon frame
Hung
swinging chair
Hung mezuzah outside
Out
and About
Checked out large city near us
Found VA hospital
and visit fairly frequently
Attended Pesach dinner
Cherry
Festival
Apple Festival
Gold
festival
ALICE COOPER
Roger
Daltrey
Civil war memorial
Famous
cemetery
Visited infamous civil war prison
Said goodbye to Jeannie, Oliver, Charlie and Addy this
year
Planned
paint front porch cemet
paint front railings
paint back porch
finish painting trim in kitchen and dining room
lay tile in family room and bedrooms
Monday, September 3, 2012
Hallway Part 2
We cashed in our pennies (the ones we had set aside for a penny-floor entryway). Since we did the tiles in the living room, we cashed in the pennies and got more tiles and started in on the hallway
note the stained, broken and chipped tiles. The black spot is the intake for the A/C.
transition from the living room into the hallway
tiles being ripped up. This entails sitting down on a stool and chiseling up the tiles with putty knives and hammers, i.e. extremely hurting backs after a very short time.
chip, chip, chipping away
my sister's comment about NY
the tile is up. Now to scrape and clean the floor - the wooden part is a plywood repair job.
Ta Da!!!!
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