Just a quick thought, tonight. It amazes me how different my sister’s blog is from mine. A librarian friend has likened my blog to that of Samuel Pepys. Of course, I’m not a literary giant…it was the daily description of my life that she was referring to. Over at Just My Opinion, you’re more likely to get thoughts about integrity or self-determination!
Go visit what Frankie has to say about helping kids to understand the concept of integrity. I think you’ll find it interesting.

Every year, at the end of January or the beginning of February, the sailors in the Chicago area get a break in the winter weather and are treated to a convention for those who are addicted to sail boats. The harbors in the City of Chicago are open from May 15 to October 15, so this gathering falls just about halfway through their deprivation. “Strictly Sail” is held on Navy Pier, where there is an exhibit floor with all things pertaining to sailing, including some of the newest models from the major sailboat makers. Books, magazines, memberships to associations, equipment, clothing, jewelry, luggage, chairs, food, you name it, and they have booths for it. There are also seminars on a wide variety of subjects.
I used to make the trek with Dear Husband, but now, I let him go on his own, and I get to have a day all to myself, There’s a baby quilt and a few gifts I want to finish for friends. I can stay in, if I want, or go out. I could even take in a movie! Ahhhh….isn’t it great to have an unstructured day!? Thank you, Strictly Sail!

I’m pleased to be able to tell you that my youngest sister, Nan, will be resuming entries at her blog: Just My Opinion. I have no idea what she will be writing about, but I can tell you that it will be thought provoking. While you get a slice of my life here, with Nan you will get deeper issues and questions. I can guarantee it will be interesting reading.
So, keep in mind that she will be around more now, and visit, won’t you, please? I believe comments will be encouraged. Ask her about the changes she and her husband are contemplating in their Christmas traditions as their girls are growing up and getting ready to leave the nest.

…have now dropped to $1.609! I know that continued high gas prices would have forced us to research alternatives, but it’s a relief to know that you don’t have to sell a child or take out a 20th mortgage just to fill up your tank!

Binding is the fabric added to the edges of a quilted item that encloses the outer unfinished edges. Often, it is a strip of fabric that has been folded in half length-wise with wrong sides together, which is then sewed to the top of the quilt using a sewing machine. The final step is to pull the binding from the front to the back and hand sew the folded edge of the binding to the back of the quilt, using small, invisible stitches. There are a number of other ways to bind a quilt, but the majority of quilts use this technique.
I have been living in a sea of quilted items that have been waiting for bindings to be finished. I finally decided that I would get more done if I simply sat down and began to work.
Yesterday, I trimmed three lap quilts, made binding for two of them, and sewed binding to those two lap quilts and one full sized quilt. I also added binding to two sides of a lap quilt that was done for the Empty Nester group. I have one more full-sized quilt, a table runner, and one lap quilt to finish. That doesn’t address all the unfinished projects, just those that are close to completion. My purpose in the marathon sewing session was to give myself things to work on at night, when I’d like to sit with Dear Husband and watch some of the new shows on T.V.
That was six hours of work, but already I can see a dent in the work that needs to be done to take my home into the winter. I need to reorganize the sewing area, and our closet, and get serious about what needs to be stored in our living space, and what might be stored in the basement, or (shudder) thrown away. I NEED to see some projects brought to an end before I start some new ones. I need to know that I can carry a project through to completion. I should note, that the lap quilts are all projects that Elegante Mother started this year for her great-grandchildren, which she has been unable to finish. I simply see them as projects to be completed, not hers or mine.
So, If you’re looking for me in the evening for the next couple of weeks, I’ll be the one under a mound of quilts! *G*

It’s a heck of a state of affairs when you have a blog and can’t seem to make the time to type entries! This past week we were busy. Wednesday night we took Elegante Mother out to one of our favorite Mexican restaurants. She ordered guacamole and wallowed in avocado!
Thursday, EM did hair and nails at the salon, (I worked on thank you notes while I waited for her) and we made a run on her bank and the post office. She treated me to lunch at Panera. She had a Greek salad, and I had the tuna sandwich. That evening, one of my nieces came to sit with Mother and Dear Husband and I went out to dinner. We very rarely go out more than once a week, usually less, so it was quite a treat. We did a run on Chili’s, which is close to home, and quick.
Friday, we got off to a late start and missed exercise (bad me, bad me!). I worked in the office and did some laundry, all the things we have to do to keep our lives going. That evening, despite the fact that the rain from Ike was coming down pretty hard and fast, we drove to visit with Dear Husband’s daughter and her family, and we ate out, AGAIN! EM and I had the most amazing petite fillets, and DH chose bouillabaisse that looked incredible.
By Saturday morning, the water had begun to rise in the retention ponds, but DH went off to the boat anyway. He is not bothered by the idea of sleeping overnight on a leaking boat. EM and I made it to the Red Hat luncheon for our chapter. A surprising number of women turned out given that the roads were starting to flood, and the rain was coming down HARD! We thought we had it timed to leave when the rain had eased, but by the time we got to the door it had returned with a vengeance. We made it home, safe and sound, but a bit wet. The first order of the afternoon was to change into dry clothes. The second was to take a nap!
That evening I cleaned out the refrigerator to make dinner. Sunday, with the still cool weather in place, chili seemed like a great choice. I’d teased DH that we were going to have it while he was away (It’s one of his favorite meals), but I waited to make it on Sunday. I plan to add macaroni to it, and serve Chili-Mac for dinner to polish off the left overs.
So, there you have it….our meal plan and activities rolled up in one! Elegante Mother held up to the demands of all the travel pretty well. She enjoys the scenery, and I think we need to be out and about before snow comes to make us rethink travel. This week should be a little quieter than last, but I hope to plan something different each week, either short trips or different activities. We’re blessed that EM is able to get into and out of the car on her own, so that she is able to make these visits.

Minestrone…. When I first began my blog, in April of 2003, I posted the recipe I was using for Minestrone, on April 25. If you go to the archive links to the right, and scroll down to April 2003, you’ll find it.
I probably use even more broth now. Because I’m pressed for time, I buy ready-made broth rather than making my own, but I’ve taken a class on how to make beef broth from scratch.
I also roast red peppers, peel them and dice them, or used jarred roasted red peppers, rather than dicing peppers that still have their skins. I don’t like the texture of the pepper skin in the soup.
When I made the soup this evening, I left the salt out completely, and each o us will add salt or Parmesan as we please to finish off the soup
This has to be one of the most satisfying meals I cook for my family, and it’s really easy!

Your results:
You are Deanna Troi

Deanna Troi 80% An Expendable Character (Redshirt) 80% Chekov 70% Uhura 65% Will Riker 60% Geordi LaForge 50% Jean-Luc Picard 45% Beverly Crusher 45% James T. Kirk (Captain) 40% Data 37% Mr. Sulu 35% Worf 30% Spock 27% Leonard McCoy (Bones) 20% Mr. Scott 20%

You are a caring and loving individual. You understand people’s emotions and you are able to comfort and counsel them.

It’s been two weeks since EM had her seizure and I have my first day off from her care today. I have TONS of stuff waiting for my attention, but my mind keeps straying to EM. I may try to squeeze in a flying trip to see her later this morning, just to take clean clothing, and some fruit. Perhaps then I’ll be able to concentrate on other things.
I have a ten-foot stretch of garden along the garage wall and the front sidewalk that has to be replanted this morning. If I don’t put my iris in the ground, I know I’ll loose them. I have two purple fountain grass plants, the iris, some tulip bulbs and two plants whose names I can’t remember. I’ll take pictures and post them with the information from their labels later.
Mail….OH MY GOD…..the mail that is waiting for me actually scares me! Mother’s mail, our personal mail, mail for the two companies, and JUNK mail. I separated everything into five piles last night, I’m going to take one pile at a time, and have at it this afternoon. I hope there’s enough time to get through it!
A note for Nan… I have been doing the laundry. I have to fold sheets, but everything else is done and I only have two stacks of clothes to put away. I’m trying to learn from you and Leeanne, and fold as soon as it comes out of the dryer. Ya know….I HATE doing laundry! *G*
Our cat, Edward Scissorhands, really misses EM. She is his doorman, and that cat is a YO-YO! In and out, In and out…..or that might be IN and OWWWWWWWWW(T). He woke me this morning before the alarm went off, howling for attention. I think he thinks he’s been abandoned. Poor baby. I let him go play.
Maybe, if I’m not napping or sleeping, I might actually look at the instructions for my phone and set up the voice mail box, and find out how to retrieve messages. I might even add phone numbers and learn to speed dial, but don’t hold your breath. Be happy, my family, that I am charging the phone as we speak! *G*
I hope you all have an incredible Sunday. If you are of a mind to do so, please send prayers for EM and her continued improvement.

I spent the day with Elegante Mother. I made it to her room very shortly after 8:30. Parking and weather and traffic were all on my side this morning. EM was really sleepy today. I have the sense that we wore her out yesterday, and that she may have not gotten enough sleep, due to a roommate, and a sitter who was willing to chat with her.
She had asked to sit in a chair. I see that as a very positive thing, but she kept trying to doze off. At first I was really upset, and then I realized she just needs more rest. I helped her with breakfast, and a midmorning snack. When I started on the lunch that was delivered, we got about ten bites into it before she said, “NO MORE!” I tried to sneak a bite past her a little later and got the evil eye!
The nursing home was supposed to take EM on Monday, but they had an opening, and she made the transfer today at 1:30. A friend had stopped by and graciously offered to help me carry some of EM’s loot down to my car. I thought I’d packed up everything. It didn’t look like anything could be left in the room, but I missed one thing that my siblings will never let me forget…..her bottom dentures. (sigh) I wondered why she was having so much trouble with the macaroni and cheese…..
My-Sister-The-Nurse made it to the nursing home just as EM was being delivered. We settled down to sign the paperwork, and then went back to check on Mother. She had snoozed for an hour, in the chair. She has a nice room that looks out partly into a tree, and partly over the lawn. She has two areas where we can take her to sit outside and enjoy beautiful patios with lovely landscaping.
We’re expecting EM to go through physical therapy for the next week, and then we will assess her for her ability to come home, with assistance. In the past five days, I’ve visited EM every day, and three of those days I was with her for at least eight hours. Office work is beginning to mount up. I’m going to take clothes over early in the morning, tomorrow, and then my second sister will care for Mother. I’ll go back to do Sunday morning and Monday afternoon. My biggest concern about EM returning home is that I won’t be able to find the time to do the work that can’t be farmed out. We’ll have to find good help that I can trust.
Tomorrow, I’m going to get errands done, work in the office, and make time for myself in the evening. Dear Husband is going sailing over the weekend, so I don’t have to worry about a meal for him on Saturday night. I may just go to bed early and SLEEP IN!
I hope you all have a great weekend!