Project Julie II

Here are the models for our second challenge. Their clothes had to be made out of recycled material. You are looking at clothes made out of : gum wrappers, used coffee filters, apple seeds, soda can tabs, trash bags, duck tape, egg carton, maps, newspaper dyed with coffee, plastic bags, tissue paper, napkins and aluminum foil.
I was very impressed. We had two new contestants this round- Desi and Clare- and the venue moved to my house. Also, this is the night after I had my injection so I don't have the camera but I do have a vacant look in my eyes. My body was here but not all of my mind.
Carl had a great visit with Xander and Charles.
Kaitlin, Marisa and Erin kept warm by the fire.
Xander enjoyed Carl having the camera. Sweet Desi is behind her two beautiful kids.
Xander had a good time and was a joy to have here as was Mara.
Girls on the sofa. Who even knows what I was saying and if it made sense. Notice the AUBURN snuggle. A co-worker gave it to Carl.
Who needs girl toys?
Xander, Charles and Carl reading a Can You See What I See? by Walter Wick. Those books are very cool. I highly recommend them. Children and adults have picked up those books as they have been waiting for me to find them a new home on a shelf.
The lead judge talking about the designs. Kimt helped and so did Xander
The winning model! The winning designer had worked all day and wasn't able to be with us.
the critic sheet that Carl and KimT used.I realized that I didn't post a picture of Kimt or Desi and I am sorry. I didn't have the camera for most of the evening and some pictures just didn't get taken.

Snow Day Cleaning

I have been going through my Mary Englebreit calendar pages from 2009. I like to reuse some of them for notes and scrapbook pages. Here is my beginning pile.
Here are a few of my favorites.

This one makes me think of Kaitlin



I love this one and what a good thought! Enjoy

Speaking of backs

I had my fourth set of injections this past Thursday. I have arthritis in my spine plus a bulging disc and maybe a few more fun things going on. The pain gets to me after awhile. I forget how exhausting pain can be. My pain creeps up on me slowly and I almost get used to it. But I do get to a point where it begins to control my life and that is when I know I need more injections.

I've learned lots since I got my first injection 1) to get ready for the IV, drink lots of water the day before and wear a sweater to keep your arms warm. 2) Don't be afraid to ask heath care professions for what you need- like to go to the bathroom or for a blanket. 3) ALWAYS write down what medicines you take to let the nurse know- I laugh every time I hear someone near me saying, Well, I take that little pink pill.

My nurse this time was Kristine. I told her what I do when I get versed, I become a comedian. I try to entertain the whole pre-op. I also told her I almost brought a roll of duck tape to help me be more in control. She, with the straightest face, said that she did have 2 inch tape. We both laughed at that.

Carl took me to the hospital for my procedure and we were home around 4, I think. The fuzziness from the versed stays with me for a few days.

I am thankful for the person who invented cortisone.

I am thankful that I am able to find some relief this way and my prayer is with those that are in constant pain with no relief.

February- It must be jumping

My friend SB has a blog and I love her blog header. I love her blog too.

I told my tech support about my love for her blog header and she emailed SB. SB gave her the low down on it and now I have a new blog header.

It is my goal to have a new header every month this year.

For February, I chose jumping

From L-R on the top you see Marisa, John, Kaitlin, Taylor and Andrew at Uncle T's- Marisa and John at a local park-Marisa and Taylor at the beach in NC- John, Marisa, Money, Bubbles, Taylor, Andrew and Kaitlin at the beach in FL.

Bottom Row L-R Bri, Kaitlin and Marisa in our yard- John, Marisa, Kaitlin, Andrew, Taylor in Macon, MS at Chris's house- Alex, Kaitlin, Money, Robert, John, William, Marisa and Andrew at the beach in NC- John, Marisa, Money, Bubbles, Kaitlin, Taylor and Andrew at Chris's family tailgate in AUBURN.

Enjoy!

Libraries and Mama and Friends

Grief is an interesting thing.

I wish it would announce that it is about to overwhelm you so you could get in a safe place but it doesn't.

One of my New Year's Resolutions is to Not Buy as many books but I know I will still read lots this year, so, I need to go to the library.

The Library.

I love the library and I always have. My mama's water broke with me when she was in the library so my love for the place started at a very early age.

My mother was a librarian all her life with her love of books, reading and all manner of learning. She was employed as one for 10 years of her life too.

I have many of her books. I love reading them and running my hands over them as I pass by the shelf they are on. I don't have them all in one area but all over so that I can see them in every bookcase I have.

Marisa is very patience to listen to stories of my mama and Mama's books bring out many stories.

After Mama died I couldn't got to the library for awhile. It was too hard for me.

With my New Year's Resolution I needed to go back to the library. I've been twice in January. I love my library. It is Southwestern in design, all on one level, not too big but it has a nice 'new book' section. Also, I can get online and have books from all over the system sent to my library.

It was hard going back.

The first time I walked in, I had to walk right back out again- too painful.

I went again yesterday. I had ordered two books: Miss Buncle's Book by DE Stevenson and Leaving Yesterday by Kathryn Cushman. I went in to get them and walk back out if need be. I was able to stay longer. I walked up and down every aisle in the adult section- looking and smelling and just savoring. It was wonderful, like meeting up with an old friend again.

As I got ready to leave, a lady came into the library. She greeted the librarians like old friends and they, her. She talked a minute about the bad weather that was expected here and then she said that most folks stock up on milk and bread during an ice storm but she stocks up on books.

That sounded just like something my mama would have said! I felt so at home.

My books are all 14 day books so I am planning another trip in two weeks, if not sooner. It feels good to be home again.

Box? What Box?

Do you think outside the box?

A Picture of Heaven named Evelyn, Anne and Nicole

God in His wonderful graciousness permits us to see glimpses of Heaven every now and again. There are different glimpses for different people and we should keep our eyes focused on Him and not on these glimpses lest we get disappointed when every day doesn't lead to one.

Some times these are a sunrise or sunset, a piece of music, a talk, speech or sermon that moves you, and sometimes it is wonderful fellowship.

I had one last night with a group of women from church.

Nicole is in charge of a ministry called 'table for 4'. The goal is for 4 women to meet for 4 months and just get to know each other better. The goal is to pair 2 older women and 2 younger women. My group consisted of Nicole, Evelyn, Anne and myself. I was one of the 'older women'.

Last night was our 4th time to meet. We met at Evelyn's house.

We talked about the following:

children's names

our names

upcoming events at church

recent trips we had taken

education

politics

cancer

the church nursery

the upcoming weather

weddings

church history

plus about a billion more topics

When I list what we talked about it seems so mundane but when we were talking about them the sharing was very deep and we laughed, oh how, we laughed. I came away knowing I was loved, very encouraged, and ready to get back into the daily grind because I was so uplifted.

We have been assigned new 'table for 4 groups' to begin in February and I am excited to learn from and about my new group.