AFTER - Privacy Fence Rescue

 AFTER

Privacy Fence Rescue

It is completely repaired, pressure washed, and ready for paint in a few days once it dries out a bit. I'm so happy with the results.

It is straight, sturdy, and pressure washed!

Thank you BRO for saving the day ... yet again!

#wearefamily

PROGRESS - Privacy Fence Rescue

 PROGRESS

Privacy Fence Rescue

And to think this all started when my brother offered to bring me dirt for my raised bed garden container ... YIKES!

So many things ... I'm amazed by my brother's knowledge of so many things, gardening, repair fences and mailboxes. Amazed and oh so thankful for his willingness to help me.

One of the privacy fence support beams had to be replaced. Post hole diggers and concrete were involved. Not to mention the removal of one panel to remove and replace the beam in question. He also stabilized the boards on both of the panels correcting the warped panel completely.

And, he brought the dirt to fill my raised bed garden container too!

BEFORE - Privacy Fence Rescue

 BEFORE

Privacy Fence Rescue

When I moved into this house 6 years ago, I should have stained or painted the privacy fence. The key words here ... should have.

6 years without paint/stain and neglect on my part and the privacy fence is warped, leaning and almost ready to fall down.

The Fence Doctor, a.k.a. my brother offered to come and help me make some needed repairs. Actually to assess if the privacy fence could be saved OR if it just needed replaced.

Happily, my brother assures me that it can be saved!

Stay Tuned for the rescue progress.

Vivid Memory

 Vivid Memory

On Sunday April 28th my daughter went with me to Riverside Tattoo Company where I got this spider tattooed on my arm.

Why? You ask?

April 28 of this year would have been my dad's 88th birthday. He died when I was 5 years old. I don't really have a lot of memories of him but one of the only vivid memories that I do have is of a spider tattoo he had on his right shoulder blade. 

I don't know why we remember what we remember, especially when we are small children but in honor and memory of my father, Clyde Edward Gibson, I got this little spider tattooed on my arm. I see it everyday and it makes me think of my dad and it makes me smile.

Crazy ... maybe ... but I love it!

I think he loved Saturday morning cartoons as much as I did. I also remember sitting on his lap and watching cartoons. I also remember that when we did go to the Drive-In movies they ran cartoons at the end, we would be one of the last cars to leave after watching those cartoons. As an adult I realize my dad was probably just waiting for all of cars that were racing to the exits to leave, but still, I do remember that.

The rest of my memories involve VA Hospitals, wheelchairs, the wheelchair ramp in our house and Easter Baskets. A very specific Easter Basket. Which is probably why I crochet an Easter Basket for my daughter every year. The connections our minds make ..

As I had never gotten a tattoo before I was a bit panicked when I woke up to this black blob. Fortunately my daughter reassured me that this was normal. Once you are tattooed they place a medicated sterile film over the tattoo that is recommended to be left on for 4 days. I could not see how my little spider was not going to be this messy blob but sure enough upon removal the tattoo was exactly as I had hoped and wanted.

I love you Dad! 

Mother's Day 2024

 Mother's Day 2024

I am blessed beyond measure.

The Friday before Mother's Day I pull into my driveway and right behind me is the UPS truck. Confused because I knew I hadn't ordered anything recently ... I was totally floored when out comes these boxes from Casper (bedding). My youngest son and his beautiful bride got me a brand new Queen sized bed and pillows and bamboo sheets!

When visiting them I absolutely raved about the guest bedroom bed so they bought me one! I'm excited to get it all set up.

This girl planned a wonderful day full of surprises.

Downtown Knoxville delights

She made reservations for us at Kefi, a Mediterranean eatery.

DELICIOUS

We started with a flight of Gin cocktails

3 incredible dips with flat breads and such for dipping.

The first one on top was a personal favorite, it was a feta dip.

SO GOOD!

And finished up with an amazing shrimp dish.

We forgot the baklava but it was probably best ... we were stuffed!

Happily so, it was a beautiful meal and the company was divine.

It is always fun sitting down and really catching up with each other.

We also got a second permanent bracelet.

All of that along with text messages of love from my oldest who is out in California living his best life. 

Bread Making and Quilting

 Bread Making and Quilting

I'm still working on perfecting my bread making skills and I'm always working on one quilt project or another. 

It's just who I am.

Bread Making 101

Hello old friend

I think I like this little life!

I'm taking a few days of vacation this month to work on hearth and home. Part of that plan is to clean and organize my sewing room. I want to get things in order so that I can sit and sew anytime I feel like doing so. I'm look forward to what I affectionately refer to as the Storage Unit and Home Purge of 2024

Stay Tuned for that.

Machine Quilting

Machine Quilting

Machine quilting on my domestic sewing machine is another thing I would like to learn how to do ... time permitting of course!

I purchased these templates online ... hopefully they will help!

I'm pretty excited about the possibilities though!

 

Sock Knitting Continued

 Sock Knitting Continued

I am 1 pair of socks short of my goal of knitting 5 pairs of socks in 2024

YAY!!!

Working the 3rd and 4th pair of socks at the same time.

The 4th pair in progress

3rd pair of socks completed

I finally completed the toe up socks with the cable pattern!

1st, 2nd, and 3rd pairs of socks completed

I'm on a role!!!

Choices for the 5th pair

4th pair of socks completed

Gifted to my sister for Mother's Day

Watercolors and Whimsy

 Watercolors and Whimsy

My daughter and I took a watercolor painting class at a local book shoppe, Fable Hollow Coffee & Book Shoppe. The class was presented by Jade of Whimsy Emporium Knox.

Below is a picture of my efforts, taken by and posted to Jade's instagram

@whimsy.emporium.knox

We had a blast in this class and met some really nice people. Jade is an amazing artist and teacher.

Shout out to Fable Hollow Coffee & Book Shoppe for presenting this amazing class.

April Went By In A BLUR - The Biltmore Adventure

 April Went By In A BLUR

As you may have already guessed considering I did not post one single blog in the month of April. Time seems to slip right through my fingers these days. I often ponder how to slow things down and get a hold of time but nothing seems to help, no matter what I try.

My sister planned and organized this adventure to the Biltmore Estate and the Chihuly Exhibit. It was incredible!

My sister wants an hallway ceiling like this!

My sister, Cindy and my Niece in law (my sister's daughter in law) Amanda

The Biltmore Gang

Clockwise - Angie, Me, Shelby, Cindy, and Amanda

An early start to the day at the Chihuly Exhibit 

It was a tad cold and windy but so much fun!

The Chihuly Exhibit Gang

From left to right

Angie, Cindy, Amanda, Me, and Shelby

The Conservatory is always my favorite part of the Biltmore Estate

Should you ever have an opportunity to see a Chihuly Exhibit, it travels around, please go ... it is amazing and beautiful to behold.

The wall in the background of this photo is what I want in my house!

I love it!

Angie among the Chihuly Exhibit

The Biltmore Estate

Asheville, North Carolina

What a great day and adventure.

From left to right

Me, Cindy, Amanda, Shelby, and Angie

Sisters

Making Something From Nothing

 Making Something From Nothing

While working on the bubblegum sonnet quilt, I'm left with half square triangle bits cut from the half square triangles needed for the quilt top. So, I decided to pieces these bits and make something out of them later on. 

I'm not sure what I will make but the possibilities are endless.

Half Square Triangle bits

These little half square triangle blocks are 1 3/4 inches square.

So CUTE!

Bubblegum Pink

 Bubblegum Pink Sonnet Quilt

Presently I am working on the Bubblegum Pink Sonnet quilt kit that I purchased from

Westwood Acres Fabric

Pattern and kit by Amanda, also @a.crafty.fox on instagram

As always, my apologies for the terrible lighting in my sewing room.

These pictures do not do this quilt and the fabrics used justice.

This quilt is just stunning and I'm looking forward to completing this quilt top.

Pretty in PINK!

I am enjoying this quilt project so much. All of it. The pattern, the fabrics, just all of it.

Family

 Family

Legendary - Grandpa Doc Thomas Gibson

*Written by my sister Cindy* 

Cheryl (cousin, see previous post) shared this picture a few days ago.  This man taught me that my word was my bond, that it is bad to owe anyone and that you can clean a blow dryer when it gets clogged up with lint.  He also loved his wife and his family, God and country.  He didn’t have to have the newest best thing that came along and he worked hard until his back problems got the best of him.  I loved him so much!!  Oh, and if you love a boat, it's genetic.

Written on the back of the photo seen below

Grandpa Doc and his dog, Connie

Family - Cousins

Family

Cousins

*Note - all of the Family posts are contributed by my sister, Cindy. I in no way provide the photos or comments. All of this comes from my sister. I post her Thursday Family texts here as a record of my family, for my family. Enjoy*

The cousins.  That's me (Cindy), Cheryl, Lori, Karen, Pat and Steve.  1970ish. Steve is 5 years older than me, Cheryl is 2 years older and Karen is 4 months older than me.  Then Pat and Lori and I are all 2.5 years apart. 

These were and are my favorite people.  We got together at least a couple times a year, camping out together in Grandma's living room floor on a big pallet of handmade quilts or riding bikes all around West Milton. 

We didn't do things that cost a lot of money-I guess nobody had any.   We went to the beach together a few times.  I remember jumping in the waves and playing shuffleboard.  We made homemade Halloween costumes that always included Pat being the prettiest girl you ever saw!   

I remember sitting in the floor in Steve's room and listening to Elton John's Yellow Brick Road album over and over while we stared at the album cover and tried to figure it out.  I remember playing Fish and Crazy 8 and Hate (uno before there were uno cards).  And making Jacob's ladder and other stuff with loops of string. 

When our Dad was in the hospital, we would visit for a couple weeks at a time in Ohio.  I've told Aunt Joyce I don't know how she stood it!!   

We tye dyed shirts together.  Pat went on dates with Steve. 

I loved getting hand me down clothes from these guys!   My white go-go boots and my favorite mini dresses were worn by them first. 

Today, Steve is a geologist in Idaho.  Cheryl retired from a long career in the courts in Las Vegas and now lives back in West Milton with Aunt Joyce.  Karen also returned to Ohio a few years ago after living in Denver and being the woman who secretly ran everything.  And you know about all of us. 

These are people I know I can count on and they can count on me.  Love your family, folks.  You never outgrow needing them.

 

Family

 Family

Apparently we have a published author in the family.

The author of the book pictured below is Patricia Lane Copeland, whose mother was Grandma Dorothy's sister, Edna.  That's Edna and Grandma in Crossville.  Grandma had told me Patricia wrote a book and I was able to track it down.  As you can see, she dedicated the book to her father, John.  The two children are Jon  and Amy, who are probably in their 30's now.  Back in the 1990's, they lived in Chicago.  Patricia's parents lived in Florida.  I haven't read the book yet but as far as I know, it is the only book she wrote. 

Patricia Lane Copeland, the author, and her children Jon and Amy.

Dedication to her father, John Lane

Edna Lane (Grandma's sister) and my Grandma Dorothy Gibson

The book written by Patricia Copeland