I Am a Parrothead

I am many things.  Some I'm proud of, some not so much.  One thing I am and have been for a very long time is a Parrothead!  For those of you who have not been enlightened - that means I love Jimmy Buffett - all things Jimmy Buffett  - all things Margaritaville.  Being a Parrothead is so much more than being a fan of Jimmy Buffett.

If I could just listen to one person's music, I admit it would be Jimmy.  I know I should say one of the wonderful Christian music singers - and I do love a lot of them - and I listen to them.  But Jimmy is the one who speaks to my heart and soul.  He understands me - he sings directly to me.  I know, I know.  Sometimes he is not very nice - sometimes he uses language I don't think he should.  But that smile!  It gets to me every time.  He is HAPPY - he is contagiously happy.

A good friend was going through a really difficult time in her life a few years ago.  We were riding in the car and she was so down - just couldn't see beyond her present situation to a better time.  She was almost in tears.  I just hit the play button and there was Jimmy.  I won't tell you what the song was... she looked at me and said, "Did he really say that?".  Yeah, he really did.  There were tears alright - she laughed until she cried.  That's just the way Jimmy is.

I've been to some of his concerts.  Hard to describe what that was like.  He doesn't just perform...he brings the crowd to life.  Parrotheads are a wild and crazy bunch of people.  All ages, all types.  Only one thing in common - Jimmy.  My younger son is a Parakeet (that's a younger Parrothead).   I'm hoping to make Parakeets out of my grandsons.

He has done it his way.  For 40 years, he has done his music his way - and continues to do it. It is more than his music - he takes me away - not sure where - but it's a really nice trip every time.

Jimmy fell off the stage last week during a concert in Australia!  No, I don't think he had too many Margaritas - I think it was just an unfortunate accident.  I understand he had a head injury, but is out of the hospital and doing well now.  Sure hope the head injury doesn't change him.  I may not agree with a lot of things about him - but I do think more of us should be willing to "do it our way" - whatever that way is.

Listen to some of Jimmy's music - it just might make you happy! 

Elvis in Concert

I have always loved Elvis.  My Aunt G was a huge Elvis fan when I was a child.  Of course I thought it was funny that an "old lady" loved Elvis - she was probably in her forties!  Then I became a teenager and I still loved Elvis.

My friends loved the Beatles - they were okay but I just loved Elvis.  What a voice - not to mention those looks - that hair - those swivel hips.  I think I had all his "records", then his 8 track tapes - cassettes and cd's.  I even have some on my ipod - which is another story.  I lost my ipod.  How in the world do you keep up with something that darn small?  It could be hiding just about anywhere.  Been gone quite a while now.  Any ideas where it might be?  We have a 1950's Jukebox - and though it is hard to believe - Elvis sounds better on that than on the cd's.

Mr. H and I went to an Elvis concert in Greensboro April 21, 1977, just a few months before he died - Elvis died, not Mr. H.  Absolutely amazing. The picture above was taken at that concert.  The building was packed - almost 18,000. He was mesmerizing - seemed like every person there was totally focused on him.  It was obvious that he was not in good shape - he had just been released from the hospital.  He was still the King and he gave an amazing performance.  Hearing him sing "How Great Thou Art" brought tears to lots of eyes.  I'm so glad that we paid way too much for the tickets and went to see him.

Elvis was truly gifted - and millions loved him and his music.  There is a video of his daughter, Lisa Marie, singing with him - "In the Ghetto" and "Don't Cry Daddy".  You should watch it.

Another time I'll tell you about my all time favorite - even more than Elvis.  But today I'm remembering the King - maybe because his birthday is in January.  

Past Came Calling Today

I talked with someone today ... someone from long ago ... let's call this person "Past".  Memories came flooding back.  Past was part of my life when I was a teenager... Past and I have not talked since then.  Our lives have been busy,  marriage, children, work, deaths of loved ones.  One would think that so much has happened that the past would seem distant.  Yet, when we talked it seemed like only yesterday - all those memories of who we were.

Strange to realize that I am still that same person - older, not much wiser, but still so much the same.  I used to think at some point in life I would "become" who I was meant to be.   Not gonna happen.  Who I was is who I am and who I will always be.  Imagine that.

The people and events in our past are part of who we are.  Past helped me remember that today.
It feels good to remember things we haven't thought about in such a long time.  Happy times... fun times... even the hard times.  The way we were... the way we are.






 

I Do Like a Challenge!

Why do you think I'm making this quilt?  I sometimes ask myself.  It is a bargello.

Squares are one inch - some smaller - some just a tiny bit larger.  Cut one inch strips of fabric - twenty different fabrics.  Sew the one inch strips together and then cut the sewn together strips into one inch strips and have fun arranging them and sewing them back together.  I do like a challenge - and this definitely qualifies as a challenge.  One more to check off my "bucket list" ...when it is finished.

My subconscious may be rebelling since I seem to have lost the pattern after starting the quilt.  My stubborn streak won out - I bought another pattern book!

I admit to being very competitive - just can't stand the thought of not knowing how to do something.

I love making quilts.I just have an aversion to ever making the same quilt pattern twice...so on to new and bigger projects. The new Janome Horizon sewing machine I got for Christmas sure makes it easier and so much more fun. I will be teaching a quilt class at Sew Together in February and March.  It's a great pattern...that I haven't done before so we will be learning together.  I really enjoy working part time at Sew Together - don't know if I enjoy teaching knitting or quilting more.  Our customers are wonderful and I've seen so many people that I haven't seen in years.

Little Man spent Sunday night with us.  His mommy says he always takes long naps the day after spending time with us.  He must be worn out from all that playing.  He is two years old and so full of energy and fun.

I cooked "dinner" for all of us Sunday.  Funny...it is dinner on Sunday but it's lunch the rest of the week.  Sitting around the table for a meal with family is one of my favorite things.

My biffle (best friend for life) who now lives in Georgia called tonight.  We talk quite often and usually for an hour or so at a time.  Some friends are just so much more than friends.  She works part time in a book store so we always have books and quilts to talk about.  She is reading a new book by Karen White - set in Georgia - I may have to read it.

Life is good.

Life is good.

Family Pizza Night

Pizza Night with sons, daughter in law and all three grandsons.  Pretty special.  It's about so much more than pizza!

I continue to be amazed and so pleased at how much our two teenage grandsons enjoy playing with Little Man, who is two.  They love spending time with him.  And of course, he loves the "big boys".  I think he was born with an extra dose of "boy".  He is just all boy all the time, but such a sweet, loving little boy full of hugs and kisses.

My biffle (best friend for life) in Georgia has a beautiful new granddaughter - three weeks old already.  We had a long chat this morning - she is loving having Mommy and baby living with her while the Daddy is away for work.  What a special time...

Kids finally went back to school today - two hour delay.  School has been cancelled all week because of snow.  There will be a make up day tomorrow (Saturday) - then NO school on Monday.  ???  This snow is not melting.

Family time - it's a good thing.

Alphabet Quilt for Little Man

Snow, ice, cold. No school yesterday and today - no school tomorrow.  The boys are happy.

A very good day to be in the house - knitting, quilting, cooking.

Perry, Dale and Tristan ate with us - their favorite meal - salmon patties, gravy, creamed potatoes, green beans and biscuits.  Mmm, mmm good.  Perry was out all night putting salt on the roads so Dale and Tristan spent the night with us.

Auburn won the college football championship game last night!  Go Auburn.

I finished the Alphabet quilt Becky and I made for Jeremiah.  I love my new Janome Horizon Sewing machine - it makes everything easier.              

Next project - a bargello quilt - might be quite a challenge.  I will be teaching a Day and Night Quilt class at Sew Together next month.  It is an Eleanor Burns pattern - looks like fun.

Grandsons, Granddog and Maybe Snow...

Our oldest grandson (14) and our youngest (2) are both sleeping at Nana's and Papa's house tonight. How special is that? The middle one was here with us for a while earlier tonight. Little Man just loves his big cousins and they dote on him.

The loft bed that Ken build for our younger son, Josh, had to be rescued from the attic this week.  Josh used it about 25 years ago;  Dale and Tristan used it a few years ago.  Now is is Little Man's turn.  He loves it - all his toys can live under the bed.  Of course he can't seep in it yet - it's way too high.  What fun to have the same bed his daddy had a few years ago.

Our two donkeys, Gracie and Stormy - both female - are two of Little Man's favorite things. He loves to feed them cookies. No, Stormy was not named after my brother who shares the same name. She was actually named Stormy when we got her. Little Man loves all things outdoors - the barn, the donkeys, the tractors and especially riding the Gator.

Much too cold today. Snow and ice in the forecast for tomorrow. I'm ready for spring!

We had another visitor for part of the day. Granddog Baxter spent the afternoon. He doesn't snore as much as Bodacious - our beagle.  He does beg for food quite a bit.

Snow or no snow?  School or no school?  Dale's last words before bed were, "Don't wake me if school is closed."  I always wanted to wake up early when school was closed so I could enjoy the whole day.

A really good day.

I Think I Want a Kindle

I love books.  I love bookstores.  And reading books...and keeping books.  Our house is full of books even after donating hundreds of books.  I like the feel of a book in my hands.  Never thought I wanted a Kindle, but I'm changing my mind.  So easy to carry so I always have a book to read.  And...I found out recently that you can put music on a Kindle.  PDF documents can be loaded on it from your computer.  And it will even read the book to me if I'm knitting or quilting.

So maybe I do want a Kindle.  Josh has one - it sure is lighter to carry around than a 500 page book.

The downside?  Finding more time to read.

A very good day.  Wonderful son and daughter in law invited us to dinner.  Played with the sweetest, most fun two year old boy in the world.  He is the only two year old I know who will put himself in "Time Out" when he disobeys!  He has a great mommy and daddy.  It is really special to see our children become parents.

Mmm...should I get a Kindle?

"Unbroken"

Reading a really great book, "Unbroken" by Laura Hillenbrand.  Josh and Becky gave it to me for Christmas. It's nice when a son likes the same books I like.  A great book - not an easy book to read.  It hurts to know what some of our servicemen and women endure.  The human spirt and man's faith are amazing.  Can we ever really appreciate what some have given for our freedom?

Freedom to...
Choose.

Do things I love to do.

Do things I should do and even the things I shouldn't do.

Love.  Laugh.  Live.

Our freedom - ensured at great cost by so many.

The cost paid not only by those who lost their lives, but by those who came home broken in body or spirit.  Those who endured and were broken.  And those who remain "Unbroken".  Thank you.

Life is good.

Bucket List

My Bucket List is a work in progress.  Things I really, really want to do.  Do you have a Bucket List?
Sometimes I think I really want to do something until the opportunity comes - then I begin to rethink it.  I guess it is more attractive to me when I think it is impossible!  Truth is - I love life - I am truly blessed.  Maybe I need to look at my Bucket List as more of a "Do I really want to do this?" list.  What could be better than a day like today?

I mailed the Tumbling Blocks quilt to beautiful baby Daniela in Georgia.  A quilt is a gift of much more than cloth, batting and thread.  It's a gift of time, creativity and love.  

I spent the afternoon teaching my Daughter in Law more about quilting.  We spent time together sewing - a very good thing.  Little Man took a nap in "his" room at Nana and Pop Pop's house.  Then he went to see the donkeys - Gracie and Stormy.  A very good day.

A woman I knew years ago came in the shop today.  She is the same - we had a great time of remembering.  She is a knitter.  It is good to remember who we are and who we were.

God is good.  Life is good.

 The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying:

   “I have loved you with an everlasting love; 

   I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.

Jeremiah 31:3 

A New Year - 8736 hours - What will we do with them?

8736 hours - it's intriguing to think about what we might do with that much time.  One of my pet peeves is hearing people say, "I don't have time.".  We all have the same amount of time - the same number of hours in each day.  We each choose how we spend our time.  I really do feel that time is a gift we need to use wisely.  Sometimes I'm guilty of having so many things I want to do with my time that I have a hard time choosing.

What are your priorities?  What will you do that will have the most positive impact?  Which will I choose to do that will be most pleasing to God?

Do you know people who don't seem to do anything with their time?  I think they must be very unhappy.

How do we look at our accomplishments?  Our choices?  The results of how we spend our time?

In the past couple of days I have spent time with our three grandsons.  I love them and I truly enjoy spending time with them.  Being a grandparent is an awesome responsibility and an opportunity to influence lives and make memories.  When I'm with them I don't accomplish much else except being with them - and that's the way I think it should be.  I'm guilty of "multi-tasking" many times.  When we multi-task, we're not giving our full attention and our best efforts to anything.  Do you know what it feels like to have someone really focus on you?  Really listen to you?  Care about what you're saying?  It feels good!  I have spent most of my life thinking that the more things I do, the more I accomplish each day, the better person I am.  I still struggle with wanting to do too many things...good things.  My sense of self worth is too dependent on what I can do.  I need to understand that God is where my real self worth comes from - and relax in that.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  Jeremiah 29:11 NIV