Monday Roll Call

Good Morning!

As I sit here typing I am surrounded by the cats and the dog. Life is so good when they surround me. The warm little paws on my elbow and hand are the best.

I had a quiet day yesterday. We went to church and then stayed later to help with the outeach ministry's candy cane/coffee drive we are doing on Black Friday. There is a big parade in Joliet on Black Friday to start the holiday season, and our church is there to give out hot coffee to the adults and candy canes to the kids. We pray for people and have a good time.

I am working this morning, and then I am babysitting the grandbabies. 

I am buying a sewing machine for my daughter for her birthday. Does anyone have a recommendation? I dont sew, and she is a novice.

Have a lovely day my dear ones.

Hugs,

Sharon

Good Morning Sharon and All,

This week starts the annual, "what do I buy for?", plus the madness of the holidays. Just remember to sit back and have some fun and relaxation.

Today I am working, and no plans for tonight, other then have leftovers for dinner. Thats the main reason I make a big dinner on Sunday, so I don't have to cook on Monday, and maybe even on Tues. 

Morgan leaves for Disney World after school today. Its a Band/Choral thing from Bloomington High School. I am sure she will have a blast.

My only advice to you about sewing machines, don't buy a complicated one. Mine does alot of fancy stuff and all I use is the straight and zigzag stich.

Have a great Monday,

Hugs,

Lisa-  Amanda went to Disney World twice for band for some kind of competition.  She had so much fun.  I have a ton of pictures to prove it too...hahaha!!!  Oh these band trips are the greatest and she will look back at them as the best times of her life. 

Amanda's marching band also had the opportunity to perform in the Rosebowl parade in Pasadena and while there went to Disney Land and Universal Studios.  She loved it. 

Good morning Sharon and the rest of Illinois!

I made the "breadsticks" last night, and they need some tweaking.  They just need a little more flavor for my taste.  I also made Italian sausage with a tomato cream sauce (over pasta for the family).  It was pretty good.

Today, if my yellow dye arrives, I have a shirt to make for someone in Washington State.  It will be my first sale!  I also have some house work to do.

Everyone have a lovely day!

Sharon i have a Jenome Magnolia. i spent about 300.00 on it and I love it. it is electronic.

Sharon-  Years ago I bought my daughter the old stand by...basic Singer.  I think I paid about $175 at Target.  She uses it for easy things like skirts, purses, shirts and she never uses patterns.   

Hello everyone

I am sitting at home now.  I am making pork chops for dinner.  Chris has to take his Noah (the one with down syndrome) to the dentist this evening and I guess it's an ordeal.  I can imagine as I saw him getting his hair cut and that was an ordeal...oh lord.  So he is busy and will be here late and I am sure ready for a nice meal. 

Talking about shopping for Christmas gifts...I of course have my shopping done.  With one exception.  I decided to buy Amanda's grandparents one of those digital photo frames and load it with Amanda's pictures from Peru.  They don't get on the internet at all and have not seen any of these pictures.  I thought if I waited till Black Friday and hopped online I might find a great buy.  Then of course I also have to go shopping for gift bags and boxes.  Because I am all about presentation.  After I am done shopping for everyone...I go out and buy a box/bag for that particular person.  Believe me it doesn't go unnoticed that I go this extra mile.  People always remark that I have the prettiest packages.  If I give you a giftcard...I might package it in a box with Hershey's Kisses (or your favorite candy).  

Today at work we have vistors from Houston and when it started snowing....every single one of them was out there taking pictures.  It made me not hate the snow so much.  I kind of was looking at it through their eyes for just a little while.  One guy was taking a video and sending it to his kids...he was so excited....he said "man my son is going to love this".   Awwww!!!!

Then I got out of work and had to scrape my windows....back to reality!!!!  Grrrr!!!!!  At least for a little while I forgot how much I hated it....Thanks Houston people.

I just started a new book by Stephen King called "11/22/63"  It's about the assassination of JFK.  So far very interesting.  I also want to read Dr Sleep...it's the sequel to The Shining.  Have to read that!!!!

Well I gots to go...have a nice evening all.  Bye

Crystal

Down Syndrome children have lots of sensory issues.  Lanie has issues with the way things taste, the mouth feel, the color of food, the texture of an item etc.  It is VERY difficult to understand.  To you or I it is no big deal but to them it is so different and they just have a hard time with it.  Lanie cannot be in a very noisy room such as a basket ball game as she gets sensory load from all the noises.  We have learned to work around these issues.  It takes lots of patience, love and putting up with these silly quirks that make the child who they are.  We understand that these are truly major ordeals for Lanie and we try to work with her on these issues and offer the comfort and love when she must do something that she does not like.  It forces you to get really creative at times as you have to outsmart the child!  I have lots of stories to tell.  

Happy Monday Everyone!

The good news is there are only 2 days left in the week for me.  I even got to come home early today as we were not busy.  The bad news is I do not want to see my next pay check that has no money in it  .

I am hanging in there.  I was starting to feel cruddy again when I got to come home.  I took a nap and feel human again.  

Sharon, I love it when my babies snuggle with me.  Buffy was snuggling me this morning and I did not want to get up!  For a sewing machine I recommend a Viking or a Pfaff or Brother.  You want one that at least sews a straight line, zig zags and can do button holes.  Hemming is also a nice feature and if it serges, even better!  Avoid ones that have plastic discs inside.  Metal contruction is better.  Also the less attachments the better.  

Lisa, I am at that point of What do I get people for Christmas?  This is not my favorite part.  I usually have good ideas but this year I am blank.  Sigh.  I hope Morgan has a wonderful time on her trip!  That is so exciting!

Dawn, that is great that you are getting orders for t shirts!  Have fun!

Crystal, I like your idea for Amanda's grandparents They will love it!  I am glad you got things straightened out with Chris.  Talking it out is always best.  

Kim, hope you made it home safely.

Jason, I hope you do not get sick. 

Connie, I have used fishing line to anchor a tree to a wall and cat proof ornaments before but with Buffy she would be climbing to the top of the tree and getting into ALL the ornaments.  Nothing holds that cat down!