Where have I been???

UPDATE ON THIS POST: 

Please look at the paragraph with the 'red' update.  See what happens when you "rant" and don't proofread!  

 RPSA (Robbie's Public Service Announcement) 

Where have I been???  What have I been doing??  I honestly am not sure...I do know it is an even worse time than  just worrying about the covid-19 virus with all the protests, looting and ugly verbiage going back and forth on social media.    Honestly, it's hard for me to hold my tongue but I realize it won't do any good to get in a 'contest' with some folks, for example, on FaceBook.

How is it people can be so nasty with regards to their political choice!  Isn't it just that...a choice!  We are allowed to have our own 'choice'...that's why we have the right/privilege to vote?  I have some acquaintances on FB that are downright nasty in their comments.  To make matters worse, they are some of the same folks who like to post items from 5, 8 or even 15 years ago without even checking the dates....let alone verifying whether the 'fact' is true or not!  And heaven forbid you let them know that their post has been proven to be a 'false' written statement.   That's when the 'pissing' contest starts!

I admit I did not vote, nor would I vote for Mr. Trump.  That's my choice...I will honestly try not to post anything negative, nasty about this man.  But, by the same token, if I read something I have researched to be true or false, I will let you know that and I may comment.  And, yes, I did vote for Mr. Obama, twice.  He is not a Muslim (and what difference if he were!  It's the extreme Muslim that you need to worry about and Obama didn't kill us, did he).  I am so sick hearing about his birth certificate and his being a muslim!   Honestly!!!!

I have also voted for Bush (George W), Clinton, Regan, Carter......I do not vote for a party...I vote for the person!!!  So, stop all the nasty, intimidation posts saying a Democrat is terrible or a Republican is terrible!

And now there's the protesting, looting and back and forth on who did what and why!  My heart hurts with what is going on....I respect the police, I respect Black folks just as I respect White folks.  I do not judge you by the color of your skin!  I judge you by who YOU are!   That's it in a nutshell!  Are there bad police?  Yes!  Are there bad folks who commit crimes?  Yes!  Are they black?  Yes!  Are they white?  Yes?  This was a TYPO...instead of a question mark, it should have been an "!" !  Are there other colors than black or white?  Yes!!!  Do they commit crimes?  Yes!  I know this topic isn't as simplistic as what I'm stating here.  There are and will always be bad people and they come in all colors!!!!

So, how do we change?  We get involved!  Get involved in your community!  Get involved in politics!  Run for office!  If you don't like that's going on, stop complaining!  DO SOMETHING!

So what's the point of this post...just to let me have a platform to vent.  And it's my blog, which I print out yearly, so I can say what I want, when I want!  Just like I can vote for who I want!  So thank you America!  Land of the free and if you want to keep it free, VOTE, RUN FOR OFFICE, GET OFF YOUR PHONE AND FACEBOOK AND DO SOMETHING PRODUCTIVE!

Typical "staying home, staying safe" week!

To be honest, I can't say I've felt at all that bad being 'quarantined' in our house!  I'm basically a person who enjoys staying at home so for me, life isn't that much different!  Other than we don't go out to eat once or twice a week!  But I look at it as $$'s we're saving, right!  See, there's always an upside to any situation!

I usually make us breakfast and dinner every day (other than the days we have dinner out) and lately I've just been doing more experimenting with meals...thanks to my daughter who shares some of her great meals with me!!!  Homemade bread is something Bob and I both love!  Fresh bread from the oven or toasted in the morning is so, so good!

This is an easy bread recipe and oh, so good!

This past week, Bob asked me to make his favorite Buttermilk Fried Chicken...this is a wonderful recipe and just delicious!!  It's by Ina Garten on the FoodNetwork web site.  I've made it several times and although it's messy, it is worth the cleanup!!!

I also made Ree Drummond's Roasted Red Pepper Pasta, which is delicious!  It's very easy and makes enough to freeze for another dinner!

It was also my son and Kris' 30th anniversary on May 19th!  I can't believe it's been 30 years!!!!  My baby being married for 30 years!    This was a collage my son put together...he said they'll have to celebrate later with a trip somewhere.

 They would usually go away in May to celebrate and grandma would stay with the 'little ones' (at that time!) and then 'ship' them off to Auntie and Uncle Jeff's for a weekend!  It was always a fun time to stay with the kids.

And some more milestones.....it's been two years since Amber graduated from high school in 2018!

And it's been six years since Ian graduated from high school!
These two are just the best grand kids you could ask for...both such a lady and gentleman...

Let's see...what else have I been up to!  Making some 12"x12" quilts for a challenge due in October...can't show what it is I'm doing...have 1 finished, 2 ready to bind and 2 more that I have to start on from the beginning!  But they'll be done way before October!  I hope!

I do have another knitted project to work on!  This is a really cute little shawl by Laura Nelkin.  My lace shawl was Laura's pattern too. 

This particular shawl has beading worked throughout the bottom area and on the edging.  Not sure I'll put in on the edging but I will definitely knit the beads along the bottom part of the shawl. 

I really like how she made the center pattern!  Isn't it cool!  Well, I think so and that's what's important, right!  HA

You can see some additional pictures here on Ravelry.

I ordered some of the same type yarn Laura used and received it in the mail this past weekend. 
It's a blend of beige colors and as my kids know "mum and Bob love their beige clothes"!  HA


I'm waiting for two different size needles as I didn't have any small enough to work this pattern.  They should arrive this week...then I get to pick some beads to knit in.  Laura uses #6 or #8's and of course I have everything else in my bead stash, right!

So basically, other than cooking, some art work, quilting, cleaning, walking dogs and walking with a neighbor friend this is some of my week!  And speaking about walking!  Check out how many steps I got!  That's the most I've achieved and probably will remain the most...but quite an accomplishment for this 73 yr old! 

Quarantine Mother's Day 2020

This is one of my most memorable and favorite Mother's Day yet!!  Saturday afternoon the phone rang to a person saying "Grubhub Delivery"!   My 'not so current/hip ' hubby said "what??"  The person then said "look in your driveway!"  And there was my daughter, son and grandson!!!  Delivering food and gifts for Mother's Day!!!! 

My daughter started off handing me a pan of Mushroom quiche, another container of Cinnamon Baked French Toast, a container of strawberries/blueberries, hash brown potatoes, blueberry scones and a hanging basket of Begonia's!

With our Stay at Home, I haven't even thought about getting any flowers so these will be perfect to start our spring planting....when our frost is over with...but that's another post on the weather!

Guess this Quarantine isn't so bad after all is it!!!

Next my grandson handed me yellow tulips and my son handed me a dish of Lasagna Kris (our DIL) made along with a Chocolate Silk Pie!!!!  Then he handed us the welcome sign which is so cute with the dog print as the 'O' in HOME!!!!

The lasagna Kris made was all ready to put in the oven, which I did early!  Bob and I couldn't wait to eat!!!

It was DELICIOUS!!!!  Oh my gosh, the best lasagna we have had!  I normally would put any leftover in the freezer to eat next week but it was so good, we're eating it on Monday again for dinner!!!  With all the food for breakfast tomorrow, I know we won't want a big dinner!  We'll be nibbling all day!

And the Chocolate Silk pie Kris gave us!!!  No, we didn't eat all of it (yet!).  I gave some to neighbors...it was SO good.....












I was so surprised at the kids being so thoughtful but at the same time I'm not surprised!  I feel so fortunate to have the kids and  their spouses that I do have.  They are ALWAYS thinking of ways to help each other in the family, to make someone's day better and just always giving of themselves.  I have tears of joy and pride as I type this post so forgive me but I am busting with pride - or is it  because of all the food!