I think maybe I've got it....?

After many hours and many failed attempts, lets see if I can do this. I finally got a photo download program installed, updated my stuff to the newer Google Share(or whatever it is) and got the camera to download into the computer. If this works, I can begin showing you what I've been working on! Fingers crossed...here goes!

Another chapter in my journey from there to here...

Meet a couple of my younger grandkids, Hailey is 6 and Zander is 7. They live pretty far away and I don't get to see much of them, but pictures help! At least I can see how tall they are getting. So...the move to my new community, home and life, yikes! That's a lot to change all at one time. But that's how it unfolded. DD#1 found a small town house in a community not to far from where she lives. We had hoped for something in her town, but rentals are few and far between. For some I have too much income, and others, not enough. But a place was found, available May 1st, all one level with attached garage, and forced air furnace heat(no more baseboard electric for me!). She made the deposit, and the lease was sent for me to sign, sight unseen except for pictures. That was late February. May 1st came waaaay too fast, partly because I have sooo much stuff, and partly my health and physical lack of strength. Well, long story short is that the move happened, with DD taking charge and making things happen. By 6 P.M. on May 1st, me, myself and I, plus 70+ years of accumulations and 30 years after moving to the community where I had been, sat down to supper in an almost completely new life. I think it was like falling into the rabbit hole and ending up in Wonderland...very, very strange. I did not know a single person living in this town of 3,000...kinda scary. And what was hard is that so many of the people are younger, very upwardly mobile, deeply into career, children, home, etc and have little time to spare. And very little room or interest in meeting newcomers. Luckily I've had years of practice at being alone, and filling my time with things. Not how I'd like it, but reality none the less. DD stops by often, every few days or so, to help me with things, and just to visit. Oldest DS has made it here for one visit, back in May, haven't see DS#2(daddy to the kids above), and have had one visit from DD#2 and DS#3. Such is life. I'm not able to have a pet here and I've come to accept that. I've grown accustomed to what I have and it being "what it is". I talk on the phone to several friends and have found a church to attend. I begun using the local library and that helps. So that gets me to "HERE", being able to be back on Blogger and post to my blog....I have a NEW Dell computer!!! Only took 12 years, LOL!! I'm adjusting slowly to Windows 8.1, learning to use what it has and search for what I don't understand. Right now I can post pictures that I've been sent via e-mail, or ones I had stored in Picasa Web albums. I finally managed to get the camera charged, took pictures, and to plug the camera into a UBS port. What I don't have is a picture program that will then put them somewhere that I can access. I think I probably have to download or install a picture program, and am checking on that. So, please, be patient with me, I'm slow! All this tech stuff takes awhile.

OK...here's the scoop....

I'm back on my blog, digging through my scraps, and like Bonnie's T-shirt last evening, "holy Scrap"! I have A LOT! The current situation is that: The Dell computer I've used since I bought it new in 2002, is toast. It had lost its ability to handle large or large picture files, and would sit and spin on "download" forever! Eventually I'd just exit whatever I was trying to load. That included almost all games, Facebook, and sadly, my favorite blogs who post LARGE size pictures. So why did it take me most of 2 years to get back here??? Well, on a side note***several life changing events. I moved from my home of 7 years in the Valley to a smaller, less convenient, much cheaper rental in what we call "The Ditch". While it put me closer to my dear friend Jean, it was a HUGE adjustment for me. Reduced pretty much everything due to a change in my pension status. Long story short, I grew used to it, accepted it, I guess. By the end of 2013 I had saved up enough for a new computer so I could "do things" again. Enter I-Pad, exit I-Pad, just didn't do what I needed. And then the real "fun" began, several long months of illness, with all sorts of body functions not functioning correctly. Finally peaked in late June of '13 and was diagnosed as Acute Pancreatitis. Complicated by pneumonia and congested heart failure. Had my first ambulance ride, and a very LONG stay in the hospital. Then home to try and get well enough for gall bladder surgery. That took several more months and another ambulance ride, and more hospital time. Finally in Oct. the gall bladder came out. Recovery was very slow, and I had lost about 50 pounds in weight. The place I was renting was very cold and drafty and very expensive to heat. The kids decided about Thanksgiving time that Mom needed to be closer to someone. That lucky child is DD#1 whom you see in the above picture. She's been my rock as well as my soft place to land when I fall. Thank God for great children! The search began and since moving between December and spring is extremely crazy in WI, I didn't move until the 1st of May. There is more to this story, aka, The Scoop, but that's enough for today!

Little by little...

I am managing to move myself forward. It's been a very long week plus since I posted last, sorry about that. I'll try harder! The picture above is an old picture, but those are the blocks that FINALLY became a useable top! It seemed like such a good idea at the time( does that sound familiar?) to add the rounds of strips from random widths. Well, turns out NOT so much! Sizing them down to the same is one thing, but how about those that really only need about a half inch(or less) added?? Ya! I ended up taking some rounds off completely and adding a larger one so that I could cut them down to match up. Finally, it's together as a top and joining several others that are headed for donation. I've finished up one or two(or more) others, but have already forgotten which ones they were. My main focus now is to get the last of those Orange Crush blocks done and together. And I'm debating whether or not to do Bonnie's new mystery quilt the end of Nov. It would be NICE if I could actually bring one all the way to completion! No snow as yet in my part of WI and I feel for those of you that have already been dealing with it. Hang in there!

Farewell my friend..travelin' on...

There have been many, many changes in my life since I posted last in January. Many of them difficult, some extremely difficult and some that hold promise for some future brightness. The tale of the past year plus is long...way too long, in fact. In March of 2014, my journey with Ebony, the travelin' cat, came to an end. It was one of the hardest decisions and actions of my life, but it was what was best for her. Even 7 months later, I miss turning around to find that little black face right at my elbow. For all her stand-offishness, she liked to be close to where ever I was. I miss her instant purr when I reached out to stroke her back or head. The list goes on, but enough of that. I am in a completely new location now. I have left the valley where I have spent the past 30 years and now live in a larger community. I do not know a single soul living here. The kids decided I needed to be closer to them, and I appreciate that. They don't realize however, that everything that is familiar is now missing from my days. I am starting over to establish some sort of familiar routine to each day. I have been sewing, which is good. Still working on those confounded UFO's of mine. Presently the challenge is Bonnie's 2008 mystery, Orange Crush, LOL. Yes, and it's NOT the oldest one, LOL. I will try to get back in the routine of sharing things with you here, in Blogland.

I need help....please?

And maybe I finally got a picture to load from the iPad!? The help I'm hoping for is a size that chemo quilts are/should be? A close friend of my daughters was just diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer. She's only 46 and I'm still in shock at the news! I have some tops on hangers that might be the size needed. They will start chemo immediately to hopefully shrink the rumors somewhat before they do surgery. Thanks for your help,hugs for all my Blogger friends 'VBS'

The new year begins...

I wasn't quite as ready to hit the ground running as I had thought I was. Very quiet New Year's Eve here, In the afternoon I attended a party at the Nursing Home, to welcome the year with the residents. Live music and sparkling apple juice, it was fun! They have live music quite often, this time an elderly man with a fairly good voice and a guitar. Not much happening in the sewing department and I will change that today. Played catch-up most of yesterday, making a batch of chili for this extreme weather we are having and paying the January bills. I chose a picture to post, today, and although it shows up as if it's posting, when I begin composing, it's not there..any suggestions?

Working...

Work in progress here...me, try to get pictures and postings to publish! I have found blogpress(thanks so much Liz) now if I can understand what I'm suppose to do!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Another pre-used picture...still working on how to get pictures into the iPod and then use them. Like the squirrel, I'm back to snapping some pictures to share! Sewing has taken a rear seat this past week,but I have my mo-Jo back and I'm raring to make some quilts! Ebony is doing well, she's 12 yrs now but had a goog checkup with her vet this past week. Shee seems to have adjusted to our new residence. For any of you guys thinking of getting an iPad, I suggest trying to find the option of time to use it with the ability to return it if it's not as expected. For me, it's a BIG financial piece,especially after the hospital, surgery, etc, of this past summer and fall. I got this one from QVC with a free trial until Jan. 31st of 2014. If I'm satisfied,I'll keep it, if not it goes back with free shipping. I'm keeping on open mind and hope it will do most of what I need.

Winter Solstice plus one....

Wishing each and everyone of you a happy and safe holiday season, with the love of family and friends all about you! Merry Christmas and the Happiest of New Years *VBS*