Sunday, August 23, 2026

Picking Apples and Baking

This morning, we did the usual of cleaning up. Then we went outside and picked a bucket of apples. We have 8 boxes of apples out there that were on the ground. So, we didn't start picking them fast enough. 

Came in and made apple sauce with the first set of apples. Patrick didn't want to do much, which was disappointing since I was wanting to do the whole bucket. I did take 3 apples and make a German Apple Cake for tomorrow. It's in the refrigerator. 

I also got to work on the excel paperwork that Debbie gave me yesterday. I must have entered 20 veterans we didn't have on the list. I also checked our national page, and they had some of them, but they were not assigned to us. I sent a long list of veterans that need to be assigned to us. It takes work, but I was able to get a good amount. I will work on it the next couple days and see if I can get this fixed. I also worked on the membership to get it out in the mail this week. I need to go to the museum to have Sam pay our dues and mail it out. I also worked on the reimbursement for Nancy. So, I had a lot of work I was working on. I feel like I'm back at work. Spending more time at the computer than doing my own thing. Debbie was saying we are "worker bee's" and volunteering. They better stop making so many changes or the volunteers will stop volunteering. 

I watched the Seahawk game. They started out good and then gave the game away. Not fun to watch. Patrick watched his Funny Videos and I came in here. I'm tired of that show. I pretty much played on my tablet for the rest of the evening after supper till his show came on. 

I wish I was, but I wasn't Happy Stitching/Happy Quilting!



Saturday, August 22, 2026

Presentation Day & Cross-Stitching

This morning, we had our presentation. Actually, it was at 1 pm but I had to get there early to get stuff done. We ended up with a couple veterans an hour early. Patrick was there even earlier than that. So, it all worked out. I just had to play catch up. 

We honored 7 veterans. Two where Father and Son. Those 2 are on the right. Kreft family. Not in order but they were: Andrew Short, Bryan Barbee, Ray Kreft, Joshua Kreft, James Nelson, Brain Cox, and Aaron Allen. 

We will try to get the other 2 later. It was a little later than usual, but we got it moving. 

Came home and was hungry. Patrick was going to do a pork roast but found out as I was coming in the house, that he had a pad on the bottom of the roast when he was brazing it. I guess Alexa told him it wasn't any good because of the chemicals in the pads. So, we had to start over with supper plans. 

I decided I wasn't going to do all my QOV stuff that I do when I get home, so I worked on my beads for my cross stitch instead. 


I added the beads to the shoulders and worked up to the head. I'm just above the nose. Then I can get the headdress done and call it done. I'm so close I can taste it. Tomorrow I will be fighting with myself on whether I need to do my QOV stuff or do my bead work. I hope I can do both. Time will tell. 

It felt good to be Happy Stitching/Happy Quilting!

Friday, August 21, 2026

Casino Day

 This morning, we planned to go to the casino. I got a few things done before heading out. 

We dropped off 2 kits and picked up 2 tops from Martha on the way. Then we played for a good 4 hours. We had fun. Won and lost, but we didn't lose a lot. We are still playing off the money we got 4 months ago. They aren't giving out big wins anymore and they aren't giving out as much money as they did before. Next month I will only get about $45 when I was getting $75. So, the payouts and rewards are crap. On the way home we stopped at IGA and picked up a few things. I like that store. We were saying it's easier to stop in there than it is to come home and go to Safeway. Please I think their prices are even a little better. 

When we got home, I fixed supper. Then I had to get a few things done. I went downstairs to work on the backing and battings for the 3 quilt tops that are ready. I have 2 tops I need to do the borders on. 

I worked on getting the quilts ready for the museum. I have 7 quilts going to the museum tomorrow. I couldn't find my blue bag I use to carry the quilts in, so I have some looking to do to find it. Frustrating because it carries about 7 to 8 quilts without too much trouble. Now I have them in bags and have 3 bags to take. More a hassle. 

It's nice to get quilts back. 


At least some panels are starting to come in. I like these because they are easier to do. 


This is the blue and red star fabric. It looks better in real life. 

Patrick picked the colors for this one and the one above. He's been enjoying doing the kits. 

I worked on the list of veterans we have honored with quilts I figured we have done 474 so far since we started in 2018. Not bad. We have honored 54 this year. Good to know. 

I bought this case because I needed something that was easy to have around me for my beads that go on the cross stitching. 

It has 2 compartments. This is the top part and it's for the beads. Makes it easier to keep track of and not like the handmade one that is easily dropped and spills all the beads. This one is more solid. 


The bottom compartment is deeper and can hold scissors or whatever you need to take with you. This has a bead helper in it. I haven't used one, but it can come in handy. It's wood, so it's worth it to me. Not very big, but just right for working on my cross-stitch beading. I have lost a few beads because of the handmade one that moves and spills easily. I really like this. It will come in handy as I stitch. 

I had to fix a binding that got ripped, so I guess that counts as Happy Stitching/Happy Quilting!


Thursday, August 20, 2026

Another Not Crafty Day

 This morning, I took my walk before I did anything. It was already 65 degrees outside. I got the full 7 laps in today. 

Then came in and worked on my QOV stuff. I needed to get my excel finished and also work on who's next on the list to get a quilt. Patrick came in from golfing. He quit early and went to take a nap. That seemed to help him out. While he was doing that, I was working on QOV and making phone calls. 

He had a meeting to go to after supper and then we both had another meeting to go to. So, I made phone calls to make sure the veterans who are getting a quilt will show up. One said he couldn't make it. So, I rescheduled him. I hope he shows up to that one. This is the second time he couldn't make it. 

Patrick got home and we went to the informational meeting regarding the annexation to the City. We are now part of Chehalis. It was interesting. Now all those in this area have to register their dogs. Since we don't have a dog, we don't have to worry about it. 

Came home and cut 3 kits for tomorrow. I'm dropping off some kits with Martha tomorrow along with the fabric she needs to finish the one quilt. 

Today wasn't anywhere close to Happy Stitching/Happy Quilting! 



Wednesday, August 19, 2026

You Know You're Getting Old When....

 You know you're getting old when you have 4 doctor appointments in a week OR 6 or more in a month! OMG! I remember waiting a whole year to see the doctor! NOT NOW! 

I had my cardiologist appointment today. I'm getting ANOTHER pill to help me out. Then I have blood work to do in 2 weeks after starting it. OH, yea, then I have another echocardiograph again in 3 months. OH! BUT MY HEALTH IS GOOD. Really?! Or is it old age talking that at my AGE, I'm healthy? 

We came back and picked up dinner at Safeway. Then I got to work on my QOV excel information that needs to get done. I'm close, then I have to reshuffle all the information, so it works for me.  

You know you're getting old when a suggestion is made and the first thing that comes to mind - Really? But that's a lot of work. OR "well," I'm relaxed right now, why don't we wait till tomorrow or this weekend? 

TRAVEL? Let me think about that, it's a lot of work getting it organized, will take time to get the information, and I'm not really in the mood right now. REALLY? When I was younger, I would jump at the chance to go travel. I still want to travel, but Patrick is the one with, "too much trouble." 

Getting old when you look at your partner and ask, "What do you want for supper?" "No clue." By the time you decide it's supper time and you don't have anything to make it with. Or you haven't defrosted it. So, you go for cereal or noodles. What the heck is wrong with us? I'd go out to eat but Patrick won't. Limiting between two people getting older. 

So, I'm getting old because my doctor was sweet and said, "At your age....." Thank you very much, you just called me old. 

Okay, I didn't do any crafts today because I'm old and didn't feel like it. lol I guess I could get nasty and call people names like the old ladies I know. They think because they are 80+ years old, they can say whatever they want. Disagree, we still should be polite. lol 

So, I didn't do crafts - too old to get in the mood. Which means today was not Happy Stitching/Happy Quilting!



Tuesday, August 18, 2026

Back To Trips To Olympia

 This morning, I really wasn't feeling all that great. So, I really didn't do anything but play on the tablet for a bit. 

Then we left around 12:30 pm to drop off 2 quilts with Colleen and then head off to Olympia for my eye appointment. I ended up getting 2 pairs of glasses, one for every day and one for when I work on my projects. I hope they work out. Then we went up to Patrick's oncology appointment. He is working on getting his stomach back in shape. The oncologist gave him something for his stomach and a referral for a Gastrologist. Interesting how it's not the same Gastrology building I go to. Should be interesting. 

Came back and stopped at DQ for supper. We had a good dinner - but Patrick only had a banana split for supper. That would have worked for me, but I actually wanted something to eat since the last couple weeks hasn't been a meal. 

Got home and I decided to work on my cross stitch. I'm so close to finishing it, I can taste it. Once it gets done, then I can relax and go back to the cat beading. 

I have sense moved the bar. I was working on the lazy daisy stitches in green. Now it's beading that will fill in the flower area on both side. The top of the head is another area that is fully beaded. I put the outline stitches where they needed to be. I'm hoping I got them all but won't know till I get there. 

At least the face is looking better. I had some trouble with the hand. It will just have to do. I'm working on the bead on the left side with the flowers. Then I will go around the neckline and back to the other side. Make it easy as I go. 

So, my day was busy, but at least I found some time to get to the point of Happy Stitching/Happy Quilting!

Monday, August 17, 2026

Back To Moms Mondays

This morning, I needed to get the backing and batting done for Colleen. Then I got another quilt to take to the church. I had to pick one up, and asked if she could take another. 

First, went to the church, got a quilt, dropped one off. Second, went to PUD to drop off a check, then to McD's for breakfast. Once that was done, I went to Dutch Brothers for tea. Got one for mom as well. 

Arrived, dropping off the quilt at moms. Gerilyn and Bonnie were there. I didn't feel like working on anything, so just chatted. After, helped mom with her Kindle. Then to Colleen's.  Dropped off the backing and batting for her. Once that was done, I had to go back to moms because I forgot to give her the apples and zecchini that Patrick had for her. Finally came home. 

I decided to work on my cross stitching. 

I was able to get the beads done around the arms. Then I started with the backstitching. 


I am having to resize the photos - ugh. 

I am getting closer to the face and shoulders. It's coming along pretty good. A couple more days and I may have it done yet! It's fun but a lot of work. 

It's been a long day, but I did enjoy working on this. It counts as Happy Stitching/Happy Quilting!

Sunday, August 16, 2026

Getting Back On Track

Today was one of those days. I needed to clean house and I needed to sleep. Instead, I cleaned house and got everything done. 

Then I sat and played on the tablet for a while. I was enjoying my "hunting" around the kingdom to see where I could get resources. 

After supper I decided I needed to get back and finish another one of my cross stitches. I worked on it for a good 3 hours. 



Beads are not easy to add. They take time and some take more space than others. So, I end up adding less beads to get them to fit. I worked on the left side of the elbow. Then went to the right side. It really is tiresome, but well worth it. 


I will be getting closer to the top of the head before long. So far, things are working out. 

Tomorrow is meeting at moms. Not sure I will work on anything, but we will see. At least for today I was Happy Stitching/Happy Quilting!


Saturday, August 15, 2026

I Know - 2 Weeks Later -

 Hi all. I'm sorry for not posting. When Covid hits as bad as it did in our house, we didn't feel like doing anything, BUT sleep. And that is pretty much what we did. 

Yesterday I tested negative for Covid. Same for Patrick. We are still beat, but the energy is coming back. Not very fast, but it's coming back. 

Today we went to get our blood work done. Then we stopped at the casino and found we couldn't stay longer than 2 hours. We were both beat and Patrick came home to sleep. I ended up on the computer. I wanted to work on some family history. It's funny, but since dad passed, I don't seem to be as into it as I was when he was around. So, I worked on Patrick's family instead. Added another 200 names.

I still have the cough, which is no fun! I'm done with it. So, I will take my Nyquil tonight and call it good. I'm still not hungry and have to force myself to eat. UGH

So, I'm still not there, but getting there. Maybe tomorrow I can be Happy Stitching/Happy Quilting!



Tuesday, August 11, 2026

So Much For Getting Caught UP!

 For the last 3 days I have been in bed sleeping. I caught a cold that turned nasty. Affecting my ears. I believe it's sinus' but who knows. My eye itch as well. 

Today is the first day I started feeling better. While I was typing this, I decided to test for covid - yet again - and this time it was positive. So, poor Debbie is doing what I should be doing at the fair. Frustrating. 

As soon as things get back to normal - I WILL be posting more. Sorry it's not daily for a bit, but I do promise I will get back to posting daily. I need to get move veterans for the next presentation as well. So, I may end up taking an hour of the day to just get a few things done on the computer. This really suck. Hopefully the worst is over and I'm going back up to normal. I had a temperature last night about 3 times, so I believe it broke my "whatever" so I can start healing. My ears are hopefully getting better. Time will tell. 

I'm so lazy that I only dress in PJ's because they are more comfortable than dressing.  What a pain. 

Please forgive me on the delay, I will be posting again when I feel well enough to do so. 

And we all know there is no way I can be Happy Stitching/Happy Quilting!



Friday, August 7, 2026

Day 5 - Moorea (& Today)

 Since we were a little sore from the day before, we spent most of the day at the resort. We played in the pool; I worked on my beading and just relaxed. 

I did shop and get a black pearl necklace and earrings. They are really pretty. I didn't go for the most expensive and I didn't buy the cheapest. I also got a 10% discount. Katt and I were talking about how that was the best place to buy them, and not off the side of the road. 


We ate at the bar. I had something close to fried rice for lunch. It had shrimp. The trouble with that was two of them still had the eyes and tail. I wasn't too thrilled to see the eyes. It seemed to have better food. It was funny though. We always wound up sitting at the same table. Since it was our last day there, we wanted to swim more but the clouds rolled in, and it was more humidity than the warm sun. We just relaxed and chatted.  

For dinner, we did ask to be in another area. The wind was blowing, and it got interesting for a bit. 


For dinner, I order the rice with chicken, and it turned out really, really good. Had a coconut cream to it. 


They had "happy hour" and I got a non-acholic drink. Katt and Patrick got an acholic drink. It was really good! Mine had coconut and strawberries. I don't care for strawberries, but this was really good. Almost like a smoothy. 


Today - What a Day! I was playing my games. Then I went down to iron my pants. Once I was done with that, I called the cardiologist to get an appointment. Because I have concerns and some "symptoms" they wanted to get me in soon. It took me an hour to get the appointment. Between waiting in line and talking to the nurse, they finally got me an appointment. By that time it was time to go to Olympia for my Oncology appointment. We chatted for a bit and talked about our trips - she went to Tiwon (sp). She said she got covid one the flight back. I told Patrick he needed to get tested when we got home. He did, and HAS COVID! I tested and was negative. That sucks. So, he let Scott and Katt know. I had to let Kathleen know at the fair and mom since I went to see her. Moms freaking out. I told her not to worry till she gets symptoms. It's a waiting game for me. If I have it, then I need to let everyone else know I have it. What a pain! Told Patrick I didn't want to sleep with him so I would be less likely to get it. He thinks I've already got the symptoms, so we will see. UGH


This is the bracelet I was working on on the trip. I need to add more beads before I can braid it more. I need another inch or two. 


This is the piece that beat my embroidery work. It's really pretty, but it needed to be in another category. Susy Carpenter does a beautiful job. She loves to applique. There isn't a lot of embroidery, but it works. Applique is stitching. And it's framed. She got the grand prize as well. 

I put some of my beads on the table to get started back on Sophie's piece. I will try and get a few stitches in on that tomorrow. Now that I don't have much to do. At least you know, while I was away, I was Happy Stitching/Happy Quilting!

 

Picking Apples and Baking

This morning, we did the usual of cleaning up. Then we went outside and picked a bucket of apples. We have 8 boxes of apples out there that ...