This is a close up view, I sprayed a finish on all the nuts that I used, so in years to come, they will still be in tack.
I have my shopping done, still no Christmas Spirit! Christmas will be at my brothers house this year. They are 25 of us when we all get together! Each one of us crazier then the next one!
Short post this week.....Everyone have a Very Merry Christmas!
Field of Dreams...With our Families
We talked for a while, talked about the crazies that we did on and before Christmas, before we had our children, how when I first met Joe, how he was into tools way back then, that he wanted a screw driver set, not just any kind of screw drivers, but a set for left handed people, well being in High School and not knowing about tools, I went to Sears, looked through all the tools, couldn't find a " Left Handed Screw Driver Set" so I ask for help! I had the whole department laughing, the person went on the inform me that all screw drivers are the same! I was mad as hell, got home and called him, told him what the person said, and all I heard on the other end of the phone, was a jolly laugh! I knew at that point if I was going to be going out with Joe, I had to stay one step ahead of him! That weekend when we met with friends they all wanted to know about the Left Handed Screw Driver Set! I had told my kids about that story, one that I did forget about, David couldn't believe that I asked for that screw driver set, but he said knowing how his dad was, he might have done the same thing!
I had friends come and ask me when we were first married, that life must have been very funny with Joe! I got in my funnies with him also, but life was good! I can now go back and have a few laughs, I still miss him a bunch! I know he is still there with me, just can't see him or feel his touch.
We talked about Christmas this year, how I feel, and how I didn't want Christmas this year, how he said, Joe will be there with me, the girls, the kids, each one of us in our hearts. Our memories of Christmas, will always be there, each in a special way. I can treasure my best memories of Joe. It will be hard, and tearful, I do think I can make. It will be another first, little steps at a time.
I did get page one done of my Personal Sampler, and half of page 2, just 10 more to go. I am trying for a page a month, but we will see how that goes. I have now turned this into a Memorial Sampler for Joe, his date of death has been added, also the birth date of Josephina, he was looking forward to his new Grand daughter.
The sampler with the new name and dates added.
This is a close up, of some of the detail .
I did get the last of Joe's patches sewn on the Quilt, that my girlfriend had put together for me, I did sew the binding by hand around the Quilt. Joe was a big Bears Fan!
The backside of the Quilt.
Detail of the Quilting, and the last patch added! His picture.
My nephew, who is in 8th grade, this year, plays football, asked if he could request Joe's number 77, when he played football this year! I was thrilled! So for Christmas I made him a wall hanging of the front side of Joe's Jersey, I used the back for the Quilt, I am thankful that Joe was a saver! I never would have thought he saved his Jersey when he played Semi-Pro Football back in the 70's. Picture is of Joe when he played Semi-Pro Football.
When I got on the train from St.Louis to Jefferson City, what a change! It was beautiful! The train traveled along the Missouri River!
While I was there we worked on Joe's T-shirt Quilt, I was going to help Dorothy sew them, but the tears where filling up in my eyes and I couldn't see what I was trying to sew. I did sew all the blinding around and when I got home sewed the extra patches. I wanted to take it home with me but with my clothes, it just couldn't fit in the suite case, so...I sent my clothes home UPS! The Quilt at that point did fit!
We had a beautiful sunrise while I was there, one of the best I had seen in a long time!
We took a ride to Branson, walked around there for the day and then went to Lambert's Cafe.."Home of the Throwed Rolls"! I did catch one! The food was very good and go hungry!
Will post more on the vacation later. This is Dorothy and I in Branson.
If Isabella's birthday party on Sunday,
was an advanced warning of how the holidays are going to be....I should have stayed in my hole in Missouri,(visiting friends) I'm not handling this good right now, and then on top of it my dad doesn't want to go anywhere for Thanksgiving, he wants me to cook, my sister doesn't even want to cook, she wants to come here for dinner...the why I see it I will throw turkey sandwiches at everyone of them they don't like it too bad, maybe I'll stay drunk from now till the end of New year's to deaden the pain! This hit me yesterday afternoon while I was at David's like a lead balloon! God, I hate the Holidays, I wish I was dead. I thought this was going to get better!
I should be at a point of good Grief right now,(maybe I was, then the word "holiday" came) accepting the fact that Joe has died, the sorrow and pain, I should be able to get me through the days, the months, and, eventually, through the years. I even try to write almost everyday, thought, I might be able to get unstuck in grief. I write all the positive experiences I can remember with Joe. Hoping one memory will lead to another, now I am stuck with these NASTY HOLIDAYS! It's like I'm frozen in place, I feel like I am trapped in a prison of my own making. Yeah, I know I just found my answer.( My own Making) I still want to wake up when they are over! I am now back to the point that I am pissed at him for dying, for leaving me alone for the rest of my life. I thought that Quilt I made with my friend in Missouri would help...It did, till Sunday, I put it back in the bag, don't think I can put it on my bed yet. I have been a crying fool since Sunday.
This is the side view, I used a artist oil canvas, to frame this, put fabric on the back and sides, and ribbon around it!
I am leaving for The Lake of the Ozarks, Camdenton, MO on Sunday, I have a lot to get done, I need to pack, get some stitching together, a couple of books, enough to keep me busy on the 7 hour train ride! Make sure the house is clean for my dad, that him, Andrea and Miranda has enough to eat, while I'm gone. It's going to be another 2 week vacation! Joe and I went to the Ozarks twice a year to visit our friends, now I am going by myself, we have known these friends for 40 years, a very dear friendship!
This is the side view. This is from Vee.
I worked outside on Saturday, putting away the chairs and covering the tables, taking out the plants, now I know why Joe and I both did it, a lot of work for one person to do.
My Girls
Isabella had to show me her pets that she had,I knew they had Rose (the Dog) but she showed me a couple of more. She told me that there are dragon flies, and pretty birds, didn't see any birds, but I did find the Dragon Flies.
I found the frogs, you need to look close,( click on the picture to make it bigger), there are 2 of them, in the pond.
These geese were in his back yard, until Isabella went out side to chase them away!
She loves chasing them back into the Lake!
Then we played, it was a beautiful day.
It was very peaceful even in the evening!
Then I got the UFO done from EMS Cross Stitch it was a freebie. Still need to frame this one as it is a gift to a dear friend who I will be seeing the end of October.
I made this for a friends 50th Wedding Anniversary from: http://linenflowers.com
I have framed my Dolly Mama's for Andrea!
We went out on Matt's boat very refreshing, for that day it was very hot and the water blowing in your face felt good.
We went to the Mesquite Rodeo, I love the rodeo, me in a cowboy hat!
This was one of the many Bull riders that we saw, they are all so young!
I did manage to find a cowboy for Andrea!
Bronco Rider
Bull Rider
Fort Worth Stockyards, One of my favorite places to visit when I go to Texas!
The Cattle Drive, twice a day, they have a cattle drive down the streets of Fort Worth.
John Wayne and me?
The Stockyard Inn....Home of Buffalo Butt Beer
Yes, a long time ago the tail on the buffalo was the tapper! I didn't like the beer. I love Shinners.
Texas Sculpture Garden-Frisco
Beautiful place
Japanese Gardens, a very peaceful place, I could have spent the whole day there.
Zen Garden, Some how I would have managed to leave footprints!
Waterfall
Mary K. Umstead Teahouse
Blue Heron waiting for his dinner.
Mikoshi
Moon Bridge
Randy White's for BBQ
I had a wonderful 2 weeks! Spent time in the pool, when it was too hot to go anywhere, I did manage some cross stitching, and to relaxed!
