Kudzu Korner

Well I just got notification that my side of the family is having a big BBQ at my brother's house on the evening of the Fourth.  I am thrilled since hubby's family is all busy and doing their own thing.  His mother and father will be at their church's 3 day meeting, his oldest sister is in Washington and unable to come home but will be home in a few weeks for Grandma's 90th bday, and his youngest sister and her hubby and daughter are in California at Disney!

Of course I asked what I could bring and my SIL told me maybe a salad or a dessert.  So I plan on taking both. LOL  Not sure what kind of salad to take, and I have a simple dessert recipe I will make (it is red white and blue).  Hamburgers and hotdogs on the grill sound so good right now.  And I know several of the other dishes will be potato salad and baked beans, etc.  One gal there doesn't cook, so she usually brings the pop, or ice and sometimes a large tub of icecream depending on what we are all having. 

We aren't shooting off any fireworks there though.  One of the twins is scared of fireworks, 2 of the other kids are with their dad for the weekend and won't be there either.  So it is the one if the twin who likes fireworks, and Noah, who is only 3 but loved them last year, so I unless he decides to change his mind, LOL, I think he will be ok with them again this year.  After the BBQ, several of us will drive back to town and watch the citywide fireworks display at the lake.  We won't buy much this year....maybe some snappers, some smoke bombs, and some other smaller items for Noah.   I just can't see spending alot of money on big bangs this year when we have so many things we could spend the money instead.

Matthew got called today for a small electrical job.  The guy wants an electrical hookup for a camper put in behid his barn by this weekend.  So Matthew is running a little late tonight getting that done.  He was hoping it was a 10 minute job, but knows things happen and it might take longer.  Oh well, we need the money to take care of part 2 of fixing my car's air conditioning.  (Part one was putting in a new fan, which he did last night.  Part 2 is???  LOL  I have no idea.  I know the fan works now but no cold air.  Maybe it needs freon?? Who knows.  That is hubby's job)

I have discussed having a yard/garage sale and then canceled it thinking I would just have an auction (a HS friend has an auction business and is going to hold a consignment auction), but now I am thinking I should just open up a Ebay shop, and possibly put some stuff on Etsy as well.I think in the long run I will end up getting more money for the items.  I will just advertise that I go to the post office once or twice a week, etc. so I don't have to go every single day.  That would be crazy. On days I have many packages, I will ask a girlfriend to watch Noah, or drop him off for an hour at grandma's shop.

Speaking of grandma's shop.....she has offered me one of her large display windows to put items in if wanted.  I told her I would speak to Matthew, pray about it and get back to her.  I know I won't make alot of money from it, because her shop is kind of out of the way, and not many people walk around there either.  However, the customers that come into her shop for Speech (She is a Speech Pathologist) might see something and buy it, or order one in a different color, tell their friends, etc.  I was thinking of putting some vintage items in the window, and making up some aprons and shaggy blankets to display and sell there.  I am getting excited about the opportunity to make some money to help with household items and Christmas, etc.  When I get the shops up and running, I will post the addresses here for all of you!!!

Matthew (who is the king of putting things off, starting projects and then not finishing them, etc.) has turned a new leaf.  I am not sure what happened, but I am not about to ask and screw this up.  LOL  Projects like Noah's bedroom upstairs that have sat for over 3 years without being finished are now being worked on!  He comes home from work and instead of colasping in his chair with the laptop, he asks if there is anything I need him to do!  Mostly it is small stuff like, take out the trash, take this box upstairs, etc.  But recently he has fixed part of the air conditioning on the car, fixed the leaky roof, replaces a filter on the furnace/air conditioner, and my favorite, bought and hung a ceiling fan in Noah's new bedroom!!!  The later was all his idea and he was so pleased to be able to buy the fan with his extra money coming in from electrical jobs.  :)  Makes me smile to see this part of Matthew blossoming. 

Noah has been talking up a storm!!!  I can't believe in the last couple of months since his birthday screening in April, how much he has developed.  He is definately not the same little boy.  He is doing better every day.  Last night I told Matthew that he had been talking up a storm all day long and learning new words every day.  Later on Matthew said, how do you turn HIM off??  LOL  We both had a great laugh over that one.  The little boy that wouldn't talk earlier except for mom, dad, cookie, candy, etc. little words, is now talking 4 word sentences, answering questions with words instead of sign language, and asking for items instead of pointing and grunting.  God is so good to us.  I love this little guy.  And yes, there are times you want to turn him off still.  LOL  But most of the time, I love hearing him talk (now not only in English but a little Spanish and Chinese due to a few tv shows he watches)

Well, that's all for now.  I should go. 

I have a 7 book lot for sale:

The Creative Recipe Organizer

Meals in Minutes

Main Dishes

Lunches and Snacks

Desserts

Soups and Muffins

Breakfasts: Blender Batter Baking...

All of these are the Deluxe Covered... except for Meals in Minutes.  All like-new condition.

55.00ppd.  media shipping with insurance.

We have another beautiful morning here in Kansas, nice and cool, I even have the windows open. It is so nice to have a reprive from the high temps we had been having.

I worked on the quilt that the dog had chewed holes in yesterday and got it all done. This is the second quilt I have repaired 'dog holes' in it in the past two months! Something about these quilts that the dogs love to chew on. I had an antique quilt at the foot of my bed many years ago that my dog chewed most of the end of it off!

These top pictures are of the damage!

Here it is all fixed. Now the quilter just needs to fix the quilting and it will be ready to give back to my clients little grandson.

I have been doing the Minnisota Blog Hop this week, what fun! Have learned some neat things and gotten some nice free patterns. There are only 3 days left, but you should check it out. Go to www.gudrun.typepad.com to get a list of all of the bloggers that are in the hop.

Next project is an apron for my Etsy shop. Can't wait to get started on it --it is so cute. The pattern has an adult and a childs size, not sure I am going to do the childs yet, will have to see how it works up.

Got up this morning and made some Berry Buckle for desert for my small quilt group tonight. The house smells wonderful!!

I have some wool in some beet juice that I made a couple of days ago, hopefully I will have some lovely pink wool for my quilt group tonight. I love working with wool, it is so forgiving. I need to get out a project that I started quite sometime ago and get it finished someday. So much to do, so little time!

Blessings to All,

Jan

I fiddle faddled with my template last night until too late, then I couldn't sleep - I'd better keep with my rule to turn off the computer by 9:00 p.m.! Today soon I'll be leaving to work at the thrift store. I didn't have time for my Bible study because I watered outside then came in and got on the computer - I need to keep with my rule not to turn on the computer until noon. It can certainly overpower everything else!

A high school classmate is trying to get all 23 (or less - some passed away) of our class of '69 to share their lives. One guy would like to have a 50th reunion - in 10 years that just may happen if we start now.

Happy 16th Birthday

My Precious Little Angel

Chelsea Melissa

June 24, 1993 - June 26, 1993

I will hold you, again, in Heaven my beautiful baby girl.

I Love You!

*********************************************

I thought of you with love today

but that is nothing new

I thought about you yesterday

and days before that, too

I think of you in silence

I often speak your name

All I have are memories,

your picture in a frame

Your memory is my keepsake

with which I'll never part

God has you in His keep,

I have you in my heart

It broke my heart to lose you

but you didn't go alone

For a part of me went with you

the day God took you home.

(Author Unknown)