Summer , you are here, but please don't go too quickly.

 June has been really good to me. Life stuff still has happened, but I have had some much needed rest. Rest can do wonders for you. I never in a million years thought when I retired from teaching in 2014 that I would have been as busy and my schedule seemingly not my own. I know I thought I was going to have leisurely days doing just what I wanted. Quite frankly, I don't think God's plans for me involve that kind of day at least not yet. I KNOW He knows best. 

I have been busy with some cross stitching and reading and puttering around in the yard when it is not raining. We are no longer in a drought. It has rained since my last post almost 2 weeks ago. It has made for very muggy days. I have still enjoyed all of them though!!! Sometimes rainy days force you to slow down.

I have completed the 3 of 4 stitches that I have been working on for the grandchildren. I hope to finish the final one soon. The first 2 I stitched were called We Are Blessed by Teresa Kogut.

The one on the left was stitched on 36 count Dirty Teacup. I had to outline the eagle's head and tail feathers. I think it turned out fine. I went with 36 count Vintage Country Mocha for the one of the right. I have both already laced and ready to put them on something.

The "something" has changed or maybe it has. Jeff said I should put them on a box rather than making an ornament type finish. 

I went searching on Pinterest for ideas. I still love Pinterest. It is the best place to store any idea you see and easily get to it. I saw these ideas...

Now, I have ordered some chenille trim to go around my stitch, but I could easily change that to cording that I make using the floss, but I think I can make it neater with the chenille trim. Anywho, I ordered some paper mache boxes from Amazon after looking at the 2 craft stores locally. It seems everyone is thinking like me on this idea. They are 7 inches in diameter and the stitches are 6 inches. I have played with the painting of the boxes this morning.

I am not the craftiest person, so when I return with the finished products there is no telling what I might do. I have stitched the third one and started the fourth one which is 250th Celebration by Teresa Kogut. They are the same size just a little different design, but they have the same floss colors. I am using the darker linen for these.

Stay tuned to see if I turn crafty or if I just go with what I know and do an ornament type finish. 

My plan for giving them to the kids who are really too young to care...? I am going to let them choose from the 4 in order of their age. Tucker gets first choice. I will not let the other kids see what someone else chose. I plan to do their choosing separately so they choose what they like. I don't really know if I will have them in their hands before July 4th because I don't rush myself anymore. I will just make a mess. I do have the boxes and will probably paint them today and tomorrow. The lacing is quick and easy. Trimming them is a little more time consuming. The oldest 2 are going to visit their other grandparents for the 4th so it may be after the 4th. 

Then it is back to the Pledge of Allegiance stitching. I have NOT grown tired of it yet.

*****

Jeff and I along with Katie took the boys on Friday the 19th before the daily rains to Goofy Golf. Goofy Golf is a local landmark here for over 60 years. A young family has bought it and restored it and once again families are taking their children and in our case grandchildren to play.

All 3 boys are quite athletic and their dads have taught them to play golf so they actually did really good and stayed together. I think the groundskeeper was surprised at such young ones doing as well as they did.

Valerie got a plastic golf club and made her own fun. She is the most self directed child I have seen. 

We had the place to ourselves that morning.

The dinosaur has been a big part of the park for all those years. Jeff always reminds us he got a spanking from his dad for trying to climb it when he was a young boy. Pictures are always taken by it ...I am sure there is one back in the archives of this blog.

Katie has pneumonia and has not felt well. She really didn't feel well that day. I kept Miles and Valerie yesterday for her to go to the doctor again and then rest.

***** 

I have been a little sad and really absorbing the loss of a friend and mentor. She was truly one of the most Godly women I have ever known. I have learned so much from her over the years. She would have turned 80 in September this year. She had some heart issues over the last couple of years and they had really weakened her. She fell during the night last week and had a brain bleed. She never recovered. 

You know how you sometimes just feel like someone is invincible. That was Nancy.

Here she is from the blog back in 2016 when she was a little away from 70 years of age. We were giving a shower to my bestie's youngest daughter. 

She was physically beautiful too. I have finally written in my journal some of the lessons she has taught me and how much I will miss her. It is really hard to fathom her earthly absence. I could go and on. Hug and check on often the people you love!!!!!!!!

If I can only be a fraction of her loveliness and love of Jesus I will be happy.

I will share some of the books read in a post soon.

Until next time. Gus and I are trying not to be too lazy.

Sandy