Easter Blessings

Easter is here........He is Risen!!! May everyone have a truly blessed holiday. (I wonder if anyone is still out there.) My computer started acting up in February and crashed at the beginning of March. Needless to say, one does become busy getting all their good "stuff" back and getting rid of what is bad. Fortunately I had most of it backed up, but my pictures and music took some coaxing to get back in their nice little files again. 'Nough said about that!!

Here in Michigan, the leaves are just beginning to come out of their tight little buds, always an exciting time of year for me. It is still cool enough to be comfy and warm enough to enjoy the outdoors. As I cleaned out the front flower bed a couple of days ago, I noticed how "creaky" my body had become over the winter. Must get moving again. That old adage, "Use it before you lose it!", sure applies to the human body.

This will be a short one today.........I picture you all coloring eggs or eating chocolate bunny ears. I will be running to the store, taking my friend and neighbor, Janet! Last minute veggie for tomorrow's dinner. (Having turkey legs!!! Can you imagine????)

It's been awhile but the book is still open to the next page in Pat's book:

"Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal."

Clean on TOP and UNDER the refrigerator. Oh, how dirty they can get. How about wiping the inside with baking soda and water?

(I did this in early March, except for UNDER, remember.......this book has been here on my desk for two months....I had to.)

Until the next time..........

Mostly Pondering.............

The past week I have been "blog hopping", reading, talking on the phone, emailing, watching the Olympics, and trying to figure (pondering) out where I want to set up my sewing area so I don't have to put it away all the time. I know it will come to me in a flash when I least expect it.

Everyone seems to be creating or getting ready to create. I stopped into the new quilt shop in town yesterday and there were lots of gals in there talking about their next projects. I was in there to check out some ceramic buttons. I had met a gal at PT a couple of weeks ago, and she teaches classes on jackets at the shop and she and a friend make these buttons (in their spare time) for wearable art. I am looking for a favor button for the Michigan Button Society show to be held in October, 2010. Our club is hosting and we need to find a "unique" favor button. We have two other options......Linda K. has some awesome medium and large carved pearls, and one other possibility is on hold due to travels. Will let you know how this works out. I won't be able to show you until after the show because it is supposed to be a surprise.

Everyone else in my Button World is busy thinking about our Spring Show which is in Okemos, MI, April 30th and May 1st. If you need further info email me, please, see lower right of this blog on how to reach me. Our theme for this show is "Children's Stories", the little mouse above is from Beatrix Potter. My theme tray will be about Peter Rabbit, right now it is about fourth in line in my list of projects.

Saturday is our monthly button meeting for the Mayflower Button Club, and our speaker will be Cindy Best, the topic will be Bakelite Buttons! Should be a good one!

Be sure to hop over to the blogs I follow. Linda K. just found some very interesting books to create. Donna at Brynwood Needleworks has recently completed a very awesome scarf. If you are wandering around in blogs like I have been, you can't really help but be inspired AND impressed.

Pat's Book.............
"All people smile in the same language."

Take some pictures today - take a lot of them.

Memories revisited............

Yesterday fairly flew by! In the evening, Janet (my neighbor) and I went to the White Lake Library to hear a fellow talk about the Vernor's Company, a beverage native to Detroit. He is an avid collector of Vernor's memorabilia and has written a book about it. He had many slides of downtown Detroit from the early 30's and 40's. What a hoot! Since Detroit was my hometown, I remember my Mom taking me downtown on the trolley and yes, I have visited the Vernor's plant. Many others in the audience had great memories also. They topped off the evening with a Vernor's Float! Yum!!!! I made many of them when I was a "soda jerk" at Wilson's Dairy Bar.

Also at the White Lake Library, were many "Quilt" pictures done by two local artists. In a few weeks they will be there demonstrating how they create their art. The next event I will probably attend is the "Community Read" which is actually county wide. They are giving us copies of "To Kill A Mockingbird" and in March they will have discussion at several libraries. Part of the fun at this library will be a catered buffet of "southern food" and a jazz ensemble playing. Can't miss this one!!!

You might check your local library on line and see what they have to offer. It is pretty amazing what they come up with and usually there is not a charge.

We are expecting a total of 6 to 10 inches of snow accumulating this afternoon and over night. I have a wonderful pile of ironing that is deeper than that, that I have let accumulate. Yes, I still iron, but then it is because I enjoy it. In my lifetime I have actually earned money by ironing. (I am still available, but you have to give me gas money or air fare in addition to my hourly rate.)

Pat's book-----
"Laugh a little, sing a little
As you go your way!
Work a little, play a little
Do this every day!"

Gather all your plants on the kitchen table. Decide whether they need:
1. a new pot
2. fertilizer
3. water
4. leaves dusted or showered
5. to be tossed out!

My Button World.............

How exciting!! I just checked in on the Michigan Button Society website and discovered a wonderful button blog, Got Buttons?, by Vera Williams. I met Vera last month at the Mayflower Button Club meeting. She has inherited her Grandmother's buttons and has created this blog using some of the memorabilia to tell part of the history of the Michigan Button Society. I wanted to stay there and wander around for awhile, but I was anxious to get back here and share with you. She has included many pictures and tells interesting stories.

In future posts I hope to share with some sites where you can purchase buttons either for collectiong or perhaps you use them in sewing or art projects. It really is an incredible hobby that perpetuates itself! While I was at the Michigan site I ran off a copy of the awards for our Fall Show, 2010, which will be held in Kalamazoo this year. I am getting anxious to get into my "stash" and start my trays.

Today is Super Bowl Sunday. It is one of the few football games that I watch each year. All by myself, I sit here and root for whatever team I chose for that particular year. I like football and understand it, I just am not motivated to dedicate my weekends to it. This year I have a bet with one of the techs at my PT. He has won a trophy for WATCHING football, so I guess you can tell he is quite the avid fan. He chose the Saints because his girlfriend likes the Colts. I took the Colts because he chose the Saints, besides, I think it is neat that Payton is from New Orleans and is the Colts star player. Soooooooooooo, it's the Colt's, 36 to the Saint's 30!! My goulash is ready..........the BBQ chicken will go into the oven in a couple of hours, and my corn chips, salsa, and Pepsi are ready and waiting.

I shall leave you here today with Pat's words, if you are still pulling on those bootstraps. Say a prayer for my friend Joan, up in Gaylord. She had major surgery on Monday, came home Thursday, and is "confined", which she HATES!!!!! Joan is always active and this serious operation has sidetracked her for a while. She does so much for others, we pray for speedy healing and patience in being a patient!! I hear she is to lift nothing heavier than a quart of milk for 12 WEEKS!!!!!! We love you Joan and want this to heal properly, so follow doctor's orders. Let me know when you are ready for phone calls.

Pat says, "The days that make us happy make us wise." Go to the library. Get some books on topics that have interested you. How refreshing!

Ebb and Flow of Life.................

Wow!! I didn't mean to be gone so long. Funny thing about life, one gets busy while living it. It has been busy but I can't say I see anything around me to show why, you know what I mean. With Valentines Day coming up, I was hoping you could take a day or two and get away, so I put "Pure Michigan" over in the Discovery corner so you could get some ideas. If you prefer to go to a warm climate, try the Phoenix Visitor Guide. I lived in Scottsdale for a year and a half and there was ALWAYS something wonderful to see and do. Actually that is pretty much the way it is wherever we are, if we take the time to look.

I wanted to make a point of remembering a friend, Bonnie Hajek. Bonnie passed away on January 9th and her niece was kind enough to let me know. Bonnie was only 63 and always took the time to make those around her feel comfortable and feel good about themselves. She had an engaging smile and what seemed like boundless energy. Thanks, Bonnie, for many wonderful memories and the reminders that good home cooking, gardening, friendship, caring for others, and many more things are important to a warm and welcoming home, which you opened to everyone. You are missed and you have left a treasure of those memories for anyone who knew you and loved you.

My dear friend, Linda K. telephoned last night. What a treat that was, to talk to her. She has been creating and hearing her wonderful projects always inspires me to do "something". Some days you need that inspiration to just get off the couch!!! I am just listening to the weather and think I will stick with being "inside" today, but not necessarily on the couch. Linda has me wanting to poke through my "stash" and make "something". So..........that is my goal today, to make something.

Funny continuing in "One Day at a Time", here is what Pat says:
"All the beautiful sentiments in the world weigh less than a single lovely action."
On the page she has drawn a heart within a heart. Her action for the day is, Telephone someone you haven't seen lately.

That is exactly what Linda K. did yesterday.........it made my day and made my week.
Let's try to pass it on.

Where are you?

Where are YOU at today? Are you snuggled up or are you on a mission? Do you want to hide or are you excited to complete something you have started? I guess you can tell I am asking where you are at mentally. It is interesting to me how what or who you come into contact with in a given day, affects your mood, and how much you yourself accomplish. I like to do my "Blog" hopping in the morning. Sometimes it inspires me. The secret is to not spend too much time at it so that I get nothing done.

I am hoping you will stop by "Discovery" and take a short trip.......somewhere. I am adding a place called "Flylady", today. I don't know how long ago she started, but she has grown so much and helped so many. If housework is a huge chore to you and you are behind or in a mess, this perhaps will inspire you and help you. Don't drive yourself crazy, but if you are seriously looking for a way out, this might be your key. I drop in every once in a while for inspiration. Louise Cook set me on to her back in 2003. She was just going through a divorce and used it to help her rethink doing everything herself.

I would love to hear what you are doing today, or maybe things you plan to do. 'Til the next time, wishing you "Light" and "Love"

Each Day, Something New..........

We never know what a day will bring, something new to learn, something different to see, a new person in our life! I have been in Physical Therapy for two weeks now and have met someone that I hope becomes a friend. She teaches sewing classes at the new quilt shop in town AND makes ceramic buttons!!! I have invited her to our next meeting and our Spring Button Show and she seems excited to come learn about buttons. She has poked through her Grandmother's button box and found one with a date of 18?? on it. I told her to bring it to the meeting and we shall discover if it has special meaning for her. Oh, yes, her name is Kathy.

Kathy's class in "art" jackets is in March. I shall be busy thinking of ways to earn the extra cash to take this class and making sure I set up that sewing area I have been talking about. For some reason I sort of got side tracked. I always "purge" my files this time of year and that is what I am doing, however, Linda insisted I needed to learn something new, like learning to Blog! It is so much fun and I go wandering through other "Blogs" with gay abandon. How did I ever have time to work full time and raise a family?? Some people tell me they are bored.........I can't imagine!! Well, I am back to my "purging" and below is Pat's thought for the day and her suggested activity.

ONE DAY AT A TIME............Pat Simmer Dobosenski

Dust the mop boards all over the house. Check the corners.

(Okay, the book wasn't written recently remember. I am sure the "mop boards" are the floor and toe moldings.)

Wishing you all something to "light-en" your day!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LINDA!!

It would be fun to be in Kansas to help Linda blow out the candles and have cake, but I know she knows our spirits are there with her. Linda, may you be truly blessed today and in the coming year. Adventures await!!

Yesterday was a running day for me.......by the time I was finished with the running I didn't figure anything I would say would come out quite right and I wasn't even in heavy traffic!! It was an interesting day, though, and in the morning I had gone "Blog Hopping". That was fun. It is a little like dropping in on people you don't know without telling them you are coming. You know what I mean? It would be fun to be able to meet many of them, the creativity out there is incredible. I am in hibernation right at the moment and don't feel the least bit guilty about it. It is okay to rest once in a while and enjoy what is around you, or in some cases, what is far away.

Here is Pat's second page from her little book, "One Day At A Time":

"Better keep yourself clean and bright, you are the window through which you must see the world." -- George Bernard Shaw

Take a nice relaxing bath. Don't worry about the phone-- they'll call back.


Good advice, about the phone. So often we break our necks to answer it, or interrupt the moment we are in with someone else. The world will not come to an end if there is a delay in answering and giving THAT call our undivided attention.

It's going to be an oatmeal breakfast for me, yum!!! It may not sound real exciting, but it has lowered my cholesterol and THAT makes my MD happy!!!

Have a beautiful week-end doing what you love. I will be back on Monday and hopefully the four of us will compare notes. (That's an inside joke, only I know about it.) I try not to Blog on Sunday and it works well for me. Sending you warm thoughts and light from many sources.

Sunshine and Starshine......................

Yes, if it is "Sunshine" during the day, then it would be "moonshine" for night. That doesn't sound at all cozy and encouraging so I am using "Starshine" and that is also my dear friend Linda K.'s nickname. By the way.........her birthday is on Saturday, the 23rd, so hop on over and send her birthday greetings. Just click on her name, it will take you to her site, then scroll down for her email addy on the far right. It would be fun if she could get one for every year of her life and I'm not telling, but I will say, it is over 25. We better get busy!!

Now back to the Sunshine and Starshine....... It is that time of year that we start to wind down and get in what I call a "blue funk". It is mostly because we don't get enough sun light so I take Vitamin D to help the cause. What helps the most though is encouragement from friends who make me smile or get me to do "something", and for the most part it doesn't matter what it is. I have a little book-type calendar entitled, "One Day At A Time", by Pat Simmer Dobosenski. I gave it to my Mom on May 3, 1984, right after my Dad passed away. There is no publisher, or contact information about the author anywhere. I would like to have you read her introductory Page:

Dear Friend,
I have suffered the loss of someone special to me. I asked why, cried, felt that life was not worth living and shared many of the same feelings you are experiencing. I know too how hard my mother took my father's death. So I wrote this book for her, for me and for people like us who need to do something to make our lives meaningful again. This book is to be read one page at a time-- one day at a time. Savor the saying of the day, do your best to accomplish the assigned task, and be pleased with yourself. You are someone important. Your lost loved one would not want you constantly suffering and lonely. There are others who need you when you're ready. I hope this book will help you get ready to live and give again.
My love, Pat Dobosenski

If it is okay with you, each day I will enter the next page of her little book. It is only 4" x 5". You may not have have a loss of a loved one right now.....it may be a divorce or estrangement, or just the loss of YOURSELF. I can't tell you how many times I have done page 1, but it is many. When I don't need it, I forget to look at it, but at least when I do need it, it is there and I use it as a foothold to pull myself up.

Please note the pic of the little girl with the pumpkin and candle on my Blog page. Yep, it is from Starshine's collection, but that saying has always meant so much to me, starting when I was a child. It is Starshine that pulled me out of my last "darkness" and you just never know when your "light" will help another make it through another day.
Wishing all of you a lot of LIGHT! Below is Pat's first page:


"If I cannot do great things-- I can do small things in a great way!"

Clean out a drawer in the kitchen today.

(On this page she has a little hand drawn picture of a smiley face.)

Good day for hobbies......................

If it is as gray today where you are, as it is here, you may want to escape for a while. Today you could pop into BEAD AND BUTTON and check out the articles on the National Button Society page and there are some truly beautiful button photos. If you like beads you can also wander through the rest of the magazine and perhaps even start a project.

It is my goal to get my "button area" set up again soon, as well as my sewing machine. I miss being able to just sit down and work when I feel inspired. Apartment living has many advantages, but it does not allow for having a room dedicated to "playing". My solution is going to be..........areas all over the whole apartment where I can play. Who's to complain???

If you are thinking ahead to spring and summer, you might want to cruise over to Frog Boys on Discovery. (I happened upon it when I was looking for another toad to kiss.) I definitely want one in my garden this summer.

Hope you are having a creative day............let me know!

Saturday in the Button World............

We have been truly blessed with a great winter day in Michigan, high in the mid 30's and periodic sunshine, clear roads. When you are traveling on the roads......that's the way we like it, clear!! Button meeting this morning, Mayflower Button Club, and we had an excellent turnout, about 21 I think. So many buttons, so little time to see them all. ;o) I was able to pick up a couple for my theme tray for the Spring Show, it is to be a children's story or nursery rhyme and I have chosen Peter Rabbit. Just love the Beatrix Potter drawings for that It is a little way down the road, but I will try and share a picture of my theme tray either just before or just after the show. Since buttons are such a passion for me, I hope to share some with you every now and then.

Tomorrow is Sunday and I am taking the day off. Sunday is my very favorite day of the week. God's blessings to you and yours.

A Favorite Pastime..............

Daily, yes, daily, I play on line Scrabble with my cousin, Linda Y. It has been over two years, now, or is it three??? I also play with my friend, Judy S. when she isn't busy being Editor of the NATIONAL BUTTON SOCIETY 'Bulletin', another "favorite thing". What fun!! It keeps our minds active and we have become really good friends at the same time. The site is out of the UK and was started by Michael Griffiths. It is called, "The Pixie Pit". There is a fee of $12.00 per year, but you will have untold hours of fun, worth every penny. Play with a friend or pick one from their list. Click here, SCRABBLE, to go to the Home Page and learn more.

I will put my email up on this BLOG if you want to challenge me to a game, should you choose to join. I often wonder how I had time to raise two sons and work. How blessed I am and I thank God every day for my family and friends and the technology that helps me keep in touch.

Helping the earthquake victims.............

Today my heart and thoughts go out to those that the earthquake has affected, the victims as well as their loved ones around the world. The Today Show has given a page where you can go to donate to help through your cell phone bill. I will simply call it HELP for HAITI and if you click on it, it should take you there. The FBI has issued a warning to watch out for scams on the internet that want you to give money.
I will be back with you tomorrow, in the meantime, please join me in prayer for these poor, devastated people.

How long will this keep?...............

One of my goals for this year is to keep closer tabs on the FDA and what is happening to our food from the source to the table. Last year I came across a helpful chart on how long food will keep. Hop on over to the "Discovery" launch and check it outl If you find it helpful, put it in your "Favorites" so you can refer to it frequently. (Now that I am "maturing" I can't always rely on my nose.)

Yesterday I started the physical therapy for the "torn rotor" in my right arm. All went well and my technician is a hoot, a young woman about 50, I had many laughs with her. If nothing else is accomplished the time spent there will lighten the spirit. Laughter is still the best medicine. Now if I could just get a clown to come in my bedroom so I can sleep at night................

Thanks to all my friends for their words of encouragement. (I know, you only see 1 comment.) Most of them email me because they can't get in........they are too busy to have a "profile" with a password!!! I can relate to that and thanks to my dear friend,
Linda K. who has encouraged me every step of the way and helped me through some "down times".

Love of textiles.........

Should you happen to climb aboard "Discovery" today for a trip into Cyber space, you may want to try Sri threads. I found this while exploring Martha's blog, and when I get back from my appointment I shall re-enter and go to London's Victoria &Albert Museum, the URL is in the body of the blog. In March I am scheduled to give a talk to "Quester's" about my buttons and buckles and I am looking for things to stretch my talk into an hour! 'Til next time, a word from Proverbs, "A friend loves at all times...." Proverbs 17:17

Good for the soul.............

Two of my neighbors are sick and the thought came to mind, a QUICK chicken soup, when YOU are your own nurse! I live in a community of single unit apartments and most of us don't have someone to bring us that comfort food, soup. I discovered very late in life that it really does help you feel better and it is soothing. Following is my solution, when you first get that little inkling that "IT" is invading your body, get this started.

Always keep a package of chicken in the freezer, whole, or parts. Just be sure that it is already cleaned so if you don't feel good you can just toss it in the pot. So, that is what you do.............put the chicken in the pot and cover with 8 cups of water. To this add, two celery stalks plus, extra leaves, three carrots, 1 1/2 medium onions, Three cloves of garlic, 6 whole pepper corns, and a double pinch of sea salt. Bring to a boil, skim off the top, simmer for about two to three hours. (If you have to work that day, even if sick, toss it in your crock pot.)

How I treat it from this point depends on what kind of sickness I have. If I am running a fever, I just want the broth so I strain out everything, setting the chicken aside; if my stomach will take more, I will push the veggies through a sieve and add about half a cup of chicken meat, then add a couple of handfuls of egg noodles. If you are dieting, add some brown rice instead. This will yield you about four regular servings.

The nice part of this is you can adjust the recipe for just how lousy you feel If you can barely stand up, just scrub the veggies and "sort of" quarter them. If you are feeling half way decent and care, you can be daintier in your preparation. You might also just want to make this up ahead and freeze it in one serving containers. A bonus is the balance of the chicken can be frozen for use in stir-fry or casseroles.........even chicken salad sandwiches. So much better for you than the over salted canned goods that are usually available.

Hope you are healthy and just try it for a comforting winter meal. Check out the "Discovery" site for today and get away for a while.

Exploring................

Today's addition is a chance to explore a new place, Phil Lempert's site, Super Market Guru. He is new to me and I look forward to his comments. He reviews a few new products each week, has recipes, tips and market trends, at our super markets. If you like his site you can sign up for a newsletter or just come back here when you want to climb aboard "Discovery" and get away for awhile.

Hope you are enjoying some sunshine as we are here in Michigan. It is only 23 degrees, but seeing the sun and beautiful blue sky just gives a lift. When you come back next time I will have a recipe to share and another place or two that I find interesting to explore.

Wishing you a thought productive day!

A First Time for Everything.................

It's pretty cold...........everywhere!!! It is warm inside though and I hope you will come in often for a visit. Not sure where this is going , but thought it would be a wonderful way to start a new year, with a vision of keeping in touch. Learning new things is what I believe keeps us interesting as well as interested beings on this earth. It continually fascinates me how much I still want to learn and just how much there IS to learn. Hopefully you will share some of your favorite things in life and I will share some of mine.

I will be wanting to learn how to post pictures, tell you of books I am readins, and projects I am working on (or NOT working on, as the case may be.) For this very first time I would like to wish everyone a very happy and BLESSED 2010 and I pray something will stimulate you and excite you to lift your spirit and keep you on your toes for life's ever changing experiences.

Warm hugs and thoughts coming your way.