Your blocks and note arrived safely today! Thank you for making them for the girls.

I was a book lover when growing up though. I do remember Mom taking me to the library and I'd stock up. When chores were done (they always come FIRST on the farm, not like kids now days) I'd sneak off with a good book and climb a tree where I'd spend the rest of the day. I remember reading Gone with the Wind in two days!!! Mom said I was always a climber - in fact, when I was a toddler she kept the kitchen chairs up on the table to keep me from climbing to the top of the refrigerator. And, even though I am quite tall, I always felt more comfortable talking with Mom if I was standing on a stool or sitting on the kitchen cabinet. Weird.

I love your descriptive story of your grandmother's porch swing. Brings back so many memories. My maternal grandmother had passed away before I was born. My paternal grandparents were like Jack Spratt and his wife. Grandpa Jones was a very tall, extremely thin man. Grandma Jones was very short, quite round, and had the temper of a caged pit bull. My dad used to tell her she was 'bull-headed' and she'd tell him that he should know since he was just like her. I do remember spending time with her, and do remember the porch swing, but she wasn't a warm and sharing person so there aren't a tremendous amount of fond memories there. Shame! I do, however, remember when I was about four or five years old having to take a row boat to visit and take groceries to Grandma and Grandpa because the Platte River was up and while their house was not flooded there were flood waters all around.

Just a quickie - if I had know you were going to Smithville I would have rushed down to meet you. Enjoy talking to Connie and looking at her machines . . . anyway, 'bout the stocking. Actually Lara started it - it is about 3/4 done . . . maybe just half. She said to get rid of it. It is in a CCS frame - don't know if the threads are with it or not. I'll have to get it out and look at it again. I'd just give it to you - don't need it back at all . . . Meet you halfway someday - whenever you come to visit Mom or something. We'll talk after I pull it out and check.

Never too cold for the kids to get in the water. But with it 56 degrees here this morning I think our pool will probably turn them all purple in a matter of minutes. Swim meet last night was great - they have all three improved so much.

Later!!

BTW - I keep forgetting to ask you. Since you do counted cross stitch, would you be interested in having a stocking that is partially done along with the frames, etc.? It is a beautiful piece but I can't see well enough to finish it . . .

I need some sympathy. I've had both shoulders rebuilt, both knees replaced, and I have a bad hip. The hip has been pretty much under control as long as I take Celebrex every day. My ortho surgeon told me to only come back to see him when I wanted it fixed. Everyone tells me that hips are so much easier than knees to recover. Why can't I believe that? I'm satisfied as long as I'm not having problems, but lately I'm trying to do a lot more walking and exercise. Wouldn't you know it, the hip is acting up. It plum scares me as I'll be walking along and all of a sudden it feels like it's going to pop out of the joint and I'm going down. I don't want to have it replace. I think I'm already bionic enough and I don't want to be back in the hospital. Al tells me I have to weigh how scared I am against how I'll feel after it heals . . . or else one day it is going to snap and I won't have a choice.

Al has been watching flood stages quite closely and I thought you may be interested in seeing this map: http://mapsrv.saj.usace.army.mil/pro.../floodMap.html

I am certain you are out having lots and lots of fun on your shop hop. Did you go with a definite plan of action? I know when my Li'l Sis and I went on the bus tour we both had plans - I had this BOM I have been collecting the pattern for - each block takes three patterns - and she was buying for two quilts, one was a bargello and the other was for one of her granddaughters. I was very surprised though, that when I talked to a lot of the women on the bus they just were buying randomly with no true purpose in mind . . . sort of like me grabbing all the grab bags of fabric I find at the thrift store.

Enough nonsense. Gotta get to the sewing room. Didn't get my laundry finished because I elected to go grocery shopping instead. Priorities!!

Hugs, dear friend. Stay high and dry.

It's definately gorgeous in the folliage season - my favorite time of year.

I am safe and sound. Mom is fine! Thanks for worrying but sorry to scare you. Sorry, I haven't been on her much lately.

Please let me know that you and your family are safe and sound. I've been extremely worried about you and your mother.

HUGS!!