Being MOM is a Tough Job

With all that goes on in the world today, I think one of the toughest jobs out there is MOM.  Everything in a childs life depends on MOM. From food and care to learning to be strong and independant. The ability to love and show love and being kind and respectful.  That is alot to put on one persons shoulders but since the beginning of time.....that is how it has been and for good reason. We as women are more patient and better equipted for the day to day care of such precious cargo. All that being said there are the days when I wonder   " How much can one person take?" I was reminded of something my Gram would say to us when things just looked to big to handle, " God never gives us more than we can handle."   A friend on Facebook and fellow crafter had a post on this just today   The Grahn Homestead: Say What You Mean and Mean What You Say! thegrahnhomestead.blogspot.com
All of this was very reassuring after a few bad days with teens at our house.  My kids are all grown but I am raising three great grandkids. But, like most kids there are days when you want to ask...What happened to the kids?  Someone has taken them over, they are possesed.  Some say give in and quit but I think it is my job to stand firm and guide them through these rough patches to be great young adults. Not to take the easy way out and let them run the house. Hopefully I am right becasue I am not backing down. I am not their friend but Gramma and responsible for them.  I WANT them to be not just good kids but good people who can think and resolve issues and I can boast about at every turn.
 I was so upset yesterday that I thought I could have eaten a vat of triple choclate brownie icecream. After hubby brought it home, I was so upset I could'nt swallow a bite. Grammas get hurt feelings too. Kids can be thoughtless and down right rude. I have brought all this to the table and want changes made and NOW. I want better treatment and ...want it NOW. So, until they get home and I see if this happens I am consoling myself with two little grandsons who love me unconditionally and making and taste testing oatmeal cookies.


"Better than Grandma's Oatmeal-Raisin Cookies"
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
2 Cups all-purpose Flour
•1 teaspoon baking soda
•1 teaspoon baking powder
•1 teaspoon Kosher Salt

Wet Ingredients
•1 Cup Unsalted Butter (I have used "regular" butter with great results too!)
•1 Cup Sugar
•1 Cup Dark Brown Sugar (firmly packed)
•2 Large Egg
•2 teaspoons Vanilla

Then Add
•3 cups oats (NOT instant)
•1 & 1/2 cups raisins
Directions
1.preheat oven to 350 degrees f.

2.whisk dry ingredients together, set aside.

3.combine wet ingredients with mixer on low speed to combine; Turn mixer speed to HIGH and cream together until color lightens and the mixture is light and fluffy.

4.Stir the flour mixture into the creamed mixture until no flour is visible (DO NOT OVER MIX!!)

5.Add Oats and raisins and stir to combine.

6.Drop Approx 2 tablespoons of dough onto a greased cookie sheet spaced about 2 inches apart.

7.Bake 11-13 min (on center rack of oven) until golden, but still moist in the cracks.

8.cool on cookie sheet for approx 2 min before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

9.ENJOY!!    http://homesteadinghousewife.blogspot.com/2009/02/sorry-grandma-better-than-grandmas.html

The cookies are helping some, but I could use some prayers.  Maybe there is an Irish Blessing for raising teenagers. If so, please send it my way.

Your Gramma Does What?

  That was the question that came up the other day.  My lovely granddaughter answered , she crochets, paints, bake, and writes a blog.

This is Isabella and from the look on her face you can see she is thinking....She writes a what.  Hard to believe. Everyone who knows her, knows she has no idea of where or when to use punctuation. Obviously!

Yet, she still types away and tells the world about things that go on in her little part of the world as often as she can.  Yes, to our embarassment she has learned to post photos of her loving family. Not all of them always flattering. Why?  they ask....because she can.

Sure, Gram wants you to believe we enjoy or photos plastered on here. That we somehow look forward to the constant hat fittings and photo ops. OK some of us do. In fact I wish she would send me a few more hats to try out.. Maybe something with a flower, girly yet fun!

This was my first hat, a darlign penguin number. I wore it home from the hospital.  Why does she make these hats and stuff?  Good question, he Gramma made all kinds or crocheted things and every baby came home in one of Grammas handmade things. My Mom grew up in the ponchos and sweaters and the pinafores for every occasion. I think it is a Gramma thing.
I should Thank Isabella for her wise input!  Maybe a new hat and sweater for Easter !

Now yes, I do enjoy watching them dressed in my hats and such and I now realize the pride my Gram had as off we went to school dressed in her creations. First me and my siblings, then my kids, and then my grandkids. Gram loved every stitch she did and you felt it in the warm hooded sweater or delicate christening outfit. Now, I am not nearly as talented but I keep trying in my own way.
I have found that I like to share the sometimes silly or troublesome things in my life. Maybe someone will smile, or find the answer to a problem they have. If so, I am very happy. So please in each future blog, ignore the punctuation and just read for fun. Read between the lines and enjoy.

For everyone still at the Capital

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Cvr7s1awuk

Oh no a Grey Hare!

     I recently watched a program on tv where they talked about a movement by women on embracing their grey hair.  A badge of honor for growing older and hopefully wiser. Why is it men are thought of as more distinguished and women well, old. I was ok with going grey for the most part, until hubby and the grandkids started  to comment on the amount of grey hair I now had.  So, on a recent trip to Walmart I traveled to the hair dye aisle and picked a color I used to use a few years back.  What I found was, they more grey the brighter the color , in this case red.  Hubby says not red but shocking pink!

It is brighter and the grey is gone.  Six weeks til it grows out ......
So with these new developements I came up with a grey hare hat, no more coloring the grey , just hide it from now on.

The model is my Granddaughter, Chrissy.  If you have to have a color fiasco now is a good time, it is red,

All this red made me think maybe I should reat myself, so Chrissy and I made a batch of red Velvet cake Balls http://www.bakerella.com/red-velvet-cake-balls/  fun to make and delicious to eat. We are going to try the green ones for St. Patricks Day


St. Patricks Day is coming up and I am Irish. Besides I leave the house maybe once a week...who will see me !

These are my two little helpers. JJ the biggest has a new tshirt that says Leprachauns made me do it .... and I am sure that is the case!

They were nice enough to pose so I could list these hats on Etsy, then back to what boys do best, playing with some time out for warm cookies from the oven and hopefully a nap. We could all use one today.

Be sure to visit our facebook page and comment for a chance to win the St. Patricks Day hat!
http://www.facebook.com/GrammasGifts

Things are Crazy in Wisconsin

  That is how it seems as I sit at the computer this morning.  The Governors got his hands full in Madison, teachers, state workers and unions are up in arms. The weather is more May like than February and I have a terrible case of spring fever.  Now, most of these things I can do nothing about. The governmental issue we all have opinions on, will that matter. I do hope so but one can just wait and see what happens at this point.   The weather, I am totally enjoying but am sure in a day or two will make a drastic change. With all this said the only thing I can do is take care of this spring fever. So I am not sure if you feed a cold and starve a fever soo  I am going to feed this Spring Fever.
  What I craved most this morning was a doughnut. Not one of those over glazed fried things from the local grocery or Kwik Trip but a nice cinnamon and swugar baked cake doughnut. So, off I went in the search for a recipe and came up with this one.
I found it on http://www.howtoeatacupcake.net/
Baked Doughnuts

Makes 6 regular sized or 12 mini doughnuts

1 cup (4 ounces) Round Table Unbleached Pastry Flour or 7/8 cup (4 ounces) King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3 tablespoons dried buttermilk powder (or use 2 tablespoons buttermilk or yogurt in place of the 2 tablespoons water)
2 large eggs
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons water

Whisk together all of the dry ingredients in a medium-sized mixing bowl.
In a separate bowl, beat the eggs, oil and water (or buttermilk or yogurt) until foamy.
Pour the liquid ingredients all at once into the dry ingredients and stir just until combined.
Butter or grease the doughnut pan; non-stick pan spray works well here. Note: even though the pan is non-stick, since the doughnuts are low-fat they may stick unless you grease the pan first. Fill each doughnut form half full. (I used a pastry bag and piped one circle of batter into each cup.)

Bake the doughnuts in a preheated 375°F oven for 10 to 12 minutes. (My mini doughnuts baked for about 7 minutes.) When done, they'll spring back when touched lightly, and will be quite brown on the top. (Mine were barely browned on top.)

Remove the doughnuts from the oven, remove them from the pan, and allow them to cool on rack. Glaze with icing, or coat with cinnamon-sugar (1/2 cup sugar + 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon) or any non-melting sugar.

Printable recipe can be found on this page: Baked Doughnuts: King Arthur Flour

So with the doughnuts in the oven I am off to finish some editing on the Etsy shop and get some hat orders packaged for morning mail.
 I will put on another pot of coffee and open up a few windows to enjoy todays weather.

Thinking of Cherry Pie

   Being home full time now has its up and downs.  As much as I love being able to work in my pajamas and sipping coffee while working here on the computer I do miss a few things from being downtown. Now I don't want to mislead anyone when I say downtown. I live just outside of Montello, Wisconsin so, downtown consists of a few main streets and a handful of shops, a few taverns, beauty shops and gas stations. We do have a pharmacy and a grocery store.



View Larger Map
One of my favorite shops in town I have mentioned before is the Teapot Quilt Cottage and after looking over the February class schedule noticed that on Saturday February 20th they are having Cherry Pie Day.  Seeing that I just had to ask what was going on.  In the past we have had chocolate tastings, a pumpkin pie bakeoff, christmas cookie and others all in the Cottage. People would enter their tasty dishes for a chance to win a gift cerftificate or small prize, bu the real winners were those who stopped in and tasted, then voted on their favorites. So much fun.  This time Jean is giving out Cherry Pie slices on this day. What a nice treat when you stop in and see alll the great things she has. From quilting supplies and yarn to produce in season and plants. You could make an afternoon of it, just in her shop. 
     Jean and I also started the Easter Bunny Parade in town, over the past few years it has grown into quite a fun tradition for the families in town and those visiting Grandmas on that weekend. Since we started the New Montello Group, about four years ago,  we have worked very hard to get visitors to stop in their journey through Montello and see what there is to offer.
   As of late it seems some things have changed and maybe not for the better.   Promoting a small town is an ongoing project, as each small town is working to attract visitors to keep it alive and growing.  Montello has so many great natural resources and such nice people it just needs to say " HEY, look at me" and get some good attention. Just about one hour north of Madison and about four hours from Chicago it is a great place to visit with the family or maybe a girls weekend.  All that said back to cherry pie
  Since reading about the cherry lices, I went to one of my favorite websitres to look for a recipe to try .
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/01/cherry-cake-pudding/
Over the past few weeks I have made about a dozen recipes from this site and all were raved about.
Cherry Cake Pudding

Ingredients
■Cake
■1 cup Sugar
■2 Tablespoons Butter, Softened
■1 whole Egg
■1 cup All-purpose Flour
■1 teaspoon Baking Powder
■⅛ teaspoons Salt
■½ cups Whole Milk
■1 can (15 Ounces) Cherries In Syrup (NOT Cherry Pie Filling) Drained, Juice Reserved
■½ cups Pecans, Finely Chopped
■Sauce:
■1 cup Juice From Cherries (add Water To Make 1 Cup If Necessary)
■1 cup Sugar
■1 Tablespoon All-purpose Flour
■1 Tablespoon Butter
■½ teaspoons Vanilla Extract
■Unsweetened Freshly Whipped Cream

Preparation Instructions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Generously butter a square 9 x 9-inch baking dish.
Cream sugar and butter. Add egg and mix well. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt then add to mixing bowl alternatively with milk. Add cherries and chopped nuts and mix gently. Pour batter into buttered pan and smooth out the surface. Bake for 40 minutes, or until golden brown on the surface and no longer jiggly.
While cake is baking, make the sauce by combining cherry juice, sugar, and flour in a small saucepan. Boil for 8 to 10 minutes, or until thick. Turn off heat and stir in 1 tablespoon butter and vanilla extract.
Drizzle 1/3 of the sauce on the cake as soon as you remove it from the oven. Spread to distribute over the surface and wait ten minutes before serving so the sauce will seep into the top of the cake a bit.

Spoon out pieces of warm, sticky cake and top with unsweetened whipped cream

I can't wait for hubby to get back from the store so I can get this in the oven.

by the way Walmart carries The Pioneer Woman new cookbook, a must have!  I ordered mine online from Walmart as our store was out of them.

All of this cooking has cut into my "hooking " time. I am trying to get a good amount of bunny and spring hats done. I have some of them destined for Josephines in Watertown and the others for Grammas Gifts the Etsy shop. I also just signed on for a show on April 8th in Fitchburg so I will need to get busy.

A Quiet Cup of Coffee

  It is a bright sunny morning here in Wisconsin.  With the two little guys back at their moms for a few days, I have a minute or two to myslef this morning. With a house of teenagers there is not a chance one of them will be up at this time on their own.
     Yesterday was busy, we took Mom to her new Doctors visit, I made a stop at the Walmart in Berlin for buttons and yarn then I came home and did those everyday chores that just always need to be redone. With no kids home I set off to work on site photos and finish a few hats.

  Off ,to the computer I went, quiet time to crop photos and list some new items......maybe!  We have three dogs, a rescued bordie collie Trixie, a Bichon, Mandy and Liz got a lab puppy Daisy for Christmas. Well, it is like having a house of sugared up two year olds when they get started. There is running and barking, chasing and even some ottoman jumping before they finally tire out the puppy and I can hear myself think again. Was it too quiet here?  Is that even possible, to have too much quiet?

  I am working on some duck and chick hats along with diaper covers for the tiny ones. Today I can sew buttons on  because my littlest helper , Carsen is not here trying to taste each button. He does make a lovely model and is the perfect size 3-4, but it is much easier when I get some alone time. I have a couple of the ducks already done and Liz was nice enough to model the teen duck hat for me. She added her own touch with some sunglasses.

I did get some work done but so enjoyed the silence while all three dogs napped.  With teens off and busy, hubby out I had a chance to warm up some leftover chicken and dumplings from Pioneer Women Cooks site, amazing even as a leftover and so easy to make. This is a must try recipe.  There were even a few of the dinner rolls from her site so I treated myself to one of those.  JJ and I had alot of fun making the rolls the other day. He is my cooking buddy and we are really enjoying trying recipes from this site.  So far we have made amazing and easy white bread, cinnamon rolls that were to die for, chicken and dumplings, drip beef and a pasta.   All very easy and delicious.  Of course while I am typing this I am thinking what can I find there to try for this weekend!   Cinnamon rolls will get made tonight so I can pop them in the oven in the morning, with a few pans to keep in the freezer for another day. This is a must see site if you like to cook or bake. Now that I have made myself hungry I had better get to work on getting the house up and running, maybe some oatmeal to get us started then on tho my etsy pages and a busy Saturday, Keep warm and have a great day whereever you are!

Hibernation

Hibernation, need not be just for bears.  With all the recent snow and cold, I feel the need to curl up and just stay put.  This is not something new for me.  I find myself in this spot every winter.  Maybe not enough light, I am not sure, but one thing I do know is it makes me want to stay in and cook.  For this my family is very grateful. Recently after finding the Pioneer Womans blog I have baked bread, cinnamon rolls and now yesterday made what she calls drip beef. Being from Chicago and now in the middle of Wisconsin this recipe was the closest thing we have had to a good Italian Beef sandwich since moving. Easy and delicious. The diresctions were easy to follow and the end reseult got rave reviews.  So, today I am off to try her chicken and dumplings , now if this doesnt say warm and comfy, what does. We also have my two favorite little guys back and both are sick. Chicken and dumplings is just as good as chicken soup, I would think. Just the idea has had me wanting to hurry into the kitchen and get started. I will also mix up a batch of the white bread. The house will smell wonderful and be warm and just perfect for the bear in me and the guys. So let those flakes fly outdoors today, I am stocked up and ready to cook and bake. During nap time, ( theirs not mine ) I will finish a few new orders that came in over the weekend from the Etsy shop . I have a box ready for the trip to Josephines in Watertown, hopefully tommorrow. As I type this I am beginning to feel a little less like crawling back into bed and hiding until spring. Is it the second cup of coffee or.......the thought of chicken and dumplings? I will have to let you know how it comes out, if only we had smell on theseblogs

Slow, sleepy Saturday

  It is grey and cold outside, and that was my mood when I awoke this morning.  A headache ...there just enough to make me uncomfotable and a kind of blah feeling.  So much for the trip to Walmart I had planned with my Mom for this morning. Instead I think I will have some coffee finish some buttons on hats and just stay in warm and try to shake of this feeling. 
     I need some sunshine and warm weather, maybe a bunch of bright yellow flowers would help. A dafodill or two. In that case I know just where to look for a pick me up and the flowers.

     Everyone should have that one person who knows what your feeling without you saying a word. Who listens and doesnt judge and who sincerely does care.  I have such a person.  Not an old childhood friend or sister, but someone I met about four years ago here in town.  A fellow busines owner who now, seems like I have always known.  Alot has happened to both of us over the past few years and she has always been there with a kind word and hug.  I hope I have been the same for her. Jean owns the Teapot Quilt Cottage and Garden Center with her husband, Bob . Two of the nicest, down to earth people you could meet. p.s. her husband grows THE best sweet corn in the area.  Jean gives classes, sews, knits, gardens and is always there when you need her.  I am NOT a knitter or quilter. Let me say about 20 years ago I made a pledge to make my first Grandson Joey knit mittens, like any good Grandma. Well he is 21 and I never made them.  I did take a class at the high school, which I learned to put stitches on the needle. Then took a cass with Jean at the Teapot, I did make half a mitten. I am not as patient as I would like and knitting is not for me.  I would like to do some quilting though. My Mom moved up here from Tulsa in October and she quilts.  My other Mom, ( I have two ) also quilts. A baby quilt makes such a nice gift and I could add them to my Etsy shop. Another project for me. Maybe before the snow melts I will go visit with Jean and take a class.  If you are living or visiting in the area, this is a must see stop.

Jean's February calendar is done and so many nice classes to choose from. Beginners Knitting on the 3rd, kids woven heart basket from 1-3 on the 5th ( no charge),Needle felting for beginners oon the 11th,  baby rag quit on the 12th ( I think I will take this one ) , recycled wool mittens on the 16th ( these were  ahuge hit for the holidays ) no frills apron, cherry pie day and so much more.  If you are interested and want to know more stop by at 505 Main Street in Montello or give Jean a call. 608 297-7849 and she can explain all that is going on at the Teapot Quilt Cottage in Montello.

This email with Jeans calendar came at just the right time, I was sipping coffee and feeling yucky as the kids would say when YOU"VE GOT MAIL popped up and there she was. A good friend always knows when you need to be picked up a bit.

I did get a couple hats done and hopefully I will get them posted yet today.

from baby to teens everybody can use a hat! 

Even this one for those grouchy days !

Grouch Day

  It is finally Friday....this week has gone so slow.  All of the orders for Green Bay Packer hats have been made and sent, bread was baked, the charter school board meeting was attended and now FRIDAY.  My husband says I   ( shoot myself in the foot ) by making plans for the day.  That may be true. Last night I had what I thought was a great plan.  Get up early, get the kids off to school and then QUICKLY get the housecleaning done and work on new hats.  Get some photos taken and posted on Etsy before the weekend.    Sounds like a do-able plan.  Not so much.
  When I woke this morning I found a grandson and friend asleep on my living room floor. They had been out late.  So much for early cleaning in there. My daughter back in bed, not much help there and one granddaughter who because she attended the school boad meeting was allowed to go into school two hours late.   The internet was not working, so no uploading pictures for the Etsy listings. ughhhh    
                                    So much for plans. 
      It is now a little past eleven now and I finally have the living room done and the internet is back up and running. Grandson and his friend are awake and now playing video games.....in the living room. The daughter who was going to be so helpful has awaken and run to town to the bank and wherever else.  Granddaughter taken to school. So much for help.
    I need a new plan, I used to think it would sound selfish to others but here goes.  I need some me time. Time to get my things done and maybe just catch my breath. I tend to take on many things and with eleven people in the house at any given time, I just need time to be me.. not Gramma, or wife, or MOM  but ME.
   After my plan going south quickly I find myself getting crabby or GROUCHY and then the whole day seems to go bad. Someone suggested I find something I like to do and set a timer and just take that time for me. The family will get along just fine on their own for that time and I will feel some accomplishment and stress released.  Right now as I am typing this three dogs are chasing around the dining room and barking, all in good fun but oh the noise. Two big boys are quietly playing video games and I have put on a second pot of coffee as a treat for myself.  I am going to get out some pattern books, take a look and find some new fun things to do before conquering the kitchen. This is against everything I was trained for. What if someone drops by and I am sitting reading patterns and my kitchen isnt clean?  Hopefully no one comes because as much as I would lik to say WHO CARES, I would be devastated. Old habits die hard and things taught as a child come back to get me every so often.  But, if I wait until everything that should be done is done, will I ever get to find a pattern of make a hat?  Good question, right now I feel like NO.  So, as I get off this computer and sneak off for coffee and pattern searching PLEASE do not come knock on my door, I would be horrified. But, I need a few minutes for me.

Have a Nice Day  from Grouochy Me

You Could Hear a Pin Drop

  This morning the boys, went back with their Mom for her fourdays.  Yes, my house is quiet and calm......but I somehow miss them already.  Friends who have no little ones around cannot understand.  Let me see if I can explain it.

When I wake, if there isn't a small guy in my bed, I will find one already up and in the kitchen. Carsen is hungry when his eyes open.  Shark like he never stops moving.  For awhile we were afraid that this little guy would have many health issues. He was thought to have Downs Syndrome before he was born.  He is perfect.  A few months ago he gave us quite a scare with convulsions over a two day period.  I spent many hours in the ER. He now is walking, running and funny.  He now thinks if he can't see you, you can't see him! 

There he is....... This makes him laugh for hours.  







He is also the perfect size 3-4.  So, he comes running when you say I need to measure something.  He tries on hats and much to his Dads dismay....sometimes a girly cape or poncho. This morning he was kind enough to model the Little Red Riding Hood Cape for me .  I took a few photos for Etsy and Facebook and his Dad cringed when I posted them.  One day he will care but right now Carsen loves helping out.

He was the baby in my first skunk hat and now the face in the sock monkey hat.


This little face sold many a skunk hat.  He is a true little stinker!

The sock monkey is also very fitting as he is always making someone laugh.!

Now, he has a brother who at almost three is my first Great Grandson.  The spitting image of his Dad and even has his temperment. A little redhead who loves to draw and cook with me.. Some ofhis favorite movies have Elvis in and he loves football. A Packer fan in a house of Bears fans.

He cheered on the Packers Sunday in his hat!  He sometimes forgets and cheers both sides. That took a little of the tension out of the game for Grandpa.

He looks like an angry duck.  I did ask if he wanted to try it on and he said yes, because the baby was also taking photos

A Packer colored dinosaur made him fairly happy. This was going to be his Halloween costume until he found Spiderman.

The three teens and Mike, who is twelve are all good kids.  Yet  the two little guys bring a smile to my face all day long.  Yes, I am exhouseted by bedtime and I do say I wish I could at least go potty alone again. But, the secret is I LOVE having them.

Today before they left we baked bread again. Four loaves of wonderful white bread. The recipe I found at Pioneer Woman .  The  day has been quiet, with the smell of resh baked bread all around I say completely still for 3 hours making hats for orders. Heavenly , peace and quiet!

Now, dinner is in the oven. The big kids are home and my life is noisy and full. 

I don't think I would have it any other way.  I must say there is one thing I would change. I have five grandkids ( including our newest Isabella ) living near Chicago.  If they were closer this would be perfect.

Living in a House Divided

Not by politics or religion but what on this weeknd seems much bigger.  BEARS vs Packers.  Tempers will flare and voices will be raised as we watch the game at home this weekend.

Here is where the problem began. We are originally from the Chicago area. Hubby was born and raised a BEARS fan. I think football is fine, but would'nt go as far as to say I am a fan. Yes, most years BEARS fans are disappointed but occasionally , like this year they have hope. My daughters, two of who will be here for the game are BEARS fans. One insists on donning a jersey and Bears hat to work and betting her rival coworkers. The other is just a quiter hometown fan. Most of the grandkids, born in the Chicago area are BEARS fans. None very noisy about the game so far..Then, we have the three youngest, Mike who is 12 is a Packer backer since he was born. A few years back he found the Polka song The Bears Still Suck and drove hubby crazy playing it over and over gain.

                    ( he was kind enough  to model this hat for me, against everything he believes in.  the look tells it all )

JJ is almost three and will run to the tv whenever he hears football, but wants his Packers. His Christmas wish from Santa was a football. Grampa may finally have gotten a football player in the family. Carsen is following right behind.    I do think though, he is more of a cheerleader for JJ. He does not like being tackled and isn't into throwing the football around yet.

 

For me all this seems quite silly, but will happen in my livingroom this weekend. Hubby will yell to the BEARS, like they will hear him and take his advice. The boys will root on their favorite players and tempers will be high. I am well prepared to feed them so when one group of them loses and it will, maybe it won't hurt quite so much.

The little guys are starting already, wearing their colors and getting their friends riled up.  Their friends are the two dogs in the house, Trixie or rescued border collie and Mandy the crazy Bichon. Both seems very interested in the food , not so much football. They do enjoy chasing the ball around the living room with JJ .

Someone Watching Over Us

     As a child, I lived in a house with a Mom and Dad, 4 siblings, an Aunt and a Gramma.   In a quiet suburb of Chicago. A house like all the others on our block, except we had a Gramma, right there every day ! For as far back as I can reember, Gram was there. She mended our booboos, got us off to school and loved us unconditionally. I was the first grandchild. There was never a doubt that you would need to tow the line. Dinner was always, without adoubt at 5:30 Monday through Saturday. This time did not fluctuate, nothing threw us off course. Monday was laundry, Tuesday she ironed, Wednesday and Thursday I am not sure of , but Friday . That was cleaning day. Serious , kids did not interfere with the days events. Floors were scrubbed, furniture polished and everything in its place. No matter what. Through all of this , Gram sewed and crocheted to make as she called it...pocket money. The pocket money she off course spent on us, maybe an occasional toasted almond bar from the Good Humor man as she bought us all popsicles. She didn't ask for much, she just wanted us to all grow up to be nice people. That said I think she did a grea job. Yes, I have a couple teflon spatula marks on my butt from reminders she gave us occasionaly. All well deserved though.
  As a child I was never sick. My brothers had everything rom tonsilitis and asthma, to seizures and broken bones. Gram got them through all of it. One brother laid up for months with 2 broken legs , she taught to crochet to kill the time. My sister and I were very lucky and not sick. Later though after I was all grown, or so I thought. Gram came to make me all better. With the birth of my youngst daughter, there were complications. Cheryl needed surgery at three hours old. When I came out of recovery, foggy and scared, there was Gram. Magic washcloth in hand. She would sit and wipe my forehead until all as over and I felt better. On a few more occasions, she appeared at the hopital and di her magic. If you aske dher what she was doing she would just say...its my job, I am the Gramma.
   Gram is gone now but not ever very far. A few days before Christmas I was looking through an old box trying to ind something new to work on. There I can across an old pattern. A pinafore Gram had made too many tims to count. She was a much better crocheter, as she could take any pattern and knew just how and where to add or subtract to make any size. On the back of this old magazine page in her writing were a few of her changes. As I read this tears started to flow. Gram was right here again, helping me out.Never a doubt, she always knew just what to do and when!
  Now, I have 11 grandkids and 3 great grandkids of my own. I use some of Grams tried and true methods and make sure that we all remember her. I went to Chicago and styed with Gram her last few years as her mind slipped and she forgot alot of things and people. Looking back I think I was trained for just this since I was a child. I can remember apromise from Gram after my Grampa died that she would not go ANYWHERE until I was big enough to take care of myself.  I held her to that many times over the next thirty years. Back in the 70's my Great Gram came to live with her and was promised she would never go to a nursing home. I made Gram that same promise, and did my best until it was more than I could handle. For a little more than 2 years my hubby and I dated on weekends when he would drive down from Wisconsin. It was hard for everyone, but looking back I think I didi all this more for me than her. I was not ready to let Gram go. When she finally did need around the clock care I came daily even ,  she did'nt remeber who I was. I made sure she ate lunch and was safe and cared for. She was there, but no there. If asked, she would say I was the sister in law or nurse. But, ask her where Patti was and she would reply at school or grounded to the porch. The porch was a usual spot for me to get punished to!
   I want the kids to remember the Gram who sewed the Christmas outfits, made perogi with a kitchen full of girls. The one who never showed up for an event without her potato salad and coleslaw. The Gramma who loved you no matter what, she did not neccesarily like what you might have done but loved us unconditionally ALWAYS.  We all held a different place in her heart, we were wht she lived for. Her lifelong job was GRAMMA.

   As I sit here and work up the little pinafores for the etsy shop, I get a warm fuzzy feeling. It is like an inner hug she sends, just when you need it. That is the feeling I hope I can get across to my grandkids. If so I will have done a good job at being a gramma and that was the lesson she had been trying to teach me all along.
Gram probably did not hear I LOVE YOU nearly enough .  I can still see the glimmer in her eye as someone would compliment us on the beautiful baby in the handmade christening gown, or those adorable holiday dresses the girls had. All her handi work and made with love. 
  That is my goal, to make her proud of me every day and give my Grandkids the beast Gram since mine!

I am still needed

The Grandkids who live with me are in high school and growing up fast. Liz is getting ready to go off to college in the fall. She wants to be a nurse and is a great student. Very well rounded, always on the go and off to a sporting event or some type of meeting. The other tow are sophmores and in the new charter school. High Marq has been a god send for them. They are able to work on projects that interest them and have gone from grumbly and uninterested to happy and very well informed kids. So, some days I sit here working on baby items for the etsy shop ....thinking....a couple more years and they will fly the nest and I will need to find some new projects to keep my days full. THEN, Liz arrives home with a request. She, a senior in high chool wants a dispicable me hat. So, off to the computer we go so she can show me what Frank looks like. With an idea now I go back to my comfy chair and set out to get one done. This is what we came up with !

Liz wore it to school today.
      I do still have my two favorite little guys at the house at least 4 days a week. On those days I don't even have time to think about being alone. They keep me running until we all drop off to sleep. I did get Carsen to model the new giraffe hat I am working on for my Etsy shop. He is a character, funny and on the move constantly.

the two boys keep me going.....

I also have a beautiful new granddaughter who lives near Chicao and I can't wait to work up some ste little sweaters and such for her.

No more fest work!

I will no longer be looking for vendors for the Fish n Fun Fest. When I arrived home this evening I found this email

 

 

We are all very thankful for the effort you have put into the Montello Fish N Fun. A number of people have expressed difficulties in communicating with you either by phone or email. Due to these continuing issues the coordinators felt the need to find someone else who is better able to fill the vendor position. We need you to please turn in any vendor information you have and money you may have collected. Please remove your name and association from anything regarding the Montello Fish and Fun.

 

      There have been some things going on or awhile and I saw this coming, so I was not surprised.  The city deserves and needs a good event to help the tourists find their way back.

     What does this mean for me?     Time now open to work on my projects and get ready for the spring.

 

Any of you who would like to be vendors at the fest, be sure to get your applications in to them.  Mothers Day weekend in Montello should be alot of fun.

Snowflakes and Hot Cocoa

            As the flakes fall outside I am warm and snug inside.  Busy working on photos for the Etsy shop and chatting with a local shop owner , Jean.  She owns a lovely Quilt shop in Montello. The Teapot Quilt Cottage, also the Garden Center. With shoppers at a minimum during the wintr we discuss plans for spring, which will be here before we know it.  Valentines Day is aso fast approaching and we exchanged ideas and talked about the projects we have under way.  These winter months are great ties to take a class to learn a new hobby or just get together and chat.  Jean offers many classes in quilting and knitting in her shop.  If you are ever in the Montello area, tis ios a must see shop. At 5050 Main Street right in Montello, just watch for the gian teapot sign and treat yourself to a visit.

             This morning I finished up a new pattern I bought on etsy for a giraffe hat. It is adorable. I can't wait to get a few more sizes done. This is one I will surely take to Watertown for Josephines. I have yellow yrn ready to start the duck hats and sweaters. The frog hat and poncho are done and a new frog prince hat. Many new items for the spring.

My new found time, after closing the shop has been great.  I am finally doing those tasks I had trouble finding time for and feel like I am getting my life back.   Long over do!  I hve made dinner and been on time, baked bread and made dinner rolls. One afternoon snuck in a short nap and no one even knew !   Soon enough I will find my niche and a new project, but for rght now I am doing ok.  I do feel the need to get permision to enjoy a day.....that too will pass I hope. Life is too short to always be chasing a dream.  I want to be living it a day at a time and enjoying the people in my life.