Damien was here last night!

Here are pictures of Damien and Richard playing Rockem-Sockem Robots last night. They had a real good time playing with these and lego blocks and a lot of other toys. Damien and I played Mario on the Wii for hours. He is getting really good playing Mario, although I still have to carry him along sometimes. He gets to places he thinks he can't do it and makes me do it instead. When I am not there he is able to get thru these areas. It's the first time he was here for quite a while and we were shocked at how big he is! I bought him two new shirts and pants at JC Penney the other day and thought I got them too big but I didn't. I sent one outfit home with him and kept one here. Tiffany said he can still wear the boots I got him last winter, in fact had just grown into them. I knew I got them too big, but he could wear two pairs of socks with them. We love having him stop by.

Decorated for Christmas

This is what the house looks like this year. Richard and I started putting up the decorations last weekend but waited until Thanksgiving night to light them up. We put up everything except the five little spiral trees (we forgot about them, found them last night and Richard put them up today). I'd like to do it differently next year. We need to put something on the garage door because it is really dark over there. Maybe a lighted wreath or something.

Audrey and Jason have put up some really pretty decorations at their house too. Their spiral trees are new this year. I love it all lit up. After Christmas it seems so dark everywhere. I wish houses would have lights up year-round. It wouldn't have to be Christmas colors, just anything to light up the night.

Connect the Dots Finished!

I finished my Connect the Dots quilt today. This is a mystery quilt offered by Judy Laquidara on her blog the past month or so. I picked fabrics out of my stash for this quilt. They are the same fabrics Judy L. used for her quilt, except I used the maroon rather than the green. I just didn't have enough yardage in a green to do it. I like my colors, though, I think it made a rather masculine quilt. I think the design would be masculine unless you used very feminine colors. I got it done just in time! Bonnie K. Hunter is starting a new mystery quilt tomorrow morning and I will be ready, willing and able to get started with her! I have already pulled my fabrics and I can't wait.

RATS!

Since the twin house around back burned last April it has been sitting there with the windows covered (mostly). Some man bought it and has worked in it two days in the last month or so. We started seeing rats about two months ago tunnelling in the yard between the houses (the houses are only ten feet apart). Richard said they were under our house. We have killed a total of six rats so far. We bought two rat traps at Lowe's and caught a rat the first day we had them out there. After that, the rats ate the bait but the traps did not spring. We then bought a heavy duty rat trap and caught several with it. But -- a couple of nights ago I was awoken at 4am and I thought one of my cats was rolling a ball around my room, so I got up with my flashlight shining around. I couldn't find any cats in there so I figured it was a rat under the house. The trap was set just inside the opening under the house and that is right under my bed. Anyway, I told Richard about it first thing in the morning and he went to get it. He said it wasn't there, so he went further under the house looking for it. He found it about 15 feet from where it should be with the rat still alive. He didn't want to get it with bare hands so he went back later. He couldn't find it! He hasn't found it yet! Tom lent him a trap that he tied down with a rope. Hopefully, no more rats will get away now. I talked to the city a couple of weeks ago but I am going to call them again.

Note to Self quilt top finished

This quilt pattern is by Judy Laquidara. She called it Note to Self because it looked like Post-it Notes. She offered a quilt-along for her blog readers. It was fun and easy to make and really looks great and I enjoyed doing it. It has seven borders! I never before put seven borders on a quilt! Excuse my picture but I had to hang it on my clothes dryer outside and the wind was blowing. I think I will have it quilted on a long-arm machine.

Judy is now giving her blog readers a mystery quilt to do. I like making mystery quilts precisely because of the mystery. I put the blocks together exactly by the instructions and when I get done - voila - a beautiful quilt I might not have chosen to do but I love when it's done and I'm always glad I made it. I always learn something new. The second picture shows some of the blocks I have made so far for the mystery quilt.

Accuquilt Go! Giveaway!

Micki at Irish Muses is giving away an Accuquilt Go! All you have to do is post a comment saying you want to win. I want to win! The Accuquilt Go cuts your quilt fabrics very precisely so all your pieces fit together perfectly. It uses dies to cut the fabric and will cut strips or applique pieces or anything. I have seen it demoed but could only dream of owning one myself! Here is the blog you can enter to win: http://thedote.blogspot.com/ Good luck!

My mother-in-law was laid to rest today

Mrs. Harmon died on Monday and her funeral was today. She was the best mother-in-law, never interfered, I never had a problem with her. I knew her for over 31 years. I never knew anyone who could remember names and dates even many, MANY, years ago better than she did. She had nine children and could tell you in detail how each was born, what illnesses they had, everything about each one. Her obituary follows. Trouble is, they made a few mistakes. The newspaper left out one of her sons, David, and gave his wife to MY husband. We're talking about switching now. I think they are going to correct it in the paper, but I am not sure. Future genealogists will truly be confused about that one. It was great seeing Richard's family again, we don't see each other often enough.

Audrey Virginia Harmon
Audrey Virginia Harmon, 87, of Charleston went to be with the Lord October 18, 2010, at home, surrounded by her family.
She was a member of Calvary Church of the Nazarene.
Audrey was preceded in death by her husband, Daniel W. Harmon; son, Denver L. Harmon, and daughter-in-law, Judy Carol Harmon.
She is survived by her daughter, Lola Landers and her husband Robert of Sissonville; sons, James G. Harmon of Campbells Creek, Kenneth W. Harmon of Charleston, Danny K. Harmon of Sissonville, Richard Harmon and his wife Darlena of Sissonville, Larry Harmon and his wife Vonda of Sissonville, and Paul Harmon of Charleston; 11 grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; sisters, Lynnie Fox of South Carolina, and Clara Haynes of Sissonville.
Funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, October 21, 2010, at Calvary Church of the Nazarene, Charleston with the Rev. Edison W. Hager officiating. Burial will follow in Floral Hills Garden of Memories, Sissonville.
Visitation with the family was from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Calvary Church of the Nazarene, 1113 Lakewood Drive, Charleston, WV 25312.
Condolences may be sent by visiting www.longfisherfuneralhome.com.