Chloe and Gladys (the chicken)

Isn't she cute?  Little Chloe is feeding Gladys (the chicken) over the Christmas holiday.  She was quite impressed that the chicken would eat out of her hand with what must have looked like a giant beak!   Chloe would just giggle after Gladys would peck at her hand.  Unfortunately, the next day, one of the visiting dogs, took a bit of a chunk out of Gladys.  Gladys is healing nicely, although she lost quite a few feathers.  Personally, I think the chicken likes all the extra attention!

Still working on my list of New Years Resolutions.  Trying to keep them real and 'doable' and not too vague.  Still on my list is to knit a pair of socks.  I have been doing lots of knitting, but haven't started on those yet.  So much yarn, so little time.  I have picked the yarn, I have picked the pattern - just need to make the time.    Still like the idea of taking at least 6 workshops - just am not going to limit it to just quilting workshops.  Might have to include a knitting one, and maybe a painting one.  hmmmm..



Out of the loop

Have really been off the radar lately. Youngest daughter is now offically married, the reception is over and everyone is back home and back to work. This is the year that the kids visit the husbands family on Christmas, so we'll be having several celebrations this year. Plans are to go to Atlanta some time during those last two weeks.

Well, grand-daughter Chloe was just barely walking when we saw her the last time. The next week Rachael reports that not only is she walking, but that she is RUNNING! Good grief they grow up fast!

I'm in a lot of new Block swaps. Always sign up for way more than I need to do. Well, I do plan on doing most of them from my stash. My Thursday Bee are all going in together on 7 bolts of of ICE fabrics (that is Ivory, Cream and Ecru). I need to take some pictures of the swap that we just finished from my NO PITA Blockbuilders that meets once a quarter. It was Churndashes done with BRIGHTS and Black on White or White on Blacks. The new swaps all are using the creamy backgrounds and either civil war repros or scrappy fabrics.

Well, I thought I was getting rid of a LOT of fabric. A large container packed and overflowing with fabrics. Donated to the ARTITUDE bunch that is going to make a crazy quilt for a fund raiser for the next quilt show. I ended up coming home with a car packed to the gills with 'stuff' from a friend who is moving to San Antonio. She was having the junk movers come at 4:30, so we were all 'rescueing' good stuff that was just going to get dumped. Still going through things, but I think the neatest thing was the stone tumbler doo-hicky thingee. Can't wait to put some of the Huatulco shells and glass that we brought home in there and see what comes out.

PC or Mac?


Don't you all enjoy those Mac ads where PC is valiantly trying to prove himself as good as Mac? Well, I've been a PC user since the mid 80's and you would think that when I asked for a new computer for my birthday that I might consider a Mac. Well, I didn't, and I got a new Dell. Actually, it has been a pretty painless switch-over from my old pc to the new one. I was also afraid of Vista, but apparently I've got Microsoft 7. I actually kinda like it. Guess I'm that nerdy PC guy.

New Year, New Goals, New Directions

Well, 2008 was certainlyl an eventful year. My first granddaughter was born, survived my first hurricane (we evacuated for Rita), bought land for retirement, saw a black man elected president. Hmm, all that was just in the last quarter of 2008. That's not to say nothing happened the rest of the year. Just that those rather over-shadow the first part of the year!

We had the whole family here for Christmas, and Chloe has grown so much, and is such a cutie. This picture she is just over 3 months.





Was nice to have everyone here. Why is it that Lindsey is always in her pajamas when we take a picture? In the background are the palm trees that Jon got me for Christmas. I loved the palm trees at our old house, and these will make a nice screen between us and the new house behind us.

My daughter Lindsey is the artsy one. She designs product packaging for HEB, a regional grocery store in Texas, and this was one of the labels that she put on the homemade goodies that she made for Christmas. Her finance is the 'meat' guy at HEB and Lindseys last name is Baker. Harley made venison jerky and Lindsey made some awesome cornbread and hot pepper jelly.

More on Chloe !

Chloe is still less than a day old, but you can grandma and grandpa Baker are surely proud of her! Those grins stayed on our face for quite some time! The nurses wrapped her up like a little burrito, but she insists on getting her hands free and up by her face.

Not a lot going on in the hospital. We stayed most of every afternoon to keep mommy company, and give dad a chance to run some errands. We got lots of walking in, as the only place to eat was on the other side of the hospital complex. Lots of flowers and well wishes were sent by friends and family.

The hospital staff was great, and didn't try to kick us out. Was kind of surprised at how 'open' visiting hours were.

Welcome Chloe!

Our first grandbaby was born Sept 20, 2008! Came in at a whopping 8 lb. 6 oz. Of course she is beautiful and has already won our hearts!

Little Chloe Michelle has settled in for the day. She likes to sleep all day and keep mom and dad awake all night!

Both sets of grandparents were there and waited for this first grandchild on both sides of the family. Chloe grabs on to our fingers and gives them a squeeze!





More pictures to come!