For Judy, The giver of OWLS

Made this video for my sister, Judy. She gives me owls and more owls. Enough already lol.

Tune in for more crafting for friends (and family) videos!

100 Days of Doilies Day 80

Deb said her Great Gramma made this one. How sweet. I am very partial to purple.

100 Days of Doilies Day 31

Not doilies but hand crocheted probably by my Great Gramma Karrick. Gloves!!! Tiny exquisite gloves! My sister found them in her attic during a recent purge. Yeah, I'll take those.

100 Days of Doilies Day 19

An interesting pair of motif based doilies. I am going to go out on a limb and say that MAYBE my Great Gramma Karrick made these. I know I didn't.

Steampunk Scrapbook Page 78/365

My cousin, Belinda, made me a scrapbook page using my Steampunk pics off Facebook

How cool is this?!?

Funny story about Belinda. Growing up my last name was Tutwiler....Since this was not in the South where Tutwiler is in fact a GRAND OLD NAME...imagine going through life being called Buttwiler, Titwiler and Tutwater. Belinda is from my mom's side of the family and she married a cousin of mine from my dad's side of the family and guess what? Now she's the Tutwiler . I just find this hilarious for some reason.

Me and Dee (Like mother, Like daughter) 331/365

I was going to post a picture of my newest doofy hat but I was saved by the appearance of a facebook tagging....the picture I got with my daughter on my recent visit home. Doofy hat tomorrow...you've been warned!

My Son the Farmer 298/365

My oldest son Gabe was bitten by the Garden bug this year. He's already planning for next year! Oh how I miss that good black Illinois dirt. (And I would kill for a big fat ripe acid ridden tomato)

Here's his youngest daughter acting like Gramma Becky

Blast from the Past- Helen Hunt Falls with Brian 179/365

The Gifting of the Gordons 105/365

I mailed out Deanna and Brian's box of knitted goodness today. I was happy with it and I hope to get a picture of the whole family in their dooffy hats.

  You have seen pictures of Deanna but have you seen Brian? Here he is with me a couple of years ago being a good sport (oh my the poses we set him up in on that trip)

My Daughter's Daughters 98/365

I have a beautiful daughter who has beautiful daughters.

A Grand Haul from Gina 80/365

Oh my my what a day! Up down UP down...emotional roller coaster times 10.

I got a call from a former boss wanting website work done. Yes, I need the money but I am reluctant to accept the job because he's so hard to work for.

I got a call from someone who saw my website and wants a walking stick but wants badges/souveniers from different countries his wife had visited. "Look on Ebay for some and call me back dude"

The cuffs I beaded for the new fox stick weren't a good enough contrast so I have to make another set. The good news is Jack's etsy shop is getting a lot of attention...yay!

I opened my email to find a message from my first real BF, Rick Anderson. Not good as he killed himself a year ago. WTH!?! It was obviously a hack job and I reported it to Yahoo. Ugh.

I called my sister to tell her about the email and she told me my wayward brother's address so that was good.

Jack got the dreaded "End of Unemployment Benefits" letter but I got him signed up for another round so we are hopefully OK for another couple of months.

I went to Miss Jean's memorial service and cried my eyes out. She was dearly loved and everyone is really missing her. I gave Pam a copy of the picture I posted of Jean yesterday and everyone got a good chuckle. Jean would have loved that.

The best thing that happened though is the package I got from my upstream IME (International Moleskine Exchange) partner, Gina. I am overwhelmed by her generosity. Yards and yards of baby alpaca (blue) 100% silk (pink) and a lovely Merino lace weight (reds, golds, oranges), a new moley, tea, candy and other goodies....woooooooooooooooo!!!!!!! Check it out!

Living with an Alcoholic and Smuggling Sweetcorn

Jack's nephew, Kyle, has been here since July 5 or so. He's a raging alcoholic and the family back home had hoped we could help him. We couldn't. He doesn't want help. Tonight I had it out with him because he wanted his last $100 to go party on. Hey, I can't pay my bills and you want to go party AGAIN?!? What's wrong with this picture? I have watched him piss away $1600 in five weeks. It's not fair and I'm about to blow up. Of course Grandma is coming to rescue him Friday so I guess I should just be relieved, but truthfully I am hot, hot, HOT under the collar about the whole thing. He was in the backyard being belligerent on the phone to his pregnant girlfriend, Emmy, at the top of his lungs at midnight last night. He slept all day while Jack and I did yard work until he got up and went swimming. Then he came home and took a shower...uh don't they have showers at the damn swimming pool? No, no that's OK, keep running our bills up...it's what you do best....ARGHHHHHHHHHHHH!

On a lighter note, you know you're from Illinois when you put sweetcorn in your checked luggage on the flight home.

My Pregnant Daughter

My daughter, Deanna, is having her first baby in early June. I actually thought maybe she wouldn't have children but I'm glad she took the plunge. My daughter-in-law, Emmy Lou Combs, threw a baby shower for her last weekend. I finally got to see what Deanna looks like pregnant!