It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here!

The tree is up and with Xaviers help, maybe even Brock we will start to build our town today! OK, put the Christmas Village that hasn't be up for a couple of years. Kylee thought it was a buffet, it was at the right height and fences and light poles started to disappear! I have so many beautiful pieces I know the boys will love, so we will give it another try!

Last night we went with the girls and their families to see the light display put on at the Jackson Fair Grounds. It was awesome, Xavier loved it, Brock bounced up and down on his Mom's lap looking at all the colors. After that we stopped at the main building and visited with Santa, went on a train ride, looked a cool trees, made a Reindeer out of a candy cane. Yup is was good, then we all went to dinner and ate entirely unhealthy food. It was fabulous!! LOL

A Grand Suprise happened this week!! I got an email from Todd & Erin and was instructed not to open it until I had hubby with me and they were on the phone line with us. I opened the image and this is what I saw!

What a wonderful suprise. I am so joyful that Todd and Erin had this moment together before he is deployed. We could actually count that time in hours now. I pray and will keep my fingers and toes crossed that he can manipulate his RandR to be here for the precious event of the birth of his first child!

Well I am sure you all wonder what it is like to live with two very large dogs. Spectacular most of the time, so much love from them, and they makes us laugh and they make us smile all the time. However Christmas does present a problem with all the goodies I won't give up on putting up. So maybe the beauty of Christmas is hampered just a little by the things we have to do to make thing safe. But, I would rather do those things than live a day without our four legged family!

So a Merry, Merry Christmas to you all!
Dilly

I am busy, busy, busy getting ready for Christmas how about you?

My goal in changing my blog was to share items I was working on and how to make them. Well, heck this is a lousy time to do that because everything I am working on is a Christmas Present and most of the people who read this are people who will be on the recieving end! LOL So I guess the how to's will have to wait for a couple of weeks.

I got the basic tree up, this means my foo-foo color coordinated, beautiful tree is decorated, now the big box of very special ornaments comes out and we put all the memories up to make it the very special tree it is! Here are a few ideas to make your tree even more special. Find something Red,White & Blue to put at the toop with your star, Angel, or bow. Remember our troops serving here or over seas. I put a piece of RW&B ribbon on our tree back when Desert Storm was active. Each year I thought about taking it off, but it has remained there, never thinking it would be on the tree to represent my support and love for our son, who will be overseas for the next couple of Christmas!

For fun, tie a couple of cinnamon sticks together with some pretty ribbon and hang them on a branch near a light. Good smelling. Xaviers favorite and cheap kid decoration is putting white glue on the edges of pinecones and rolling them in glitter. Tie a pretty cord around the top and you have a very nice ornament!

I still have one package to go out to the East Coast for my Neice and her family. I am working hard to have everything ready to ship so it makes it there on time! I of course am at the typical fill in the holes stage of my list for a few people, but mostly I am comfy of where I am with the whole "present" thing. It will be cookie and goodie time next week. Probably fudge on Monday with Xavier or maybe I will go down to Heathers and we can all make goodies together! I'll have to figure that one out.

Since we are celebrating Christmas Day at my house, I am pretty sure a couple days will be dedicated to cleaning also, maybe even turn the oven onto the clean cycle!! Hopefully it will be chilly enough for that next week!! Right now they are calling for 50 some degrees tomorrow at least with falling temps!!

So I am off and running with hubby to run the treasure trails of Kalamazoo today! You all have a wonderful day!

Dilly

Time to start sharing some goodies with you all!

OK, it’s time to get to work on this blog. I had promised some tutorials of things I attempt and I am even adding in recipes from time to time. I wanted to start out with a project that I fell in love with, but then I realized I was making a few for Christmas Presents, so DUH that wouldn’t work. I will post that info after Christmas. So I guess I will start with a recipe I had promised a few of my friends that I would share.

The family is doing fine. Today we went with the daughters and their families to pick out live Christmas Trees. We went to a local Christmas Tree Farm and Heather, Kirk and Xavier found a tree and cut it down. Shannon, Shawn and Brock finally found their tree already cut up by the office. Brock said, Yup that one will do!!! I know I heard him whisper that to his Mom! LOL

While we were out looking for trees, Erin and Todd were sharing their time packing him up for deployment. Ok, so Erin said Todd was packing and she was checking his list!! No I can’t share when the window is of his deployment but I will give you a sign when he leaves, don’t worry you will figure it out!

So here is the recipe and I am doing it two ways, healthy for those who want to do that (ingredients changed in parenthesis), and I am sure, tasty for those who want to live on the edge!!! LOL

Cranberry Walnut Scones
2 cups Flour (whole wheat pastry flour)
1 tbsp baking powder
5 tbsp sugar (brown sugar)
½ tsp salt
3 tbsp margarine (1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce)
1 egg (1 tsp egg replacer)
3/4 cup dried cranberries
½ cup walnut pieces
¾ cup milk (soy milk)

Combine the flour, baking powder, ¾ of the sugar and the salt. Cut in the margarine (add applesauce) until crumbly.
Mix in egg (egg replacer), cranberries and walnuts. Gradually add the milk (soy milk) until thick dough forms. You may need a little bit more or less than ¾ cup milk.

Place on a lightly floured surface and knead lightly a few times. Roll out to a ¾ inch thickness and cut into triangles or use a cookie cutter. Brush the top of each with a bit of milk and sprinkle the remainder of the sugar.
Bake at 450 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes on a lightly greased (sprayed) baking sheet. Remove when lightly browned and place on rack to cool. Brew some coffee or tea and enjoy!

Although Erin and Todd's presents are safely on their way, I am still working like a madwoman on the rest of the goodies for the local family. Christmas is at our house this year, so I have all the decorating to do for that too! But for me I am actually ahead of the game this year!!

Have a great weekend everyone and pass some smiles and Happy Holidays around!

Dilly

Sorry for the mess!

I am making some changes and hoping to improve my blog. I am working toward some changes in my life and want that to be reflected on my blog. So stay tuned and once I am up and running maybe you will enjoy the changes and share some of the info with friends! There will be more how to's and sharing of whatever goodie I am currently busy doing!

I walked into a small store/studio and the first thing that came to mind other than WOW was that I wanted a store like that. So my goal is to work on all the things I enjoy, share my experiments and know how with all of you!

Of course you will still see the goings on from all my family thrown in regularly. After all they are the main reason I live and breath, the rest is just the frosting on my cake!!

So standby for the changes. Until I am done, have a Happy and Wonderful Holiday!

Dilly

Sunshine and Frosty Frost on the ground!

It was 29 degrees this morning, so the frost was thick and white this morning. You could etch your name in it! But even though the skies are pretty grey right now the sun is shining enough to run my solar fountains in the garden. Pee Boy is getting his daily workout!!!

Here is a pic of our Son and DIL taken this past week at a Dine In for Todd's Unit on base! Handsome couple!!!



We have been working hard so we are ready for Todd & Erin to come and visit us for a few days! We have a house rented for a few days so the entire family can stay together. The girls have worked out a menu so all the family favorites can be munched on from Milk Toast (yes my crazy kids love it) to Home made Pizza! Hubby and I will do our vegeterian thing as much as possible. But who can pass up some our very favorite foods in th entire world!! LOL The last time Todd came home I fell so far off the wagon I couldn't catch back up. Now that I have taken 16 lbs back off I am going to work hard at keeping the amounts to a minimum!

Hubby picked up the first two seasons of the Dog Whisperer with Cesar Milan they have been very insightful and hopefully it will teach us, what we have been doing wrong. Let's see Kylee is the Pack Leader and we follow her every whim. That could be the problem!!! LOL So now I get to retrain hubby! He know's he is the problem now we just have to get him to change!!

So Todd wants snow while he is home in Michigan, and it looks like maybe a few flakes might make his wish come true the end of next week! Between CA and the flatlands of CO and TX he has not seen any in a couple of years. He thinks there is a chance he could see some in Afghanistan, but not his goal!!

Well I am off and running with hubby. Have a good one and I hope I can jump back on here before we take off with the family. If not be prepared for a lot of photos when I get back!

Dilly

Blue skies, in the 50's and the leaves are mostly gone!

I am looking out my window near my computer. The sky is a beautiful soft blue, with whisps of clouds dragging across the horizon. The trees are a etched black and grey looking so forlorn without their leaves. I am just glad it is in the 50's and the grass is still green and not covered with the "S" word!

We spent yesterday in Lansing with all of Randys family. His parents headed down to Florida early this morning for their last winter down there. They will be looking for someplace around here to spend next winter. That will be nice to have them close and be able to share with them!

The grandsons are growing so fast it is amazing. Baby Brock looks like he is 4 months old and just getting near 2. He is very good, but has been having some tummy problems that give his Mom & Dad fits at times. Xavier is such a great kid, so polite, a bundle of energy and always willing to give a hug, kiss and noseys to most anyone! He wanted to ride home with Grammie and Papa last night from the family get-together, he lasted about 1/2 a mile before he went nite-nite!

We did manage a skype visit so Todd could see and chat with his Grandparents. It's been over 2 years since they have seen him and will miss his visit 9 days from now.

So, cleaning, fixing up and relaxing are on my list of things to do today! A little research on the computer thrown in for interesting!! Have a good one everybody!

Dilly

October is flying by!

Man what happened to the first part of October? Here it is the 20th and I can't remember the days flying by like that!


I have been busy since I chatted last time. We had dinner with Shannon, Shawn and baby Brock on Saturday night and found some really good salads at Chilis. I went to see Xavier taking his last swimming classat the YMCA, that kid is not scarred of anything!! Monday night we did geo-caching (treasure hunting) with Xavier and found a few and couldn't find a few more! We will be trying again, maybe next Monday night.


We had a good week finding treasure for our work and Randy has a big write up for a knitting machine that walks, talks, has a bench, etc. It was a very good find.

I am cleaning! I am first cleaning bookshelves out and organizing them so I can get more books in there. I am such a Book-HO and having the Goodwills in our area selling them for 4 for $1.00 sucks me in everytime. Not only does it provide me with more reading than I can handle, it also provides me with a library of how to books that I can pretty much tell you how to do most anything regarding home, cooking vegetarian, decor, crafts etc. I do need more bookshelves!! LOL

The weather is wet and chilly, but I don't mind, I love jeans and layered tops! My preferred clothing and it beats sweating your butt off anyday! We have hubbies family get-together before his parents head to Florida for the winter. This will be their last winter down there, they are going to get rid of their mobile home and stay in Michigan next year! That will be a little different. Plus we will be looking for someplace around here for them to stay, to be able to see them anytime puts a smile on hubbies face!

Our eating plan is coming together, we are at about 16 dinner style meals that we really like. I won't say there aren't some very bad ones out there, we have had a few, but we keep going. Last night was chili and it was freaking wonderful. I am finally feeling confident enough to substitute things so I can make the food we are use to eating. I am still perplexed about meatloaf, but you never know!! 15 lbs have melted off me in 6 weeks, and my blood pressure is at 116 over 78 which is great, and no daily highs and lows which was one of my biggest concerns! What with filing for Social Security earlier this week, I would really like to hang around and harrass my children for a long, long time! LOL

So off to do more cleaning, maybe a little reading. I hit my 50 reads for the year, I wonder how many I will have by the end of the year?? Less than two weeks before Erin & Todd will be here!! YEHAAAAA The plans are coming together for their visit!

Have a wonderful day and pass around a smile and make someone else smile!

Dilly

Relaxing this morning!

I woke up around 4:30 am this morning, couldn't get back to sleep. Around 5:00 am Dozer decided he wanted to hop into bed and join us. Yah, I didn't get back to sleep so got my robe on, grabbed my current read, and came down stairs. After I got my nest comfy (chair, reading light, blankie, etc) I read for a while. Then made coffee and put a batch of banana nut muffins in the oven.


We have been making beads regularly and listing them on Ebay! They have been recieved well and the extra fund is building nicely. I guess after nearly 9 years every once in a while I need a break. What is wonderful that even after 9 years once at the torch I am sucked in by the flame!! There isn't many crafts that I can say that about! Randy take a few minutes every once in a while to turn out his beautiful little spacers! I am so glad he has the patienc for those!!


Yesterday I was lucky enough to ride with our two daughters, one SIL, and my to grandson's down to IKEA near Detroit and wander around and enjoy all the goodies. I was inspired, picked up a few little goodies, and got lot's of ideas! I found some yummy shelves that I would just frigging love to put in our office!! Six foot wide and 6' tall with what looked to be 18" cubes for books and goodies! I will be looking for that for sure!!

So working on the house this weekend, making and listing beads, cleaning and just enjoying the days is on my schedule!! Enjoy your weekend!!

Dilly

Probably Our Last Warm Day for a While!!

It's hump day/garbage day/Wednesday and it's sneaking up toward 70 today! Then the cool weather comes back and the long pants and long sleeves come back out! Since it's mid October if we get another warm day like this it will be a welcome suprise!

We hit the road early this morning and dropped the conversion van off to have the exhaust worked on. One of Shawns clients fixed it up quick, and we got to oggle the Monster Trucks that he builds!!! He ships them all over the world! But now our van is nice and quiet.

While Dave was working on our big van, we took the little one over and picked up Shannon and Brock and brought them back home for the day. Shannon is doing fine, but is not suppose to do much with her right wrist. Not even pull on the frig handle. Like she said, they should have wrapped up her fingers and thumbs if they didn't want her to grab something! So Papa has been doing diaper changes, Grammie has been feeding, and Brock currently is out and sleeping on Mom's Lap!


Other than that I have one more book to hit my 50 for the year! Not sure how many I will actually do, I go through times of beeing sucked into reading and other times where I just like to sit and relax! We will see!

Have a good day talk to you tomorrow!!

Dilly

A Beautiful Tuesday in October!

Well I am back as promised! Right now I am waiting to hear how Shannon's second wrist surgery went. She is getting both her wrist (Carpal Tunnel) done during her maternity leave. Of course the surgeon she works with is a hand specialist and is doing the surgery on both of them. I am sure all is well!

This past weekend we spent at the Pottawotamie Recreation Area with both our daughters and their families! It was great!!!! Hubby is looking at the photo album as I type and said "I suppose we should make this at least a yearly thing???" Yup, and my wish is that someday Todd & Erin can come and join us!!! That would be pefect!


While we were at the campsite the entire place celebrated Halloween with decorations, parades, candy, hayrides, the entire shebang. My sister, Michelle. came down and all our little trick-or-treaters were dressed as bananas! A great time was had by all!


Hubby and I are working on a new way of eating. Almost 2 years ago we went Organic and I would say we were at around 80%. There are still things you just can't get organic. We still do that as much as possible. Recently we entroduced a bigger percentage of fruits and vegetables into our diet. I can't tell you how many pounds of blueberries I have frozen!!!

A month ago we watched the movie "Forks over Knives". It was a big eye opener and with much discussion, some trips through the grocery stores and eating up of things in the freezer we started a new path. We are eating a "Whole Food ~ Plant Based" diet. What that means is no meat, dairy products, eggs, or oils. After reading a couple of books on this style of eating. We are following the Engine #2 diet written by Rip Esselstyn. This diet follows the regiment of the Forks over Knives that his dad, Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn, and Dr. Colin Campbell came up with after decades of research. Yes, it is pretty much vegan, but actually more food stringent, without the political garbage! When I told Todd what we were doing he said "OMG Mom don't frigging turn into a Vegan they are all nuts!!!! So we won't use the "V" word. We choose to do ths for health reasons, not animal rights reasons. I don't condone any harm to animals, but you won't see me throwing myself between the farmer and the chicken!

So you ask what do we eat well this morning it was Shredded wheat, with blueberries, bananas, sliced almonds, soy milk and honey, with a huge glass of tomato juice (not concentrated). YUMMMY! I won't tell you that a big juicy hamburg doesn't smell and look scrumptious, but I look at what is left in the pan and know that is what is coating our blood vessels and I can live with out it for now!! LOL

So off and running today, I think we will be doing the Lansing area and stopping in and checking on Shannon on our way back! You all enjoy this beautiful day, it's going to bevfall weather again soon!

Dilly

Darn it, lets try this again!!!

I have been told I am a lazy no good Blogger and I need to get my buttkiss back in gear. So let's try this again!!

Since my last post, I have been enjoying my Grandson's Brock and Xavier.


Xavier is growing so fast and is a busy, busy little guy! He is doing preschool two days a week, gymnastics, swimming and story time! We are still doing Monday nights with him for dinner and spending the time getting in trouble finding things to do! We enjoy geo-caching, taking photos, working on craft projects, taking bike rides and just hanging together!


Brock is 6 weeks old and growing like a weed. He has been on the run since the day his little feet made it outside the hospital. He has been to to monster truck shows, camping, visiting his Grandparent Binkleys up North, and his Great Papa and Grammie Schafer too!

Other than watching the little boys grow, Hubby and I have been busy making beads, hitting the road for the business, and playing with our dogs. Since Fall is making it's entry we are looking at working on the house and what we want to get done over the cold winter that is approaching! But even better, in about 3 weeks we are looking forward to seeing Todd and Erin who hope to be in Michigan for about a week for predeployment leave!! We are working on a family weekend get-away while they are visiting to just relax and enjoy every moment of being back together as a family!!

I promise to keep going on my blog, I still need to share with you our new changes in our life. Yah, the next time I will share our no meat, dairy, oil, eating Whole Foods, plant based diet we have been doing for over a month! I said in my Blog description we would try all kinds of wild and crazy things, I wasn't kidding!!!!

Have a great day and pass a smile or two around!

Dilly

Our New Grandson has kept me busy!!!

Yes after years of waiting for a child and working so hard jumping through all kinds of hoops and costing $$$$$$$ we have a new Grandson. Shannon and Shawn introduced us to Mr. Brock Michael Binkley! Brock came into this world on August 25th at 3:33pm, weighing 8lbs, 8.6oz, 21 1/2" long. He wsa born on my sisters birthday and what a way to thank his Great Aunt Michelle, for making it possible for all the medical procedures possible!!


Brock gave his parents a bit of hassel because he didin't want to eat, and after having his tongue clipped he drank down an entire 2 oz. bottle. So all is well and he and his parents are arriving home as I type!

While we sat and waited for our little bundle of joy we were watching the weather channel to see how it was effecting Todd and Erin. The kids did well through Hurricane Irene, just water and limbs. The have their power back now and are fine. Other family out east did good too and so glad everyone is safe!

So back to the real world and enjoy being the Grammie of two precious little dudes and all the wonderful perks that come with it!

Dilly

Well it's August 20th and still NO new Grand Baby!

Keeping ourselves busy, with our phones charged, a bag packed with camera, phone charger, a good book and knitting! We are ready, but George Peanut is just laying low enjoying his last days of relaxation floating around in Mom's tummy! Shannon had an ultrasound yesterday and George/Georgina looks to be about 8lbs 11 oz and the estimate for birthdate from all the data is August 24th. So I told Shannon I would see her on Wednesday!! I really don't care as long as the baby and Shannon are healthy! Oh granted I am so excited to hold this little one and start telling them how much Grammie loves them. These days of anticipation just seem to be dragging! But soon it will just be a memory and a new wonderful child will be here to love!

I have been talking to Todd regularly and sounds like we have no idea when he will be able to come home for a visit. The latest I heard from a conversation he had with Shannon is it all might be moved back a few months. That too is OK, because it is more time he and Erin have together at their new home! Maybe it will allow some of our family the time to go out and visit them before he is deployed! I am sure both his sisters will try to make the trip if time allows!

Well it's Saturday and I am suppose to be hitting the road with hubby for our second Ebay account Needs Things! But I begged off for the early start because I need to hit the showers. So I had better get that over with and then give him a call to pick me up and run the roads with him! 4 days this week on the roads, I am whipped and really don't feel that great! But, life goes on!

Have a good one everybody and pass a smile along when you can!
Dilly

George Peanut is late and I am waiting!!!

Yup you read right. Our soon to be new Grand Baby, AKA George Peanut was due yesterday! I actually picked out todays date as his birthday becasue we have a family history of taking the Month August =8 and doubling it for the birthday. So 8-16 works for me. But, since Georges Mommie is working today chances are pretty slim! Oh well, as long as the baby is healthy we can go down this road for awhile. Eventually this little sweetie has to make an appearance!

We have had cooler temps, and have enjoyed the much better weather without the humidity! Just enough rain to keep things green and growing! I noticed I have way to much green in my gardens right now, so I need to pay attention see what is spouting color around other peoples yards now and get some to liven up my flowers. So Black-eyed-susan is on my list along with Red Hot Pokers. That should start to liven up things!

Another Monday evening with Xavier yesterday. But, just a quiet evening putting in Grammies Garden lights, cooking on the grill, reading books and being introduced to Fraggle Rock. I found all 106 episodes on NetFlix. Plus I have a pile of Uncle Todd's books from Fraggle Rock.

Xavier likes to look at the pictures on my phone and can navigate through my phone like a pro. Yesterday and ton's of "That's Cute" from him. He looked at me and said, "How come no pictures of Grammie?". That little 3 year old is pretty perceptive! I told him because I was the one taking the pictures. I guess I better get out the regular camera and let Papa take a few!

So nothing new around here, just waiting for our little bundle of joy and keeping the daily juggling of things to do in the air. I hope you are all enjoying your end up summer!! Only one more week and my sister will be moved back to Michigan that will be good to be able to see her more regularly!!

Have a wonderful day and pass a smile and a hug around!
Dilly

This week is looking up, cooler temps!!

No whining from me this week. Highs in the 70's and lows in the 60's and 50's. Call me a happy lady!!!

Summer is going well and we have been getting enough rain lately to keep things green without a lot of watering. Hubby has certainly helped by installing a new water faucet in my garden and on the back of the house. At least now if I have to drag the hose it isn't over 200 feet of it!!

Looks like Todd and Erin will be visiting us the first part of October!!! As long as his knee is holds out his deployment will be sometime after that! I hope for him that it heals and he can get on with his life with less pain!

Shannon is doing well isn't really waddeling yet, but her ankles are making up for it!! I can say that I am so excited to see this new little one. Their bags and the car seat are packed and in the back of their new SUV!!!

Heather and family are in painting mode! The stager has visited and told them what needs to be done so their house will sell! So paint, paint, paint!!! I hope after all the work the house moves quickly for them!


Xavier continues to have dinner and spend the evening with Grammie & Papa on Mondays. We have to figure out something for tonight! Last week we introduced him to Geo-Caching and had a ball. There are lot's of caches around here and maybe we will slip a couple more in tonight!


My sister is moving back to Michigan and she closed on her house last week. So now she is packing up and will be driving here in a few weeks. It will be nice to have family to celebrate all the special occasions. It's been a long time since I could do that! Welcome home Sis!

So time to get the day kick started! I wish you all a beautiful day!
Dilly

A very warm Monday to you all!

Almost 90 with tons of humidity to go with it! I have given myself a new title I am a Weather Anti-Extremist! I don't like it melting frigging hot, and I am not that thrilled with the extreme opposite with freezing crazy cold either. I have found a city I might be forced to move to with average temps in the 70's during the day and 50-60 at night!!! Oceanside, CA I have you in my sights if my Mitten State can't get it's act in gear!!!

Today is our Monday Playday with Xavier, we will be picking him up in a few minutes to spend the evening with him. Tonights itinerary is some geocaching and looking for treasure!! We will see how it goes and post some pictures. Then home for sausage with pinapple and shrooms!! YUM

Nothing much new other than that, we are on grandbaby watch and wait, Todd got his Lance Corporal appointment today, Heather found out they could get a lone to buy a different house, and hubby and I figured out how to GeoCache without killing each other!! That's a good day at our house!!! LOL

Have a great day everyone!
Dilly

Yah....I Know.....I am Bad!!!!!

Ok, life is going at a 100 miles an hour sometimes. But I am going to try and slow down and keep my blog up and running!

Let's see my book list is way behind, I have been readying as usual, but didn't take the time to write them down on here! I'll have to do some research and update that list.

Baby Binkley is due in 2 weeks!!!! OMG I am so excited to be a Grammie to another wonderful grandbaby, but so excited for Shannon and Shawn who have waited so many years to to this. I don't think there is anything that they don't already have for this bundle of ultimate joy!! Now just pray for all ten toes and ten fingers!!!

Xavier has celebrated his 3rd birthday, and continues to be such a sweet, wonderful, happy boy! Grammie and Papa love spending time with him and have begun a Monday Nite Playday with him. As I told Shannon we are update to the new Grandparents 2.0 to get ready for Baby Binkley. We need to step up our gameplan!!!

Heather and Kirk have been enjoying their trailer at the lake, fishing, and the backyard pool that has made this hot summer tolerable. They are in a state of flux right now deciding if they want or can sell and move. Hopefully not far away, just to the outskirts of town,more space and what they consider a better neighborhood!

Todd and Erin sign on the dotted line next week for their first base housing. A 2 bedrom home that they can call their own. Todd is rehabbing with his knee that was injured when a bus hit the door of his vehicle when he was getting into it! So far so good, I pray it get's better, both Shannon and I know how painful and what a long road it is to get back to 100%. To do that and be challenged by being a Marine has to be even harder. Todd will be having a ceremony next week and we will be calling him Lance Corporal Schafer then!! Congrats to him!

Randy and I have been van shopping and finally brought one home. We will see how the dogs like the leather interior of the GMC Savanna Conversion Van! I know I am going to like it!

I'll pop some pictures on tomorrow, but I am off and shopping for some groceries for the food I am taking to the Schafer Family Reunion this afternoon!

Have a good one and I promise to get back on here regulary, if only to myself!!

Dilly

YES.....I am still alive!

I am not going to apologize, but I do feel guilty not getting on here very much lately. I will tell you that I have been very busy doing some stuff that I can' share until after Sunday! Hint, Hint it is my daughter Shannon's baby shower so Grammie has been busy!!!

Everything else is going well. Todd and Erin are looking for a place to call their own, it sounds like the base is telling them to hold tight and they might be able to get into base housing sooner than they thought!

Heather has been enjoying their above ground pool at home, spending days at their trailer at the campground and just trying to keep up with Xavier!

Mr. Xavier is growing physially, his speech is growing by leaps and bounds, and he has savee a little of his terrible twos' for the last month before he springs into the 3's. Not a lot of terrible but you can start to see some little changes! That's OK, we love him more than I could have ever guessed.

The gardens are planted, the flowers are blooming and the grape vines are twining all over, so summer is great. After the baby shower, I think I will just set around and eat bon, bon's and wait for that new Grand Baby! Yah, right!!! I have fences to paint, weeds to pull, glass to melt and enjoy whatever each day brings. Since I wrote last, our Miss Kylee turned 3 and Mr. Dozer turned 1, they keep me busy, young and give us so much unconditional love!! I really don't know what we would do without them!

I hope your summer is turning out to be a beautiful one! I am in countdown mode for that baby predicted for August 15th. Xavier and Grammie will be waiting!!

Dilly

Wow life has been flying by with all kinds of things!

Between Mother Nature, Family Reunions, and trying to get stuff done around here I have been flying low the last couple of week!

100 mph winds hit Battle Creek last Sunday, the devestation is really, really bad. Thousands of trees down, hundreds of people with their homes smashed from falling trees, and no power for thousands still after5 days. We were lucky enough to get our power back on late Tuesday night. They had told us early Thursday so we were thrilled! The 90 degree heat during the outage was just peachy!!! NOT!


The yard is looking spectacular, my vison of 3 years ago is coming together and I am a happy camper. My garden area is beautiful and I have a few more vegetables that I need to put in. The grape vines are starting to grow like crazy so the new arbor we built this spring will be looking good soon! I just have to work on the landscaping underneath it!


Todd is now in North Carolina and checking in this morning! He will find out what the schedule is for him to go and get Erin and make their first real home! I am so excited for them and hope that all goes well! I know it won't go smoothly, they are working with Uncle Sam, but after trials and trbulations I am sure they will succeed beautifuly!

I and my family attended the Dillingham Family Reuion over Memorial Day weekend. Over 50 of my Aunts, Uncles, cousins 1st, 2nd and 3rd enjoyed catching up with each other!

So next on my agenda is Shannon's Baby Shower on the 26th of this month, continue to work around the house, do some more quilting, and wait for that new Grand Baby due in August!! Can you see me smiling from ear to ear!! Yah!!!!!

Dilly

A foggy May morning here!

Good Morning all!

Well the rain continues and this morning we are plagued with thick fog. But it is suppose to lift and have a sunshine and 70degree day!

We have been having some good weeks, attending auctions, hitting garage sales, and doing lot's of local treasure trails. It seems to be working and the gas has been cut back significantly, which helps at close to $4.00 a gallon.

It is just about time to start planting outside. The weather is a warmer and the last frost date is near. The rain however is holding everything back, it's so wet outside. But I think I will make an attempt to start the ball rolling today!

Todd got the unofficial news that he will be stationed at Camp LeJune, North Carolina next. He should get his official orders sometime next week. Now he and Erin can start planning the next step of their lives. I know she has been sorting and figuring out what to keep, what to take, what to get rid of. I am sure they are both so excited just to be together again!!

Xavier is growing like a little weed and this spring he is attempting so many more things. He is out and rolling down the hill, planting stuff with Grammie, picking up poop with Papa and just having a good time! It is a joy just to watch him grow. Then to be blessed with the additional joy of having a new little one to love here in a couple of months is exciting! Who said growing older is a bummer! You just need to slow down and enjoy all the wonderful things that surround you!!


Have a great weekend all and pass some smiles and huggies around!
Dilly

May 11th everything is green and growing!

So how is spring in your part of the world? We have had enough rain so that everything is lush and green right now. The lawn has had it's first mow and I got my grape vines up before they blossomed!

I hope you all had a great Mothers Day. I know I did, spending the day with the girls and their families, having a pizza dinner, building my grape arbor that was my present from my daughters and hubby! Skyping and talking to Todd on and off all day! I wish he and Erin could have been here to share in the laughs and food.

Now all I have to do to finish my spring goals is get my flag pole up so I can fly my new Marine Flag!! Then I will putter painting and adding in stuff as spring and summer come and go! I mean I could make a list of stuff I want to get accomplished, but it would be forever long!

Spent yesterday with Heather and Xavier. It was her birthday and we hit some stores, had lunch and Xavier and I had a nap at my house. It was great and he is just growing, growing, growing! It made me smile most of the day and not be sad because it was also the 35th year of my Mom's passing on the same date! Love you Mom!

I finally have the Family Tree Design done!!! Now to see if I can get it printed out in large format. If not it's cut and past time! UGHHHH! My cousins have to stop having kids or grandkids, it's all I can do to get them all on one design! I call a moritorium on any more Dillinghams!!! Oh, thats right I have a new grandbaby and great nephew on the way. I guess I will just have to print smaller!!! LOL

Have a wonderful warm day today!
Dilly

Last Day on the Road!!!! Yippeeeee

It's Thursday and we are about to head out the door! We have been having such a cool start to each day it's hard deciding what to wear. We start in the 30's and have highs in the 50's to almost 70's. It's a reall head banger as far as my sinus, and I take all my meds with us. I have finally decided on Birky's jeans a light shirt and my spring jacket that has a rubber lining. Layers Baby if you want to make it in Michigan!! LOL

I have been very lucky this week. I finally managed to come up with a beautiful bag that I am thrilled to carry. Plus I was gifted an even more special bag that I am privileged to carry. Good thing I don't put much in my purse anymore so it's easy to switch them out easily. Below is my latest rag quilting project. It has interior pockets and one on the end for my phone too!



Tuesday I arrived home to a package on the doorstep. After reading the senders address I figured out that it was from Erin and Todd. I called and they gave me permission to open my Mothers Day present early! This is a very special present and it will be worn with my Friday "Red" to support the troops and any other time I feel inclined. Erin is a sales rep for MilitaryHandbag.com So if you have a family member of someone you know who has a loved one serving in our military check their site out. Anything and Everthing is available for Kids, Mom's, Wives, Babies, Dogs and guys. If I read it correctly you can even send your old cammo's for them to use now if that doesn't mean special I don't know what does!





I am one luck girl to have such thoughtful kids!!! I will be celebrating with the girls this weekend because we are all Mothers or Mothers-to-be. Plus we have Heathers birthday coming up next Tuesday. So I am sure we will figure something out for that too!!

OK, off and running hubby has promised me breakfast on the road! I have already had my coffee, but I am sure I will be able to find something!! Pass those huggies around and enjoy your day!

Dilly

A quick Monday Flyby from me!

I hope you all had a great weekend. I accomplished a lot but not enough. Isn't that how it always goes???

We went out for dinner with Heather, Kirk & Xavier at their local favorite Mexican place. The food was very good and the company was even better! Hubby took me out for Pizza the night before just the two of us. We don't do that much on our days off and to just set and relax was wonderful. When we have to eat on the road during our work days it is run in eat and run out, no relaxing, just getting what we need and jumping back in the car! I think to finish the weekend off we will be grilling shishkabob on the grill today! OK....I covered food!

I picked up some new herbs for my herb garden, replaced some that didn't look like they made it through the winter. So that one is up and running and we moved the sun dial into the middle of my herb garden.

We worked on installing a solar water pump on one of my fountains in the side yard. The one we worked on is the fountain I call "Pee Boy". Actually it is a statue that was used in a play in Creede. Todd brought it home and after it was used for inspiration for a play at his college he gave it to me for Mothers Day. It holds a special place in my garden and now when the sun shines the 3 foot tall little guy does his thing!!!

Next we will hook up the other solar pump to my big Bird Bath/Fountain which actually spouts water from three places but we are only going to do one. Another couple weeks and we will be able to put some plants in for the vegetable garden. But the temps keep getting to low at night for that right now!

I am off to finish a bag I have been working on. I really think I will like the finished product, so I am excited to see it come out of the washer with all the fraying and the colors it adds! I have some fuu-fuu designs running around in my head I am going to have to work on!

Some big news is after seeing a link on Face Book posted by my DIL Erin. I took the jump and adopted and US Soldier to write and support while he serves over seas. I got my information last night and will be writing to a Major in the Army! I have sent off an email and am finishing up a snail mail letter. I am looking forward to sending my support and prayers to one of our fine soldiers!!

Have a wonderful day everyone! Huggies all around for everyone!

Dilly

Good Mornig All!

Another rainy warm day here in the mitten. Gray skies, rain, tornado sirens and flooding. It must be Spring!!! Hey, at least the wet stuff isn't frozen and the temps are in the 60's I can live with that!

We had a wonderful Easter, spent the day with the girls and their families. Hid eggs many times for Xavier, played outside and grilled hamburgs and hot dogs. It does not get much better than that!


Today I am staying home from running the roads and having lunch with both of my daughters and Shannon's friend Sarah. We will be working out the planning and such for Shannon's baby shower that we will be having June 26th. Since we are all a bunch of control freaks and anal queens we will try to do this without bloodshed!!!!


I am going to have to get Randy to take a new photo of me with Dozer. My baby is getting so tall, he is now taller than Kylee. He has legs that just go and go and go! He will be 1yr old in June. The bright side, and there are many, to having a Great Dane is that at my advanced age, I don't have to bend down to pet him, and I don't have to even think about picking him up. The down side is that there are a lot of times he thinks he is a lap dog and wants to crawl up into the chair with me! Plus you must wear shoes, because the PSI of his paw can turn your foot into mince meat!!! He is very slowly learning to control his tongue with me. The "No Tongue" request is chanted when he gets in my face and he is learning to respect that with me. God help anybody else you will get a bath. But I will continue to teach him manners. If we could get past the licking thing he is the absolute BEST BOY!

OK.....one of the downsides of staying home is that I get to clean the house and catch up with some stuff around the house. But I will attack it slowly and read a few chapters of my current read in between cleaning rooms!! LOL Hey that's how I did it back in the olden days with soap operas. I would jump when the advertisements came on and clean like crazy. It worked every time!

Have a great time and pass some huggies around. A special huggie goes out to my friend Ellen!!! Safe trip my friend and my prayers and white light will be with you during the next few days!!! Love ya Chica!!!

Dilly

Mr Sun is showing his shinning face this morning!

It's still just above freezing, but the sun is shining so I will take that as a start to a good day. It's always good for me when it's the last of our 3 days on the road. I will be dragging but with a smile on my face!!

So I am trying to figure out what to plant in the garden this year. It was such a wash last year and I tend to plant way to many different things in my small space and end up with not enough of anything! So, this year I am sticking to only a few. I think I will go with Green Peppers, tomatoes, and one more thing. Anything else we use I can't buy at the farmers market so cheap it's not worth the effort. We will see how my strawberries and rhubarb do and see if I need to add to them. Hubby will be putting tomatoes in the aquaponic set up outside. I guess I will be canning this year!! LOL

Even though I am talking about planting stuff, it is way to cold to do anything about that. We had snow earlier in the week and it's just at freezing this morning! It' looks like my herb garden made it through but I need to add more and take out some of the parsley that is growing like a weed! I can only use so much parsley and this has run amuck!!! I am not seeing any greening of the chammomile I planted so that might have to be redone and move my lavender from the front yard. Lots of putzing around and taking care of business!



Here are a few photos of Xavier working on coloring his Easter Eggs! We had a great time Monday night doing this. He couldn't get enough eggs, and as his Mom would bring a new batch out he would grab a few and make sure he got all he wanted. It was too cute!! I also added in a photo taken with Papa down in his workarea. Xavier is still working on his apprenticeship as a packager. Trying to fill Uncle Todd's shoes. Notice the jacket he has on, he calls it Papa's Coat and I am sure Papa's shoes can't be far behind. He likes his Tevas like Papa. Does this little guy adore his Papa....OH Yah and what is even better is the feeling is very mutual!!!



So my second cup of coffee is done, time to fix the mop on top of my head, get dressed and hit the road! I am looking forward to our days off this weekend. One of them will be a picnic on Sunday for Easter if the weather God's are in a good mood! Have a beautiful holiday everyone!

Dilly

Mother Nature can be soooooo cruel!!!!!

It is April 18th and the joke is on me!!! I woke up to this, taken before sunrise or just gray ucky clouds. You choose.



That was 6:30 am. and we have gotten another inch since then and it continues to fall at almost 10:00 a.m. That would have been bad enough, but it was compounded by Dozer pushing me out of bed. Followed by the coffee maker not set up right to have my morning cup ready when I came down. Add the furnace not working and the temps below 60 downstairs, so I had to go to the basement and rap my fist on the furnace until the burner kicked on. It went downhill after that!! LOL

So the coffee got made, the furnace is working, I have taken my shower and fixed my hair and I am still standing upright. So with a little luck the temps will rise, the snow will melt and my day will get better.

OOOOOHHHH!! It just did get better, my front doorbell just went off signalling the arrival of our Grandson. Let Mother Nature do her darndest, my world is much better because Xavier is here to fill me with love and laughter!!!!

We did manage to replace two toilets, fill the kiln with beads, update the books, and I worked on a small sewing project. So the weekend was a plus!!!

Here is my latest project, recycling recieving blankets into burp clothes using my rag quilting!!! Soft, soft, and absorbent!! I'll be making a pile for Baby Binkley and anyone else expecting a new little one!



Ok....I am off and running. Share some huggies with those you love!!

Dilly

Tummy Bug slowing me down!

This week has been a slow one. I have been dealing with a tummy bug. Heart burn, nausea, gas, bloating, etc. I suppose you don't want any more images in your mind, but I bet you get the picture. It got so bad one day I had hubby bring me home from a treasure trail trip. Now, that is a first, but while he was in a thrift store I was pleading to die in the car. Not fun!

So I haven't had much other than soups, dry toast and muffins and gingerale for the last few days. I started to feel better last night and challenge my tummy with some pizza and so far so good! I at least am going in to have a cup of coffee which has been replaced the last few days with Chammomile Tea! The least little discomfort and the bland stuff comes back out! LOL

Rain is being called for the new 4 or 5 days. Sounds like a good plan to paint, melt glass and work on some craft ideas I have bubbling in my head. Plus I am still working on the family tree project. I need to make a trip to Hobby Lobby for a foam core piece for that! Then I might work up a design for a T-shirt for the reunion and run past sis, cuz and my Uncle. We will see, I don't know if I am that ambitious! LOL

OK, I am off to tempt the Gods and have a cup of coffee, with rain being called for during most of today I see sunshine and blue skies right now, so the force is good!

Huggies all around for everyone!

Dilly

How's your Spring going?

Mine is doing fine. I have the garden area cleaned out and ready for things to sprout. The lawn furniture is out and screaming for a coat of paint! Time to pull the dead stuff off my arbor so I can give that a coat of paint before the Morning Glories take over! As you can see, Spring is welcomed, but comes bearing work around here!

I have been batteling tummy problems. I am feeling better today but I turned down my morning coffee. The thought of the acid dumping in was more than I could take. So some organic chammomile tea is on my list. Of course I will crash and burn without my caffeine, but my tummy will thank me!

We had a beautiful Sunday, and took advantage of it!


Hubby is back in the studio melting glass with me. It's been a while but he picked it right back up like a pro! We are still working out the glitches, but we are planning on more glass and less road trips to work out the price of gas! Here in Michigan it's at $4.00 a gallon. We will see how this works out!

So I am off to clean some beads, and list a few on the Bay to see if we can make some $$. Then working on the family tree some more. I keep typing names, and more names.....who would believe that there could be so many Dillinghams related to me!! LOL

Have a good one and pass some huggies around when you can!
Dilly

A quick stop by to say Hello!

I figured if I just jot down a few words, it's better than leaving my blog hanging!

I have been melting glass for the last 3 days, things are going well and it's is so nice to know that no matter how long I drag my butt, I can go back and still be inspired by the flame!

Picked up some more fabrice for the rag quilting, so I have more colors there to be inspired by. I will be cutting those out this afternoon when the rains and thunder come if the weather guy is correct. Right now it's almost 70 out with sunshine and headed toward 80 before all heck breaks loose and we crash back down into the 40's again! I have my sinus medicene close by so that I can be prepared for the head explosion that will accompany it!

OK, time to make some ice tea, the screens are in and the windows are open! Yes, welcome Spring you have been missed.

Just a quick request for prayers, and huggies for our DIL, Erin's Grandpa. He fell and broke his hip while getting ready to leave the hospital in CO. She remarked that he had surgery last night so we are keeping him and the family in our thoughts!

Huggies to all on this beautiful Sunday!

Dilly

A rainy Friday and I still have a smile on my face!!

Yes I do have a smile, because it's the start to my 4 days at home. Other than melting some glass when I get done posting this, painting, and sewing I don't have anything on my list of things to do!!! I should have been born a hermit, because I could crawl into my house and never go out other than to see my kids and grandkids and be perfectly happy. Of course the split side of my personality,(yah I know I must have one, I fight it all the time) says I would love to travel, but that cost $$$, so I am not worried about that happening anytime soon!

So, what are you going to plant this year? I am working on that in my head, I have lot's of splitting and transplanting to get accomplished. The weather is starting to cooperate, so that will have to be on my list soon! Other than tending to the garden and landscaping I have to put my flag pole and grape arbor at the top of my list of things. I bought a beautiful new Marine Corp Flag to fly under my U.S. Flag. I checked out the official how to fly them together, so hubby lets get that flag pole in the ground!!!

The sewing is really relaxing and now that I have the space it is something that calls me upstairs to enjoy the process. I think I will attack a larger purse with more structure and see how that works out. Then I think actual quilts will be on my list of things to make!

But first down to the glass studio and start melting glass regularly again. I have taken a break since I came back from CA in February. The dust has settled and I need to clean up my space and get back to work. I have to many wants on my list for the house and to do that I need to make the extra $$ that my beads bring into the house! This year I want a wood patio out back for relaxing on! Then start collecting the materials to build a greenhouse either this fall or next spring. I have an inspiration for it that I found over a year ago. This one is in Ontario and made out of completey salvaged materials other than a new automatic roof vent. It is also fitting for our climate and I just love it!


So off to work I go, expect to see a FB page for my Glass Goodies soon! Hubby is even going to give some time to melting glass again. He misses it and Ebay has been so stressful lately. To many idiots out there to deal with! LOL

Have a great day everyone and pass some Huggies around when you can!

Dilly