I'm Officially on a Budget

Well I anow officially on a budget! David, our minister is preaching on Budgeting & money this sermon series. It is hard stuff to hear, but I needed it. I waste a lot of money. But I do not want to be a fool and soon parted with our money....I want to be wise and faithful with what we are given.God has blessed us so and we/I need to get it together and get my spending under control.

I have been couponing a bit, but I don't seen to be too good at it. They don't seem to print coupons for the things I buy. I do pretty good with toiletries and cleaning supplies, but that is where it seems to stop.

Wish me well and say a little prayer.....it is going to be tough for me. I am an emotional shopper. I know though that I need to focus on God and others during these wmotional times. I can do all things through Christ which strengthen me!

Tie Quilt

This is a quilt I made for my Father-in-Law for Christmas. I had a lot of help with the paper piecing used in this quilt from my dear Quilting Professors! They are awsome and very patient! I used his old ties to make the crosses and used the John Deere fabrick for the outer border, since he loves his farming and has a John Deere tractor. The back has beautiful fabric on the back that has Bible sayings on the back. I turned out much better than I thought it would. If I do another quilt like this, I will start it months before it is time to give it!!!!!

New Purse

I had a great day today. I sewed most of the day,hung out with friends & had coffee, then Mr. H took me to Fat Mike's for Dinner! It is our new place to eat.

I made this new purse today. It was fairly easy, I just have a few little puckers, but nobody will probibly notice, but me. I had a good time making it. Thanks B for helping with the finishing guidance!

Tomorrow I am going to work on my squares for my current class quilt, quilting my sister's cat quilt and possibly start another quilt. And inbetween all the sewing I will do laundry and clean house.....unless something else comes up!

My Machine Is Fixed!

Good afternoon! I hope that everyone is having a blessed day! I know I am. I ran errands,found some new fabric and have walked for an hour and fifteen or twenty minutes. It sure felt good! I am trying to lose about 20 more pounds and get ready to run the Komen 5K in the Fall.

My Mr. H fixed my sewing machine! I am so happy and proud of him! We only have 1 small screw left....still trying to figure out where it goes! It is working though.

Have a blessed afternoon! Back to my sewing!

Ellen

So Sad

1. 
   
   
   I think my sewing machine has died! Oh so sad. I use it all of the time. What am I going to do??? I am in the middle of a quilt for my newest Great-neice, Addidon Grace.
   
   These are the projects that I am in the middle of and can't finish:
   
   1. Addison Grace's quilt
   2. Sister Sally's quilt
   3. A purse
   4. Burp Clothes
   5. Bibs
   6. Patriotic prayer quilt for my neighbors Mother
   
   God will provide a way.
   
   I am still waiting to hear back from the School District that they have completed my background check and all they need to do in order for me to start my part-time job at the school. My friend Jean says it takes an act of Congress to get anything through the District Office.
   
   That's all for now. Have a Blessed Day!
   
   Ellen

23 Years

Today was our 23rd anniversary! Wow I can't believe it has been that long. I still remember it like it was yesterday! It was a chilly, windy day in Austin and we were getting married at my parents church, The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd. It is such a beautiful church and still decorated from the Christmas holidays. I was marrying my best friend, my love, my soul, someone who made me laugh and so much more! I wore a beautiful dress of satin & lace, with longsleves & bodice of lace. It was the first dress I tried on at Frost Brothers and I fell in love with it. I can't even re3member what else I tried on. We got married at 2:00pm, so that people that had travelled could return home that night if need be.

Mr. H's parents and sisters came. Our siblings didn't seem to hit it off. Mine were taking turns out at the bar at the rehearsal dinner and his were juat sitting there talking. I wish that my family had made more of an effort. The wedding went beautifully. We got to the reception at a wonderful home on the lake and were there for a while and nmoticed that Mr.H's family was not there. We had given out instructions, but they got lost. In retrospect, I should have had someone drive them, oh well a little late now.

Mr. H and I set out for San Antonio for our honeymoon (no job, not much $) for 5 days. We were staying at La Monsion...an incredible hotel on the River Walk. We had requested the honeymoon suite/package. We got there and they procede to tell us that the riverfront view is closed and that the River Walk is mostly closed due to construction and get this the Mud Festival. They drain the River Walk every 3 years to clean it and you guessed it, it was the year! We were not too happy. They gave us a small interior room, with a view of the atrium I guess you would call it...in other words the other rooms! Sunday we work up and had breakfast, went to the arboretum and zoo. Ate at MiTierra's and went back to the hotel. Monday we packed up and drove back to Austin and picked up our things and drove to Dallas, to our new home (apartment). We ended up having about a three month honeymoon until Jimmy found a job.

The rest is history...more later.

Old Friends

This is my oldest friend,SCJ. We have been friends since we were two! We were in the same playgroup! She is such a dear and I miss living close to her, terribly. We got to spend a couple of days in December together. She goes with me to M.D. Anderson when hubby can't go. I don't know what I would do without her!

We went to get my Mamogram and spent another day just running errands right getting our last minute Christmas done. It was the first time in years that I had been in a Toys R US! SCJ still has young ones and we had to pick up some things there. I am so glad that I don't have to buy all those toys anymore....it is so overwhelming!

A Few Things I've Made

Hello!

I just wanted to show you some things that I have quilted. I took quilting up 2 years ago. I love it! It is theraputic and so fun, especially when I am with my quilting friends! I really look forward to my Mondays with them. I couldn't do it with out my Quilting Professor, Mrs. M & creative consultant, Mrs. B. Thanks to them I was able to learn how to paper piece and finish my father-in-laws quilt. I will post a picture, when I get it loaded on my computer.

Until next time....have a blessed day!

Ellen

Birthday Celebration!

Four friends out for a Birthday celebration! I am so blessed to have these women in my life and to be able to spend quality time with them and that our husbands get along! In mid-December, Miss K was having a birthday and so we dolled up and went out on the town! Wonderful Italian food, great wine (Clois Du Bois) (sp?), great conversation, great evening!

I thank God that he intended us to be social creatures and that I have finally found a group of friends that are so supportive, loving and fun! God has blessed me with other wonderful friends too! I have just bonded with these three like sisters! That is so inportant to me! Our husbands all get along well too, it is a first for us!

Snow in Spring Texas

Snow in Spring, Texas! We had sow flakes fall and my little friend, her little brother and I played outside, trying to catch them on our tougnes. What fun we had!

Race for the Cure

I was belssed enough in October to go spend time with my mother in Austin. I was in such a hurry to ge there that I forgot most of my luggage. I had my hanging clothes (mostly pants) and my make-up! I discovered this as I was unpacking and looking for something.....I almosted died. I quickly ran to Target and got the essentials. The worst part was only having one pair of uncomfortable shoes! I got up the next morning and went to 4 different Goodwills, a Salvation Army and several resale shops to fill in my small wardrobe I had with me. I found a cute J.Jill jacket for $7.00, slightly used tennis shoes (I washed and sanitized), running shorts for $3.00, a couple of t-shirts for $2.00 each. It was kind of fun and I learned that it is ok to be frugal and shop at thrift stores. People won't even know, unless you tell them.

I had so much fun with my mother. We visited, shopped and ate out with her friends. Then Friday, my friend SRM came into town and we went to Jeffrey's for "starters" with one of mother's friend, and shopped til we dropped Saturday! Sunday SRM and I woke early and walked the Race for the Cure. It was a beautiful day and the weather was perfect ! It was such a wonderful time to get to catch up, since our lives are so busy, we hardly talk anymore.

The Race for the cure has so much meaning for me as I am a 9 year survivor! It makes it extra special that SRM comes and walks with me. My goal is running the 5K next year and raising more money for the Komen Foundation. I Austin, Ft. Worth, Lubbock, Dallas, San Antonio and as many other Komen walks in Texas in 2010, as possible. I don't want anyone else to have to endure what I went through and still go through!