FUTZINGDAY SPINSTER BLISS

 

It's cool and cloudy here in Hoosierville, which means the windows and doors are open to the beautifully crisp fresh air and I am loving life in leggings and a long sleeve t-shirt.

I'm not built for hot and humid, so 65 and sunny is just exactly perfect, in my very humble and portly opinion.

I'm happily stitching away on With Thy Hands by Theresa Kogut while listening to the Phillies do their thing in SanFran against the Giants. I have to say, one of the many benefits of being with my Jersey Boy is that I now feel intense team loyalty to all of the Philadelphia sporting teams. I enjoyed sports prior to his arrival...especially my Irish on the collegiate level...but now I have interest in the pro teams also. I may not be completely aware of the actual rules or nuances of the various sporting things, but I can holler with the best of them.

Other than sleeping, eating, stitching, blogging, and occasionally scrubbing things, life is very quiet and drama-free in these here parts, which is exactly how I like it. After years and years of running around with my hair on fire, I finally feel like I can pry my shoulders from my ears, take a breath, and concentrate on better things than what's going to fall from the skies next.

What's new and exciting with you, Dearies? Are you well and happy and safe and satisfied with things in your corner of the world? What's on your q-snaps or stretcher bars or in your hoops these days? Come tell me all about it!

SCENES FROM A LOVELY SPINSTER WEEKEND

Collins has her first swim with Daddy over in Lima:

Spinster sustenance:

My cousin Stacy Campo racing her horses at Santa Anita:

A finish of Spring Meadow:

Play time in my stitchy basket:

My Irish Lacrosse boys win their second-in-a-row National Championship!

 

MEMORIAL DAY 2024

This entrance to the Basilica at the University if Notre Dame is known as the "God, Country, Notre Dame" door and was dedicated in 1924 as a memorial to those who gave their lives in World War I. In observance of the 100th anniversary of this dedication, a Field Mass will be said on Monday, as it was 100 years ago.

 

FORTY YEARS, THIRTY FIVE YEARS, AND FIVE MONTHS

I'm feeling all the feelings today as I sit here reading the Sunday papers while the Class of 2024 takes the stage over on campus.

Forty years ago today, the Class of 1984 bid farewell to Lima Central Catholic High School with a standing ovation for our teachers, and hugs, tears, and prayers for one another. We've gone out into the world and become what we were meant to be. We've celebrated milestones, mourned terrible losses, moved far away, and gathered again closer together with our memories and experiences as varied as our life stories.

We'll meet again this year, hopefully, to remind ourselves that our family continues to grow...with the arrival of new adventures, perhaps children or grandchildren...some retirements or promotions, or even some hard stuff, too. But, thankfully, we won't see the grey hair or lined faces or extra pounds of old age...we'll still see the smiles and magic of eighteen-year old eyes that had the world in front of them.

For me, May 19 was also the day that I graduated from Notre Dame. I marvel at the differences between that day in 1989 and now. It's not just that today's graduates seem so much younger than we were, but it's the fact that they seem so much more...prepared.

Are they as terrified of the future as I was, or are they marching confidently in the directions of their dreams?

My prayer for them is that it's the latter, and that they will achieve every goal and bear up mightily against any adversity, and that Our Lady will always protect and guide them.

And finally, what is perhaps the best of the day is the five month celebration of little Miss Collins McGue being here. Oh...my heart is just so full of hope and wishes for her to make her own special splash in this world! I think she's off to a great start!

So Happy May 19th everybody! If you have memories of your own for today, I hope they're wonderful and swell! Come tell me all about them!
 

WEEKEND PLANS

 

JUST CALL ME BOBO BAGGINS

 

THE TUESDAY REPORT

I missed my evening Guild meeting last night. 🙁 One minute I was pulling on my outside go-to-meeting clothes, and the next my lunch/dinner was making an ignominious exit.

Phooey.

(This is not a new phenomenon for me lately, but I had thought the worst of it was behind me.)

(No pun intended.) 

But, once upright again, I was able to gather my wits about me and finish another section of Spring Medley. Only the right-hand section of birdhouses and the border to go!

Today is all about gratitude...as is every day. Collins looks particularly fetching in her little ND jumpsuit, and I confess that the "necklaces" on it made me giggle. 🤭 I also pause today to be glad I lead such a small, quiet, happy life now without the trauma of dialysis.

Thank you, Angel!

I happened to see some kerfluffle a few posts back about my Jersey Boy and whether or not he was still in the picture. I'm sorry to cause such intrigue by not mentioning him every six and a half minutes, but yes, he is still in the picture. He visited with his friend Fish for a few days in sunny Florida and then went up to New Jersey to visit with his mom for Mother's Day. He returns late tonight to resume our regularly scheduled programming.

No drama, Dearies. Just a dutiful son who likes to visit with his lovely mom every few weeks! ☺️

So that's the report from Hoosierville today. I hope your very own corner of the world is full of your own things to be grateful for. What are they? Come tell me all about them!

STEWEY AND DAD...(ORIGINALLY POSTED IN 2017)

 For a brief time (about a year, to be exact) May 13 was a very sad day for me.

And then it wasn't.

On May 13, 2004 my dear dad took his last breath and passed away.  He went quickly and peacefully, and at the last moment raised his arm up as if someone were reaching for him.  I like to think that it might have been his own father who had died when he was a little boy and whom he said was the first person he hoped to see on the other side.

That first year after Dad's death was a bit of a blur, to be honest.  I remember Chrissy living here with me and our friend Kavanaugh coming for chicken and vegetable dinners a few times, and the two of them ribbing me about whatever silly shenanigans I had been up to.

Sometime during this year I got the bright idea to get a dog, and I decided to get a Jack Russell Terrier from Ireland.  I had always loved Eddie on Frasier, and the idea of paying thousands of dollars for a special Irish Jack Russell terrier, its travel to the US, and all of the expenses for its special companion person to travel with and then stay and acclimate said Irish Jack Russell made perfect sense to me.

What can I say? 

I never really was the brightest bulb in the chandelier.

Fortunately, both Kavanaugh and my sister put the kabosh on that.  I think their exact words were "Are you out of your bleepity bleeping mind?!?!", and I started to look elsewhere.

I found a breeder of Jack Russell terriers right here in Hoosierville.  And not just any old Jack Russell terriers...these were Shorty Jacks.  Also known as Puddin' Jacks.  And the website for this breeder...whimsically called Willowswamp Farm, told the story of a man named Rex who had fallen in love with Shorty Jacks when he was five or six years old, and how his farm was full of the most loveable, nicely tempered, well behaved little dogs ever put on the planet.

So I sent Rex an email, and his response changed my life forever.

Stewey was born on May 13, 2005...one year to the day of Dad's passing...to Mrs. Arrowhead "Headley" Willowswamp and Mr. Angus Willowswamp.  He was the smallest of three boys, and although purely bred, was not breedable or showable because of a distinctive overbite.  His small size and "special feature" meant that he was also discounted to fifty bucks, and if I was interested I could pick him up in July.

On July 6, Chrissy and I drove my little blue car through the cornfields of Ligonier, Indiana (literally...right through the cornfields...because I missed a turn and thought the tractor path was the only way to get to Willowswamp) and I met the love of my life.  I picked him up, said "I'm your Mommie", kissed his little nose, smelled his perfect puppy breath, and was a complete and total goner.

He was quirky, to be sure, and often funny, exasperating, and sometimes misunderstood.  But the eleven years, four months, and eight days that I spent with him were a grand adventure that changed me forever.  I can honestly say that I never imagined myself capable of such a deep and unconditional love, nor did I ever think myself worthy of receiving it in return.

The only explanation I've been able to come up with is that my mom and dad sent Stewey to me specifically on May 13 so that I would have something happy to think about this day rather than something sad.  At first I thought it was all Dad's doing (because of the date), but the more I think about it, the more I see Mom's hand in it.  She knew that Dad was my hero and that I needed somebody to look out for me once he was gone.  And, in perfect Mom-like fashion, she found the perfect little creature to do just that and give us all a few laughs at the same time.

Life without Stewey is different, but for the first time in a very long while I feel like I'm going to be OK.  My heart still physically hurts from missing him so, but I'm convinced that he was here for a reason and my memories of him will sustain me through even the darkest days.  The outpouring of love that I've been blessed with is all him...I know it to be true...and I am sure that if he were here he would be as humbled and profoundly grateful for it as I am.

Happy Birthday, Stewey Little.  I couldn't have loved you more if I had given birth to you myself.  Thank you for being my BabyDear, and rest easy that your Mommie is going to be OK thanks to this family you sent here to look out for me.

P.S.  I know that last picture isn't one of your favorites because it is from your "chubby period", but it's the only one I have of you with one of your Aunt Chrissy birthday daisies.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

 

FRIDAY NIGHT SPINSTER BLISS

Miss Charlene was kind enough to let me tag along to Land O' Goshen this afternoon to visit with Miss Myrtis and to celebrate her birthday. If you're involved in EGA or ANG or have been involved with this thing of ours for any length of time, you might know Myrtis, since she is truly a legendary figure in the needlework community.

It was wonderful.

I came home to a clean and tidy apartment, thanks to some elbow grease and organizing sessions over the last several days and a visit from the Cottage Care crew. I don't think I have felt this peaceful in here for quite some time!

Tomorrow is Hoosier Heartland (my ANG chapter), so I decided to play with Spring Basket from Nancy's Needle for a bit:

This one might occupy my time until completion, since I think it really will be very pretty once finished.

Time for bed, Dearies! I hope you, too, had a splendid Friday, and that the weekend ahead is full of fun for you. What's new in your corner of the world? Come tell me all about it!

 

DAY COMPLETE

 Lizzie Kate

Inspiration Boxer

28ct Cashel in "Margarita" by Colour & Cotton

Threads are all Colour & Cotton chosen by me

DERBY DAY WITH COLLINS AND AUNT SARA

Little Miss Collins enjoyed her very first Kentucky Derby with the entire family! The beauty on the right is my younger god-daughter, Sara. She is proud Auntie and so happy to have a perfect wee bestie!

HOW IT'S GOING...DAY THREE

LET THE SPINSTERING BEGIN!