Notes from the Patch

Ready for the next chapter

I spent the weekend packing up the last remnants of our five and a half years in our Ventura beach house. It looks like it's finally sold and hopefully will close by April 15th.

As I scrubbed a balsamic stain from the pantry shelf I remembered how exciting it was to stock those shelves for the first time. I must say it felt almost as good to pack it all up for the trip back to Bakersfield. That probably sounds strange but I'm ready to be a one home home owner again. Keeping up with two houses is draining on so many levels. 

To regret our decision to buy that house would take away from the wonderful memories we created there.

It's where the cousins always got together.

Where we caught lobster,

crab, sharks and sting rays off the dock and where we double dog dared one another to jump from the roof of Papa's fishing boat into the cold dark sea with who knows what creature lurking below.

 

It's where we walked for miles looking for sea glass

while talking about nothing in particular.

So many precious memories. I wouldn't change a thing.

But I must confess, I'm looking forward to having more weekends in my wonderfully organized sewing room and pampering my first love - my very neglected Bakersfield home. I'm ready to move on while I cherish those wonderful memories.

Encourage one another,

A Tale of Kindergarten and Bernina Club

This past week has been a doozy: A quick trip to Ventura a week ago Saturday to haul stuff home - (it looks like our house there has finally sold). Back to Ventura on Monday afternoon to welcome spring break kids from snowy Kansas. Back to Bakersfield Wednesday afternoon for Bernina Club Wednesday night and Thursday morning then back to Ventura Thursday afternoon to see kids off Friday morning. Bill and I returned back in Bakersfield Friday about noon to immediately turn around and join our other kids for three days in Las Vegas. With all the stuff going on with selling our beach house Bill suggested we might want to cancel the visits with our kids. My answer was an emphatic, "No! When kids want you in their lives you'd best be showing up". All righty then.

One of the other things I've been passionate about lately is Bernina Club. If you read this post you know that we officially have a new Club President and I am no longer the one in charge. Here's proof:

Dear Suzanne:

I wanted to thank you so much for last night’s Bernina Club and share with you a personal story of what the evening meant to me.  You see, my baby is almost five.  My husband and I have been searching for the right answer as to what to do next school year.  She’s an August birthday, so if she started school in the Fall, she would be 4 and turn 5 at the end of the month.  I know it doesn’t sound like much, but looking forward, it’s the difference in sending your baby girl off to college at 17 almost 18 versus late starting kindergarten and sending your baby off to college at 18 almost 19.  As a mom of 3 boys, I’m ashamed to admit it’s different for a girl, but it just is.  And then there’s the decision to do private school or Laurelglen.  Up until a few years ago, all of my boys were in Stockdale Christian School.  There’s just too many options and I have been searching for the right answer knowing the decision had to be made by April 2^nd. 

 

You might be wondering why I’m telling you this, and what does this have to do with Bernina Club, so here it is.  I believe in divine guidance and that everything happens for a reason;  I now know what we’re doing next year and I owe it to Bernina Club.  You see, I woke up Monday morning, read your blog, and called Barbara.  I told her I wanted to go to Bernina Club Wednesday night and I couldn’t go alone. She had to go with me (I’m really insecure at times).  I didn’t know why, after all these years, I chose this month to want to go, but I just wanted to go and I couldn’t explain why.

 

 Jump to Wednesday morning.  I was at Laurelglen School counting money for a fundraiser I was leading (I’m the only fool I know who volunteers at a school with no children there) .  There’s a lot of changes going on at the school and change brings uncertainty and fear, thus my reluctance to send my angel off to the big bad world of Laurelglen school.  While there I heard through the rumor mill that Mrs. Wortiska was moving from 1^st grade down to kindergarten (hot dog ‘cause I heard she’s the bomb).  I made a beeline to the Principal’s office to give her a proposition she wouldn’t be able to refuse (she already knew what I was thinking about regarding public vs. private) …….very kindly, I explained that hearing that Mrs. Wortiska was going to be in kindergarten was enough for a girl to consider enrolling her angel there if she was given some kind of guarantee that the angel would be placed in Mrs. Wortiska’s class.  The principal nicely smiled at me and when I was done whining, she explained that the kindergarten teachers themselves did the assessment and put the classes together; she had nothing to do with it.  I thanked her and walked away wondering what to do next.  I’ve never met Mrs. Wortiska; I think I kinda knew what she looked like, but I had never personally met her. I’ve just heard what a great teacher she is and that all of the smart people (like me of course) want their child in her class.  I was left plotting how I would approach her and when that would take place.  She didn’t know me from Adam.  I was afraid she would think, “who’s this crazy lady coming in my class demanding I be her daughter’s teacher?”

 

Fast forward to Wednesday night’s Bernina Club.  During “show and tell” I saw a woman in the back that looked very familiar (no name tag).  I leaned over and asked Barb who she was; she told me it was Sally Wortiska.  Hot dog, I knew my reason for being there. It was my opportunity to introduce myself and talk to her.  After I finished sewing my ruffle, I stood up, and she was there behind me.  I took the time to introduce myself and explained to her what was mulling over in my head.  We had a wonderful conversation and I felt an incredible peace that I was to send my angel to school this school year and enroll her in Laurelglen.  I just felt like all of the questions I had were answered and I felt a sense of relief.  (I’m bringing tears to my own eyes typing this.  That’s how much the evening meant to me).

 

There’s no absolute guarantee that we will get Mrs. Wortiska, but I feel at peace with the decision.  It’s one of those things that when it feels right, it just is.  And I owe it all to Bernina Club…………  thank you for using your business to bring women together for their personal success whatever that may be.

 

Kristen

Thank you Kristen for taking the time to write me. I know without a doubt that God has His hands on my business and your letter proves it.

Encourage one another,

It's about time

I woke up this morning and mentally added an hour to the old digital clock on my night stand wondering when it would magically reset itself to daylight savings time. I guess I'll be surprised when it finally does. = )

I, oh so quietly gathered my glasses, slippers and robe and tip toed down the hall. As my coffee brewed I set the half a dozen clocks about the house that don't speak to some far away satellite or whatever makes them be on time. I'm feeling rather smug that I could figure the one on the microwave out at all - won't Bill be surprised! Now if the clock in my car would just magically reset itself I'd be happy. I do love daylight savings time but this clock setting business is a bit of a pain.

I had the most glorious time Sunday creating the day away in my happy place. I put the last french knots on the Shop Hop quilt and it's now officially ready for the quilter. Our quilt turned out well I think. I was worried there for a while, but I really like it now and can't wait until the time comes when I can show you.

My most favorite project of the weekend was developing our Make It & Take It for Bernina Club later this month. I have enough satisfaction stored up to last me this whole week. Such fun! Can't show you that either, but I will - when the time is right.

Encourage one another,

 

 

DCT - Rumor has it - it's contagious

I've been on a bit of a blogging hiatus but I have a good excuse.

I've been sick (some would argue I still am). 

Perhaps it was all those trips through crowded malls or the long stretches of time away from home visiting friends and family. Maybe it was the hours in packed airports waiting to board cramped airplanes, but for whatever reason I've somehow contracted...

Deep Cleaning Thrombosis.

Have you heard of it? It's rare. I googled it and it's supposedly most common right after the holidays and in the early spring.

It starts with the innocent urge to dust.

 Progresses into fluffing pillows,

airing quilts

and rearranging furniture.

In a weakened state, the poor innocent victim may be compelled to display collections all over the house.

                                            (and to put votives in old Jello molds)

and in its full blown stage, it presents itself with the uncontrollable desire to polish silver

and set every table in the house

 to look as if they were having a dinner party.

(Fortunately for me and them, we're not).

Extreme cases have been reported to cause violent and uncontrollable projectile closet purging and in some extremely severe cases, its victims have reportedly been known to (gasp) label!

This is my second bout with DCT in three years. I know, that's a long time between flare ups but my resistance is normally pretty high and I can usually fight off any urge to clean at the first inkling that an episode might be coming on. I've found leaving town to be especially helpful when I first get that feeling. But this time with all the holiday preparations and merriment I was caught off guard and bam, before I knew it I was in the throws of a full blown episode! Gosh, I even missed a day of work so as not to infect my co workers just in case it is contagious - I'm thoughtful that way. (Actually I stayed home to clean the crud out from under the refrigerator).

Anyway. I should be back to normal in a day or two - sitting in my favorite chair in front of the TV, feet propped up watching Housewives and wasting time on the computer and blogging.  

Seriously, what I love best about getting DCT is that it costs next to nothing (except for the cost of Advil and maybe a manicure). I had all this stuff hiding in cupboards and under three inches of dust. All I had to do was uncover it.  My only purchase was the two preserved boxwood topiaries here

and here.

Friday I went out to a local interior store to find some good faux plants (I haven't had much luck with house plants. Someone said it's because you're supposed to water them. Have you heard of such a thing?). Anyway I was prepared to spend some bucks but when I saw that they were asking nearly a hundred dollars for six inch boxwoods I left empty handed and I might add, a little sad. On the way home I zipped by my fav HomeGoods for a look see and guess what they had? Um hum those three times as big boxwoods for a third the price. Score. I would have done a happy dance on the way to the car but I was waay too sore from all that scrubbing.

Now, if you will excuse me, I have a junk drawer to put in alphabetical and labeled order.

Welcome 2013 - I'm ready for whatever you throw my way and I now have a labeled place to put it!.

Encourage one another,

My WORD for 2013

I heard Oprah say once that what pleases God most is for us to be grateful; that in the midst of sorrow and adversity we should find the good and be grateful.

 

The way I see it is that we have two choices: to be happy or not - it's up to us. The way we react to what's dealt us is our choice. This year more than ever I choose to find something good in every situation and to be grateful.

My Gratitude Jar

(I sure am grateful for my new lightroom lights - you can see them reflected there in my Gratitude Jar! They're so sweet. I can take photos any time of day or night and no more stressing out over catching the light! So grateful I finally bought them!!)

My jar sits next to my sewing machine in my happy place and my plan is to write down something I am grateful for everyday. Then at the end of the year I will empty my jar and read through the many blessings I've received throughout the year.

Happy New Year!

 

Gratitude

I've been so weepy lately. I'm fine during the day but once Bill goes off to bed and the house gets quiet I loose it.

I must say I've had my share of things to be sad about. Last Friday Bill and I attended our forth funeral in less than three weeks. As we drove north to the service the news of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings broke over the radio. We listened in disbelief. So much sadness. So much senseless tragedy.

My heart aches for our friend who suddenly lost her husband of over fifty years. I'm so sad for her children and grandchildren who are trying to deal with the loss of their dad and grandpa. My heart aches for another friend whose mother recently passed away from cancer. She feels so lost and misses her mother terribly. I can't even imagine how the families of the students and faculty in that Connecticut school must feel. The whole nation grieves with them.

Early today we got news that my former manager, Amanda had to have her two day old baby boy airlifted to UCLA for open heart surgery. She and her sweet family face months of worry while living in the PICU.

Bill and I feel so helpless. We can't take away their pain. We can only cry and pray and hope they feel the love that is sent their way.

Enter my Gratitude Jar. I was going to wait until January to start it but I really need it now. I want to focus on the positive; writing down something I'm thankful for everyday. Looking for the good in the midst of all this sadness.

Day 1. Today I am thankful for the team of skilled pediatric heart surgeons who will perform surgery on baby Will. Today I am thankful for a God that loves each of us and hears our prayers.

If you would like to send a card to Amanda and her family you can send them to Strawberry Patches and I'll see that she gets them.

I'm so thankful for you all.

Encourage one another,

 

 

 

 

The road that leads us home

We lost Bill's sweet mother this week. She lived a long life filled with love, laughter and a lifetime of great friends and wonderful memories. The journey certainly wasn't always easy but she never doubted where the road would lead.

(I love Chris Mann's beautiful voice) 

 

 Roads

There are roads in this life that we all travel
There are scars and there are battles where we roam
When we are lost or wherever we may go
They will always lead you home

There are roads that have lead me to another
To a friend or to a lover I have known
For every turn is a year that I have grown
As I walk along these roads

Some are long and some are weathered
Some will lead you through a storm
When you've gone astray you will find your way
As you walk along these roads

There were times when I stumbled and I wondered
But every choice and every step I don't regret
Cause I have lived and I have loved like no other
I won't fear what lies ahead

Some are long and some are weathered
Some will lead you through a storm
When you've gone astray you will find your way
As you walk along these roads

There are roads in this life that I have traveled
There are scars and there are battles, this I know
Cause I'd be lost, but no matter where I go
They will one day lead me home
They will one day lead me home

May, I'm sure heaven is a little more fun with you in it. 

Welcome home!

 

Encourage one another.

Finally. Fall!

Friday morning as we scurried about doing our regular morning cleaning routine, Becky noted that someone might want to sweep the leaves that were piling up just outside the front doors. I'll get the broom, I snapped before anyone else could cop the job. I'd much prefer sweeping leaves to mopping floors and heck, I'd waited all year for this job to become available again.

As I pushed a big pile of leaves into the wind, a couple walked by carrying groceries to their car. Why waste your time the wife said. They'll just blow back.

I hope they do I replied. I hope they do.

Finally. It feels like fall!

I have a busy weekend ahead full of all the things I absolutely love to do. Fall cleaning, soup making, decorating and planting at the beach house and then some last minute prep for our visit by Bari Sue next week. If you haven't signed up we still have a few spots available on Friday (Saturday is totally sold out). I've gone crazy with the party details - no surprise there, huh? As I shared the menu and goodie bag ideas with some of my team they just rolled their eyes and shook their head. They know by now what Bill figured out years ago - I just can't help myself and there's no stopping me.

Welp, I'm off to farmer's market for sweet potatoes and squash and then on to the nursery for mums for the planter boxes.

Happy fall ya all!

Encourage one another,

 

Postcards from London

 

We're having a jolly good time.

Encourage one another,

 

Remembering

Jeff would have been 43 today.

These last few weeks have been tough. My daughter in law reminded me that it's probably easier to have the day he went to heaven so close to the day he came to earth. She's probably right.

Jeff taught me so many things in his life and in his death.

43 years ago he taught me what it is to be a mother and about unconditional love. To me he was the most beautiful baby in the world and I defied anyone to say otherwise. Those first few weeks were hard though since I was used to being in total control. Suddenly this little seven pound - eleven ounce perfect baby boy was calling the shots. Little did I know that throughout his life he would continue to do so.

Jeff was extremely creative, smart and full of mischief and he often came up with creative ways to drive people crazy . He was the only boy I knew to be expelled from Vacation Bible School and suspended from preschool in the same year. Jeff went to a small private christian school and every year from first grade through sixth his teachers retired early after having him and his little band of hoodlums friends in their class. A coincidence? Em...probably not.

He drove his brother crazy too with his incessant teasing. And the bickering... all I ever wanted when I found out we were pregnant again was to have a brother for Jeff so they could be best friends. Jeff adored Bryan but sometimes had strange and annoying ways of showing it. To this day I doubt Bryan knows how much Jeff really loved and admired his little brother.

Through all his antics Jeff was the glue to our family. While the rest of us are more quiet and laid back, Jeff was the one that kept things hopping and through all his shenanigans, I never doubted his love for me and our family. At his funeral several of his friends came up to me and asked if I knew how proud Jeff was of me. My answer was always yes. I knew. He was so proud of the business that I had created and loved to show off my work to friends by having me make them baby gifts. Jeff was my biggest fan. He was the one who would call three times a day to tell me about Jake's latest achievement or brag about Nathan's newest trick. He was so proud of his kids and the home and life he and Cherene were creating for their family. I sure do miss those phone calls.

The last few years of his life things were different and it took awhile for us to understand what the real causes were. Not only did he have ALS but also frontotemporal dementia which changed his personality and ability to interact. Bryan's first clue that something was terribly wrong was when the teasing stopped. Jeff just wasn't Jeff anymore.

In death Jeff has taught me the importance of faith, family and friends. I couldn't have gotten through this time without my faith and the prayers, love and support of our family and friends. So many blog friends, many of whom I have never met, prayed for our family and offered their love to us. You need to know how much that meant to me then and still means to me today. I will never forget your compassionate outpouring of love.

I believe Jeff is happy and whole in heaven today and is surrounded by grandparents and friends that have gone on before us. I don't know, but I doubt that there is celebrating in heaven for worldly birthdays. Today I just wanted to remember for me and for the family and friends he left behind. 

Happy birthday baby.

Mom