Summer dresses for girls

This is such a great idea! Just take a pillow case and make a summer dress for a little girl. Here are the directions http://www.dressagirlaroundtheworld.com/pillowcasedresspattern.htm Send me some pictures of what you made.
Here are some pictures:

Soon to be Retired

In 1 week, I will retire from WellSpan Health. I have mixed emotions about it. On one hand, it will be nice not having to go to work in the snow and ice, no more sitting at a desk doing work when I am thinking of all the other things that I could be doing. On the other hand, it is a little scary wondering if the money will hold out, if I will get bored, and if my husband and I will still like each other. I have 5 more days to get up at 5:30AM and go to work. 


It also makes me feel old. I always associated retirement with old people and I don't feel that I am that old! 


Hopefully we can get in some travelling in our motorhome to places we haven't been. I want to start sewing and quilting things, too. I love creating homemade things. 


Well, I'll let you know what it feels like;-)

Codorus State Park

Lake Marburg at Codorus State Park

Codorus State Park, PA

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2012 is here and the holidays are gone!

Now that the flurry of shopping for presents and decorating the house (although I hardly did any) and making cookies, now I can sit back and start to sew again. I have quilts to sew but haven't been able to get going on them. There are two things that I am interested in: Japanese Patchwork quilting and sewing small pocket bags. I saw the results of the Japanese patchwork on another blog and really liked it. I bought some books on it and am anxious to get started. I have included an example of it in the picture.


The other project that I am excited about is the pocket bags or small bags. I saw this on TV when Nancy from Nancy's Notions was showing how to make it. I now have the pattern and the zippers. I will put a picture of the purse when I finish. Wish me luck!

Off to get some Kielbasy!

Yesterday, My girlfriend, Toni, and I traveled to Shenadoah, PA to get some fresh Kielbasy. Here is the site www.kielbasy.net/. It was a beautiful ride up in the mountains. The town is a neat town in the Pennsylvania mountains. The houses are built into the mountains. We saw those great big wind turbines. They are lined up on the mountain ridges. We saw some that were lower - still high though - and it was so impressive!.

So we went to Kowalonek's to get fresh Kielbasy. There were so many people in the store, we couldn't believe it! We got number 48 and 49. They were on #20. We walked around the inside of the store and got some rye bread, nut rolls, pierogies, and Kielbasy dip while we waited. The people waiting were very friendly and were calm about waiting. Our numbers came up faster than we thought. There were many people working there and they were very helpful. 


I got 8 fresh Kielbasy sausages, 1 lb. Krowkaska lunchmeat, 1 smoked Kielbasy sausage, 4 jars red beet horseradish, and 1 jar white horseradish. Toni got some sausages and nut rolls. We asked the people waiting if there were any bakeries in town and they gave us directions. Everyone was so nice!


As we left, the line was now out the door into the parking lot. We got in our car and went to the bakery, It was in a house and the ladies there were very nice and helpful. I got iced raisin bread, some pastries, and directions to a good local restaurant to eat. We went to the restaurant. It was called Dutch Kitchen and was very nice. We had a cup of potato soup and the salad bar. The waitress was very nice. Then we headed home. 


It was a great day! We had a beautiful ride in the mountains, caught up on what me and my high school friend have been doing, met some friendly people, and got some very good Kielbasy and baked goods. 

Quilting blogs

I have been looking at quilting sites and blogs and I have found a great blog! Her blog is http://quiltworld2.blogspot.com/ and her name is Ulla. She is from Finland. Her work is beautiful and so well done!. Take a look at her craftsmanship and let me know what you think. The lady has so much talent!


Here are some of her creations:

Irene - we weathered the storm!

We had heavy rains and strong winds last night! Everything is OK. We have electric and our house is in 1 piece. Guess we are lucky. There are many people with no electricity or their houses are damaged. I feel for all of you!

Sounds I love to hear…

Today I was thinking of the sounds I love to hear.

• Birds singing in the morning - seems like they are so happy to be up early
• A train approaching from the distance - the sound of the train's warning whistle getting louder as the closer it gets
• Children laughing and playing outside - just enjoyment to my ears
• Babies giggling make me giggle, too.
• The ocean at night - you can hear the power of the waves yet it calms you to sleep
• "Gentlemen, start your engines!" - get ready!
• A dog barking in the distance - protecting its family
• The rustling of leaves on a tree moving to a summer breeze
• The ice cream truck music - Ice cream! Ice cream!
• A frog's mating call on a hot summer night -
• The bark of a puppy when playing - ready for the next move
• The sound of a marching band in a parade - wave a flag
• Echo of a cannon shot in the hills - how far can it be heard?
• The splash of a child jumping into a pool - hey Grandma, look!
• The squeaking of a swing when a child swings
• The startup of a lawnmower in the Spring
• Snow landing on the bushes and the ground - you have to be real quiet to hear it
• Happy Birthday!
• Congratulations!
• My granddaughter telling me "It's a beautiful day Grandma!"
• A gentle rain
• A cat's meow
• You are now pronounced man and wife!
• Christmas bells ringing
• Church bells ringing - what time is it?
• Fireworks!
• A flag flapping in the wind
• Tap dancing shoes
• "Are you ready for some football?"
• A cow bell ringing
• The clip-clop sound of a horse
• Someone playing an accordion
• Someone playing a harp - so peaceful
• A hiccup
• Christmas Carols being sung
• A child singing
• Taps being played
• Santa saying "Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas!
• The sound of a water fountain
• Your favorite song being played on the radio
• The honking of horns for a newly married couple
• A newborn baby's 1st cry - whew!
• School bell
• Goodnight John Boy
• Goodnight, sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite!
• Touchdown!
• Home Run!
• The playing of the Star Spangled banner at the Olympics Awards Ceremony
• Thank you!
• A rooster crowing in the morning

Back to work!

It's been a busy time - physical therapy, Ocean City Streetrod show, and going back to work. I am glad that I have 3 days off this weekend! The streetrod show was great! The weather was perfect. I even ot a sunburn! We ate at Bon Fire twice. The first time there were 35 people with us. Most of them were with the car club.

My foot is getting better but just not 100%. I have been going to physical therapy twice a week. The doctor gave me a gel to put on the ankle. It is called Arnica Gel Plus. It is suppose to reduce the swelling and pain. It is a herbal method that goes back thousand of years. Hope it helps.

We have a new granddaughter. Her name is Carissa Peyton and she made her debut on 5/4/11. She is really cute! I even made her a quilt.

Went back to work on 5/23. It was nice seeing everyone again. Now I have to catch up with everything. By the end of the week I was tired!

Next weekend is the NSRA Nationals at York. Denny will be taking his '54 Chevy pickup. It is a nice event. Many of our friends go there.

Well, gotta get going to Ariana's birthday party. She is 7.