Home Again

Well, I'm home again and its turn cold and fall almost winter like here in Minnesota. Had a good trip was great to see family and friends. Was wonderful to see Carrie as well, the weather was great warm some days hit 90 but was nice. No rain until I headed home on 23rd then had to drive down to Sac in the rain!!!

Mom is having good days and bad days its really hard to see your parent get old. Her pain can be keep managed if she would be more direct with Pam about it. We took her to get the steroid shot on Tues 19th and by next day was so much better from a 10 down to a 4 on the pain scale. Its just hard to see her float so much, I'm pray that God will begin to help her start the grieving process that she needs.

It was walnut harvest time while I was there and I bag up 560 pounds of the nuts! Lee has really been doing a great job on keeping the progress of picking up, getting them on the drying racks and then weighting and getting them ready to bag. The harvest is a good one this year, just now need to get as much sold as possible. I brought home almost 5 pounds of walnuts will last us about a year they stay great in the freezer.

Carrie and I went to Chico on our way down to Sac to see family down there. We stop at the Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Their pale Ale is her favorite beer, they can't get it in North Carolina so when they drive home this spring she will have to stock up to take home. We had lunch at the Taproom and Restaurant food was good and we had a great time. I try their 20th Street Ale they only brew it once a year in the fall was a very good ale.

There was discussion with my sister and my niece about an Ireland trip this next summer, Chelsea has been talking about this for awhile. I said I'd go but that all will depend on our business and what happens. I've put it into Papa Gods hands and will see how all comes about. I would love to go and since I have been there, they would like it if I would come with and that I have friends there is great. We could have Eric and Terri help us with so much to see and do. God knows our desire and I will wait on Him for this adventure.

Well I need to get some sewing done and get it out on my Esty site, I'm praying God give me favor with my selling on my site.

God Bless all who stop by,

Deborah

Fall that time of year again

Well, its October and its still warm here in MN at else for a few more weeks. Its been a few months since I blog and there have been a few changes in our life's since then. The kids are settle in NC and things seem to go well with them and we are adjusting to them being gone. Our lives are busy with life and all that comes with it. Business is slow, praying for more sales each day we've made some adjustments on that front too. So we are just walking each day as if unfolds and I'm give thanks each day for my Papa God hand in our life's.

Diego

We do have a new addition to our lives we now have a new puppy his name is Diego he's a Papillon and boy did I forgot what is like to have a puppy in the house. The training is going good so far, he likes me and likes Virgil when he is having dinner (food thing) but seem unsure at other times with him... So the real test is coming they will be living together with out me so I'm praying the bonding will happen for them, hey I don't mind sharing. I will be taking a trip for 2 weeks this month leaving 9th-23rd for Anderson CA to see Mom and family. Carrie is also flying out for a week while I'm there really looking forward to seeing her and catching up on all things in her life.

We will be having new neighbors soon, Joe and his family have move out and the owner of the house Odin and Lois will be moving back out on the lake. They spend the winter in TX and will be here in spring and summer they are retired. Will be nice to get to know them.

Well I need go and finishing my packing. See all soon will blog more when I get home.

Things they are a' changing!

Well, as I set here this afternoon Virgil is on his way to kids to pick up their motorcycles and anything else they can't fit into truck they rented. We are helping them move to Tuckasegee NC this is where they will be living for the next few years. Mike said its about 25 minute from the college Western Carolina University where Carrie will be working. Mike will be working from home.

We will be pulling an enclosed trailer with the motorcycles inside, this way they have their bikes down there and one car. Mike will be coming back in few weeks to pick up their VW van, he will be drive in back down. Taking my camera to take lots of picture of the area, we have never been in this part of NC looking forward to see it. Everyone says it beautifully plan on taking lot of pictures.

It will be bitter sweet for us, we are very happy for them about the move. Carrie's job and all that comes with it. I know its the best for them but will miss them not being just an hour away, but this is what parents do its grow up your kids them let them make their way in the world.
They tell us the weather is better in the winter so it give us a place to go come winter and we can be by-coastal travelers. So its won't be just California we visit anymore.

That's all for now will post more after we get back and with pictures.

Summer almost gone

Summer wildlife on the lake

Well, here we are on the 22nd day of July with summer half way gone. There have been some great and sad things that have happen the last 7 months of the year. We have had death in the family, moving out of state for some of the family, health issues for some of us, along with business changing. Its been a very up and down 7 months of 2010.

We lose our Bob (my step dad) on the 26th of March very suddenly his heart just quit! Was a shock to us all, I had just been out there the 1st part of March and he seem to being well, was under Doctor care for his heart but non of us know it could cause his death. Then within 6 weeks of Bob's death we lose his son David, David had suffered a severe stoke in Oct of 09, but seem to be on slow road to recovery. In the midst of all of this Virgil and I made the decision to but our beloved dog Maxie down. She had Crushing disease and had developed other things, it was hard but we just didn't want her to suffer anymore.

Her ashes are buried under the pine tree out by the driveway here on the Lake where she lived all of her 15 years.

There have been some great moments too. Our Carrie finished up her PhD she walked and was hooded on the 7th of May, we are so proud of her. I also was there when she did her presentation on her distortion was really excited to be there for that. She has a job now in the great state of North Carolina at WCU Western Carolina University in Cullwhee NC. They will be moving down the 1 week in August. She start on the 11th and her 1st day of teaching will be her Birthday August 23rd. Her title is Assoc.Professor in the Education Dept.

Mike will be keeping his job with MN Rubber, he will his job online as well as some trip back here. This was answer to pray for them. They didn't have any luck selling the house so they have rented it a couple with 3 kids which works out for both parties. One of their friends will be doing the managing of the property for them which will really help out. Virgil and I will be going down with them that 1s week in August to help take there stuff down, this way we can see where they will be living and it helps them out too.

Virgil health is doing okay could be better, his shoulder surgery that was schedule for today as matter of fact has been put on hold. His blood sugar started to come up again, the doctor think that his pancreas has stop working, do to the stress his under. The business is doing okay but really may not last into winter. Sells have been steady but really could use 10% more of them. We put money in it last winter but if things really don't improve we are looking a close it by fall. This is not help his health and well being he works 50 - 60 hours a week and its just catching up to him. I keep thanking God for the sale and praying that he will lead us though it, I trust in him to guides us and leads us in all of this. He has always seen us though and He will never leave us!

I have open a shop on the Esty.com website its a site where all things hand crafted or hand sown it sold by individual on their shops. I have aprons for adults and children and note card on my shop and will be adding more items down the road. I have sold two aprons already, it fun to make things and sell them, its not so much the money its just having a place to share my creations and share with others. I love to sew and this is a good outlet for that hobby and it fills my time. Check me out http://www.esty.com/people/ladybarnes

I'm considering getting another dog this fall but not sure what type just yet, will be a small dog. I have been looking on line at shelters and dog breeders the cost is about the same for either. So I am praying about it we will just see what happens, I do miss my Maxie its really quite here during the day with out her.

Well I think I've gotten up with all that has happen in last 7 months of 2010. May God continue to keep us and lead us. God bless all who read this. :)

The new year is upon us

Well, it here the new year and it will be a better year than 2009. Things are going okay with us and life is good. God is working in all that we face and that is good.

I'm thinking about starting to sell the items I've been making here at home. I've starting sewing this last year and I had forgotten what fun it could be. I've made some aprons for myself and my daughter and give few as gifts they've turn out pretty nice. Virgil and Carrie have made comments about maybe I need make more and sell them. What a concept.

Well I began to think about it and pray about maybe would be good way to make so extra cash for say a mission trip, ladies retreat or other project that would come my way. So I've begun the process of check out put stuff online to sell, to creating my own website to use a site like Esty that's on the web already or this blog. Virgil says I need to get all cost together then see if worth it to go ahead, hey the man has been his own boss and had two successful business in the last 30 years so makes sense. So I'm sewing and check the web for information on this. So stay tune for more to come. Anyone interested in buy an apron.

Here are some example of what I've made so far.