In Memory...

Dolores Kathryn Kranzberg Wolf

August 22, 1918 - April 4, 2012

"Grandma"

Early this morning (**this was started yesterday, April 4th), I received that phone call...the kind of phone call that no one ever likes to receive. However, in this case it was more of a blessing and received with a sense of comfort and peace than saddness. It was news that my grandmother passed on.

Grandma will be laid to rest next weekend in St. Louis, Missouri on April 14, which is the perfect date. On April 14, 1939 the young Dolores Kranzberg married the handsome Daniel D Wolf, my grandfather who passed away a little over 3 years ago. So next weekend, not only will my family and I be celebrating the life of a wonderful, inspiration woman but will also be celebrating the reunion of two souls.

Photos of the young Mrs. Wolf - these photos were sent to grandpa when he was stationed across the seas during the war. On the back, grandma wrote:

"Your pin-up girl - ha! ha! This isn't a very good picture, but will give you some idea of what I mean when I say I have a sad look to my face these days."

Grandma and Grandpa - celebrating grandpa's 85th birthday (2002?)

Grandma told me stories of when she and grandpa were apart during the war. She missed him so much! I know that since his death, a day didn't go by without a thought of grandpa! They taught me the true meaning of love and the dedication it takes to be married.

Grandma also taught me the importance of holidays - any holiday and every holiday! The house always smelled good as the oven held some sort of delicacy...like her famous chocolate bundt cake with "grandma's icing"...or the fryer sizzling with her special fried chicken. Thanksgiving...Christmas...Hanukkah...it didn't matter.

Food...Family...Friends...Fun! That is what it was all about.

Grandpa, Grandma and me - standing near the Christmas tree (1969?)

Grandma was never far away...if she wasn't visiting us or we weren't visiting her, she was always a phone call away! During my teen years, when life seemed a little confusing, she was there to lend an ear and always seemed to say the right thing, something that helped to me to make sense of life.

My mother...me...and grandma (1969?)

My grandmother taught me how to appreciate art..

I remember rainy days at her house typically lead to an afternoon of making Shrinky Dinks; there was a Christmas when we worked on felt Christmas Ornaments; many trips to the St. Louis Art Museum. Grandma also taught me how to embroider and to cross-stitch. I remember going with her to Ben Franklin and picking out a selection of DMC threads, my first wooden hoop and needles. We went back to her house and drew out a rainbow, a cloud, and - of course - the pot of gold. With satin stitches, I had the perfect rainbow!

Grandma showed me ways to enjoy history as we would tour many old, historic homes together - I remember a trip I took with Grandma and Grandpa to Hannibal, Missouri where I learned about Mark Twain and got to see the "real" white picket fence that Tom Sawyer painted.

Long trips across the country were turned into an adventure when taken with Grandma and Grandpa. Grandma would make grandpa stop at little country antique stores where she would find all sorts of treasures; we would stop at unique places to eat or stay for the night. One of my favorites was the Dutch town of Pella, Iowa we would stay over night - kind of the midway point between Minnesota and St. Louis (for many summers, my grandparents would visit us in Minnesota in June and after a visit, I would get to go back to their house for a week. Sometimes by myself and sometimes with 1 or both of my sisters). We would always stop at the little bakery and load up on some Almond "S's" and other Dutch treats. We would stay at the Dutch Mill Inn. We would play in the little park and make long chains out of clover flowers.

Starting from the top left and going clockwise: Sister Jamie, Me, Sister Debbie and Grandma
 (grandpa's 85th birthday - taken at Crazy Crab in Hilton Head)

When Grandpa passed away in December of 2008, it didn't slow grandma down. While she missed him dearly, she did continue to live life to the fullest! Living in Hilton Head, a wonderful vacation place, her house always seems to be full with visitors. I swear she should have opened up a bed and breakfast, for not only did friends and family stay and eat well at her house, she definitely played the role of Island Tour Guide and Event planner - making everyone's stay there amazing. She also found opportunities to travel herself. A few of my boys' hockey tournaments were blessed with her presence.

2009 National Championship, North Carolina - (left to right): Me, FIL Clyde, MIL Holly, Robert and Grandma, my mother (behind grandma), Cousin Charlie, my father and my Uncle Doug.

2010 Tournament in St. Louis - (left to right): Robert, Grandma, my mother, Matthew and Me
When we found out that both boys' hockey team would be travelling to St. Louis for a tournament (yes, both would be playing - a rariety) my family from Minnesota, my uncle from North Carolina, my uncle from Colorado and my grandmother from South Carolina all met for a little hockey and for a little reunion!

Grandma...there is such a void in my life without you. On Feb. 7th, the day of your stoke, I have to admit I was happy that you were still with us...but really upset and sad when I heard that it affected your speech. Talking to you weekly was part of my routine. A phone conversation with you always brightened up my day, for I would get to tell you all the happenings in our household. We would laugh as I would share with you stories of my adolescent boys and my husband; and you would enlighten me with some wonderful wisdom of your life. When the phone hung up, I would feel lighter...richer...comforted...supported...loved.

Yes, I will miss these phone calls and miss having you here on earth. But it is comforting to know, that you have moved on...a new "chapter", if you will...reunited with grandpa and other family and friends. You have a new place to explore, new antique shops to visit.

The most important thing that I learned from my grandmother???

Life life to the fulliest by laughing and surrounding yourself with friends and family!

Until next time...remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa

Happy April...

No, this is not an April Fool's joke...it is actually a bad photo (sorry...it was a phone photo) of the status of my Family Sampler. Since my last post over 1/2 month ago, I have finished the dad/husband (or should I say: DH), the mom/wife (or should I say ME), and have started one of the sons. Except for some slight color changes of the boys' pants and shirt, I will make them the same size...even though one is younger than the other, but right now the younger one is now an inch taller than the older one. :)

Life here, while still busy as we balance ownership/running 2 stores and the activities of the 2 boys, we have found nice quiet evenings at home as the hockey season has come to an end (which is short lived due to some spring teams and development clinics that will start up soon). Both boys have taken up track for their respective school during the hockey "off season" where practice is right after school and the schools aren't far from home. Nevertheless, everyone has been home by dinner time and our evenings have been relaxed...and we have even been able to "hit the sack" around 9pm! Sweet Slumber!!!

Last week, my grandmother was back in the hospital due to being very dehydrated from some of the medications she was on. None of the family was in South Carolina at the time, so one of grandma's very best friends stayed with her in the hospital and reported her status with my mother and my 2 uncles. After 24 hours of hospital attention, things didn't looks so good. While grandma's mind is still sharp as a tack, her 93 year old body is showing more wear & tear after the stroke and seems to be shutting down. So last Thursday, my parents & sister from Minnesota, an Uncle & Aunt from Colorado and my other Uncle, Aunt & Cousin from North Carolina got on the next flights out of their respective states and headed to South Carolina to be with grandma. After some discussion between the siblings with grandma, the decision was made on Friday for grandma to be moved to hospice care and all meds to be stopped...so now it is just a waiting game sort-of-speak.

Each group of family has taken the opportunity to spend the night in grandma's room...Friday night my mother and sister stayed. They said that when ever grandma was up & alert they shared memories of time in St. Louis at everyone's favorite restaurant Tony's as well as other special time. Laughs were also said to be heard coming from my grandmother's room...for we always find things to laugh about, even if we make fun of ourselves.

As sad as this time is, it is nice that grandma is surrounded by family and friends, and special memories and moments are being shared between them all. I wish that I was there, but I am very grateful that I had the time with her last month when I visited her right after she had the stroke.

One of the questions that has been ringing in everyone ears is:

"Why did Grandma survive the stroke on Feb. 7?"

for she was home alone that evening and wasn't found until the next day,

 laying on the ground of her living room.

I believe that things happen for reasons...I believe that grandma fought for this time and the time was given to her; time that allowed many of us...me included...to fly to the west coast, to visit, to hug & kiss, to share memories and laughs, to share love...one more time!

I know that her time on earth is very, very short

I hope that her preparation for her next journey doesn't cause any discomfort

I know that grandpa is waiting for her and their reunion will be very happy...three years is a long time to be away from your soul mate!

I love you grandma!

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Ok, without sounding like I am off my rocker...

Last night, as I was in & out of slumber, I heard an owl hooting outside nearby.

This is not uncommon for where we live, for we have owls, hawks, coyotes, turkeys and deer.

But this hooting owl was nearby and continued to hoot all night long.

This morning at 6am, before the sun came up, I tip-toed outside to see if I could see

where that owl was perched.

Little did I know it was on our roof

I saw it, it peek over and peered down at me and hooted.

My grandmother loved owls. She collected owls.

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Until next time...remember,

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often

Lisa

It is mid-March already...yikes!

Wow! It has been a long time since my last post, so I have some catching up to do!

The last post was right as I was getting ready to leave for Hilton Head Island, SC to visit my grandmother. I am soooooooo glad that I went! It was so hard to see my grandmother post-stroke...yet, she didn't look like what I had prepared myself for. I guess we always prepare ourselves for the worst. My father (who lives in Minnesota and was still in SC visiting) picked me up from the airport and took be to the rehab hospital where my g'ma was staying (my mother was waiting with my g'ma in the hospital - my g'ma is my mother's mother). I entered g'ma's room and she took my hand in her left, held it to her face and cried..."oh, Lisa." She squeezed my hand while she cried and cried and cried. Not normally a crier, it was hard to see my grandmother show this emotion. But my hearts swelled up and I squeezed her hand, laid my head on her chest...kissed her...talked to her and so on. After a few minutes, the tears did stop flowing as I began to catch her up on all the stuff going on in my household. Within a few more minutes, I had her laughing as I told her about my boys and all there nonsense. When it was time to leave that evening, again she took my hand in her "good" left hand and squeezed, bringing it up to her face as she cried. She looked into my eyes and said, "Lisa, my first, you are here." I responded..."yes grandma, I am here. I love you!" Then with a kiss to her cheek, I said, "you get some rest. I will be back in the morning. Good night." and I left the rehab hospital with my mother and father.

I stayed Thursday, March 1 through Sunday, March 4. My father left on Friday, so the rest of the weekend I not only had time with my grandmother but quality time with my mother, which I haven't had in a very long time. Due to my g'ma having therapy from 9am-3pm, we weren't allowed to visit until the late afternoon so I fell into my mother's routine of getting our exercise completed in the morning, a late breakfast and then the drive to the hospital. My mother and I took some nice long walks on the beach as well as around my grandmother's neighborhood (we stayed at my grandma's house). My mother was able to share with me her thoughts and feelings as she was dealing with seeing her mother go from a independent person to one who now needed to depend on others. The hardest thing for all of us to deal with isn't really the fact that grandma's right arm is paralyzed or she is having trouble moving her right leg/foot without help...it is the fact that she lost control of her speech. My 93 year old grandmother's brain is working great and she has some wonderful things to say...but the stroke affected her speech, which...for the lack of a better word...SUCKS!

Anyway, I left Sunday 3/4 in the afternoon. Upon saying good-bye to my grandmother, through her tears she was able to get out, "Thank you for coming. I appreciate it. I love you." Again, I am so glad that I got out there and visited. I hope to get out there again in the near future.

Just a quick update. Since I left Hilton Head, a bed opened up in a beautiful skilled nursing facility which is just a few miles away from her neighborhood. Grandma's crying and sadness lessened with this move according to my mother. Grandma will continue to have physical and speech therapy, but is in a very nice and social atmosphere...and closer to where her friends live. My mother is going back home to Minnesota today and my 2 uncles (her brothers) will be arriving in Hilton Head on Friday. So there will be a continuous presents of family right now.

Speaking of Uncles...one of the uncles (my mother's younger brother) came out to California last weekend. He stayed at my house for a few days prior to going into San Fran for a business conference. It was great to have him here! DH and I were able to take some time off from the store on Saturday...and the boys didn't have any hockey...so we drove out to Half Moon Bay and had a great day.

After a meal at Sam's Chowder House, we hiked all over the rocky shore of the Pacific Ocean as the tide was going out.

A rare photo of my family - from left to right: Me, Robert, Matthew and Steve

Matthew, Uncle Doug and Robert

Looking into the cracks and crevasis of the rocky shore, where we would see Sea Anemone, star fish and tons of hermit crabs. We also spied some California seals and Harbor seals napping on the rocks as well as frolicking in the waves.

Not only was the sea life fun to watch, but the flowers and foliage around the ocean was beautiful to view.

We must have walked around that shoreline for over 4 hours for the tide started to come in around 4:30pm. So we decided it was time to go on home. Sunday morning, my uncle got a taste of what it is like to work in *The Store*. He went with me to prep fruit and make an early morning arrangement for a customer who needed to pick it up at 9am, which is an hour before we typically open on a normal Sunday. Uncle Doug learned to skewer strawberries, as well as dip them in chocolate. He was a fast learner, but felt the need to taste a few chocolate dipped fruits before I could put them on the arrangement...chocolate dipped strawberries, chocolate dipped bananas and apples. Nice Sunday breakfast, I guess. Once the customer picked up her arrangement, my Uncle and I went for coffee and had some time to visit...something that we haven't done in a long time!

Well, inbetween all this travelling and visiting I have managed to put a few X's into Family Sampler and I even have a photo to prove this. You will have to forgive me though, it is a phone photo as my camera really doesn't want to work...and I didn't take time to take the sampler off the hoop. But, at least I get to post a picture, right?

Since the last photo posting of my Family Sampler, I have added:

• Bruno, the dog - Bruno is our 10 year old "mutt". We purchased him from a rescue facility when we lived in Minnesota. He was 8 weeks old when we got him.
• Chester, the cat - Chester is no longer with us. He came into our lives before Steve and I were married. Steve found Chester at the grain elevator he was working at the summer between our Junior and Senior year of college. Chester came to college and lived in Steve's apartment that senior year and then moved to New Orleans with him after graduation. I "adopted" Chester when we got married a year later. It was husband, wife and cat for several years when we lived in New Orleans; however, when we moved up to Minnesota Chester went to live on the farm with Steve's parents. He lived to the ripe old age of 14.
• Steve, the husband (just started to stitch the jacket) - Steve and I met the first week of our freshman year in college, dated all the way through and got married a year after we graduated.

And there you have it...an update on my life as well as...finally...a stitching up date! With our 21st Wedding Anniversary coming up next month, I would love to finish Family Sampler! It was my desire to have it completed last year for our 20th Anniversary...but maybe I can get it done this year? Maybe.

Well, until next time...remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa

Happy March!

The time to relax is when you don't have time for it.

~ Sydney J. Harris

I guess you could say the same for just about anything...

the time to exercise is when you don't have time for it,

the time to stitch is when you don't have time for it...

the time to visit a relative is when you don't have time for it...

...because time Marches on and you might regret missing out

Since returning home from Quebec, it seems like I just haven't taken the time to get much done except work at our store and run the boys to hockey (yes, it is still going on). And, in addition to being busy, I have been fighting a very bad cold...which I finally took time out of my day on Tuesday and went to the doctor. I got some antibiotics and feel much better now, more human and more like myself!

But between not feeling well and going-going-going...I have found it more pleasant to sleep in thus throwing my morning exercise routine out the window. But it is time to get back on to the saddle (the saddle of my stationary bike and maybe even into the tennis shoes of my running). When I don't take the time for this activity, I don't feel 100%...and if I don't find the time to plop my big @$% on the stationary bike, I don't get to update my blog or catch up on everyone elses (for I blog while spinning...a little multitasking goes a long way!). No Spin...No Posting...Not a Happy Camper.

I have, believe it or not, taken out Family Sampler last week and worked on it. I am working on the middle section where the family is stitched. So far I have a dog and a cat stitched and am working on the husband/dad figure. I will try and get a photo of it up soon. Nice to have made time to take this out and reunite my hand with needle and thread!

Well, I am going out of town again. Leaving this morning for South Carolina. Right before I left for Quebec, I found out that my 93 year old grandmother suffered something like a stroke - her best friend drove to her house and found her laying in the middle of the TV room unconscious. Well, it has been several weeks since that occurred and my grandmother is in a rehab facility relearning how to speak, eat with her left hand and walk with the help of a walker. Her right side has been somewhat paralyzed and the event also affected her speech. She is doing fairly well at this time, but I guess one has to consider her age. When the event occurred, my uncle who lives in NC drove down to be with her and to make sure that she was getting good care. Being in the medical field, he was able to understand exactly what happened to her and relayed the information back to family and friends of my grandmother through daily emails. Since his departure, my parents have travelled from MN to SC and are there right now.

With the Quebec hockey tournament and Valentine's day behind me and a strong gut feeling to get to SC to see grandma, I purchased a ticket last weekend and will be flying out there this morning. It will be wonderful to see her and be with my parents, too.  I have been wanting to get out to visit her and wanting to take the boys out there...but there never seemed time to do it. Well, the boys might not be going with me this weekend, but I am grateful to be getting there myself! And I am glad that I didn't wait any longer to see grandma.

While I will be taking my iPad with me, I am not sure that I will have internet connection...so I will be absent another period of time. But please be patient with me!!!

Thank you for stopping by and remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa 

Yes, I am still here

It has been a long time since my last post as I have been in and out of town as well as busy with Valentine's Day business in *The Stores*.  So, time for a little catching up...don't you think?

First up...Quebec Canada
On February 9th I departed the San Francisco airport with my younger son, Matthew, and his hockey team for Quebec for the Quebec International PeeWee Hockey Tournament. As previously written, this tournament is one of the largest youth hockey tournaments in the world. Over 300 teams, from 16 countries, participate in a 10 day tournament.

The San Jose Jr. Sharks PW99AAA hockey team - sitting in the San Francisco Airport, waiting for everyone to check in their luggage and hockey equiptment before heading down secuity and the gate.

Our flight took off at 8am and after 5 hours in the first leg of our journey, we arrived in Toronto Canada. After going through Canadian customs, we had enough time to catch a quick bite of food before loading onto the next plane that would take us to Quebec.

Sitting at the gate waiting for our Quebec flight. Matthew is sitting in the middle (he has the Jr. Sharks grey shirt on), on the left is his coach and on the right is one of his teammate. Below, at his feet is the rest of his team, sitting on the floor eating and playing computer games.

The flight from Toronto to Quebec is a little over an hour. Once in Quebec and our luggage was collected, we all boarded the tournament vans which brought us over to the Pepsi Colisee where the boys would meet the families that they would be staying with for the next 10 days.

Matthew...his billete dad: Benoit...and his teammate: Cam

Once Matthew and his teammate, Cam, departed with their new Quebec family, I left with the rest of the hockey families to check into our hotel. Matthew's billete family has two children - a 3 year old boy and a 9 month old girl. During the weekend, Matthew told me that it was fun playing with 3 year old Maxime, but..."he only speaks French." However, friendship and love seem to breakdown language barriers pretty quickly! Both Matthew and Cam had a wonderful time with their billet family during the 10 days. They were treated like princes!

During their 10 days in Quebec, the boys played a lot of hockey. Their 2 tournament games didn't go very well, loosing both, they were eliminated from the tournament pretty quickly. However, the coaches set up a lot of exhibition games which kept them pretty busy and on the ice. There were only 2 days they weren't on the ice - the first one being Monday, Feb. 13 when they went to a huge snow tubing park...which is always a highlight for the team that go to this tournament. And the only other day they were off the ice was Sunday, Feb. 19 when they were getting packed up to depart the next day. If interested in reading a little more about some of their experience in Quebec, we started a blog to jounalize their experience (unfortunately, I didn't get a chance yet to finish it). You can visit this blog by going to: http://www.pw99aaa.blogspot.com/

The last night in Quebec, my son and his roommate had to come to the hotel and stay with us (I was rooming with Matthew's teammate's mother). Their billete family had to go back to work on Monday, Feb. 20th early so it was best for them to come to the hotel. I am glad that it happened this way, for it gave Matthew and I some mother-son time. Three years ago, when Robert (my older son) went to Quebec, this same thing happened and I treasured this time we had together for it just put a nice ending on the whole experience so I was glad to have this with Matthew. So, Sunday evening - the last evening in Quebec - we walked to one of my favorite restaurants in the Old City called Portofino. We had a very nice meal and Matthew filled me in on his wonderful experience he had at his billete family's house, playing in the tournament, hanging out with his teammates, going to the snow park, etc. He was just glowing with happiness as he told me all his stories. After we finished out meal, I took him to my favorite place in the city. Located below the Chateau Frontnac is Petite Champlain, a little cobble stone street with building that date back to the 1600's-1700's. Many of these buildings are now art galleries, shops and restaurants. But with all the holiday lights and the snow it reminds me of something out of a Charles Dickson's novel. It was a wonderful way to end this trip with my son Matthew.

My side of the Quebec Experience
I was in Quebec Feb. 9-12 and then again Feb. 16-20. In between I had to fly home to help DH with Valentine's Day business at *The Stores*.  My side of Quebec was like having 2 "girl" weekends...or should I say "hockeymom" weekends. Throughout the day we would attend the hockey games our boys played and then in the evening we would enjoy the many wonderful restaurants Old Quebec City had to offer as well as ending up in the hotel bar until midnight or 1am. It has been a very long time since I have had time like this...and I don't think that I have ever really had a girl weekend out. It was fun.

The first weekend up there, there were 4 of us hockey moms that hung out together and the second it was just down to 2. But we definitely had fun none-the-less!

Valentine's Day
Well, like I mentioned I came home Sunday, Feb. 12 and stayed until the 16th in order to help out at *The Stores*. It was definitely crazy and I didn't get much sleep. For I worked immediately when I got home on Sunday, Feb. 12. DH picked me up from the airport and I went directly to the store to dip strawberries and apples in chocolate. I finished up around 6am only to go home to shower so I could go up to our other store and work allday. After a full day at Store #2, I headed back to Store #1 to dip more strawberries in chocolate until 2:30am when I just couldn't function any more. Home I went to get 3 hours of sleep so that I could work in the stores on Valentine's Day. I won't bore you with the rest of the details, but lets just say it was a very long and stress ful day!

Well, back home now. Quebec and Valentine's Day is behind me! Life looks like it was be somewhat a little calmer. I hope.

It is time I need to sign off in order to get the house up and going. So, until next time, remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often

 (I hope I will be able to soon!)

Lisa

Ready to go...

I'm up and going this morning in the wee hours of a new day. Up at 2am in order to get in a good spin on my stationary bike before heading off to the airport.

Monday I made contact with Matthew's host family in Quebec and they sound wonderful. I know he is going to have a great time there! And I am looking forward to my time there as well. Yesterday I didn't have to go into the store and was able to focus on getting ready to go...well, somewhat...

I received a phone call from my mother regarding my 93 year old grandmother. It sounds like she had some type of stroke sometime Monday evening or Tuesday. She was found lying on the floor by her best friend on Wednesday morning. My grandmother lives in South Carolina by herself (grandpa passes away a little over 2 years ago) but has a plethora of friends! She was taken to the hospital by an ambulance. My uncle who lives in North Carolina immediately drove down there. He is the only closest relative, the rest of us are scattered thought the US.

Anyway while trying to focus on packing and organizing things at home for DH and Robert while I am away, I felt like a huge black cloud was hanging over my head. My mother updated me throughout the day, giving me updates on grandmas prognosis. This help immensely especially since things weren't as bad as they could have been.

I found out she experienced a "bleeder" on the left lower side of her head, which is something that could happened to anyone not just the elderly. And it kind of sounded like a "bleeder" could be better than a clot, for the body can work to heel itself in this situation. Anyway, it has affected her speech and right side, but by the evening she was talking a little and starting to move her right foot. Which was the good news I received yesterday evening before going to bed. My prayers and positive thoughts continue for my grandmother!

My grandmother is like a second mother to me! Growing up in Kansas, we use to go to their house when they lived in St. Louis, MO a lot. We were together for all the important holidays...Thanksgiving at our house, Christmas at theirs. When we moved to Minnesota, grandma and grandpa would drive up every June when grandpa had to go to the toy fair (he worked for Kenner Toys, which is now Mattel. Pretty cool having a grandpa who was a toy salesman when I was a kid!). After the toy fair was over, they would take me and my sisters back to their house and my parents would fly down to get us a week later. When I went to college, I attended one in St. Louis. I stayed in the dorms, but found myself at my grandparents house many times for a wonderful home cooked meal and free laundry service ;). My grandparents moved to South Carolina 20 or so years ago.

Grandma has always been a sounding board for me. I share so many of my thoughts and feelings with her...and she is not shy to share her thoughts too! She has always reminded me of both Dr. Ruth and Betty White! Spunky women who are not afraid to say how they feel!

Dear God...please watch over grandma, she still has some living to do!

Well, it is time to go and get Matthew around for breakfast before we leave for the airport.

Take care my friends! Until next time, remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often,
Lisa

Never a dull moment

Ahhhh...in two days I leave for Quebec Canada with Matthew (my younger son) and his hockey team. They are participation in the Quebec International PeeWee tournament. Sunday he received his assigned family he will be staying with and the teammate who he is paired up as his roommate. Matthew is rooming with the teammate he was hoping for, so all is great! I contacted the Quebec family last night and they sound great; having a couple of younger kids in the house I think Matthew and his teammate will enjoy. They will spending time from dinner thru breakfast at the Qubec family's house and in the morning be dropped off in the Colisee where they will meet up with their coaches and remaining teammates. Daily activities change and will consist of either practices, hockey exhibition games, official tournament games or other things like playing at a snow park, shopping at a great hockey store or doing some homework at a study hall.

I am looking forward to my side of the trip. For while I will also join in some of the team activities, I will be staying with a girl friend in the Old City of Quebec. So while the boys hang with their Quebec families, I will be hanging with some of my fellow hockey moms. A nice break before I have to come back on the 12th of February to work in the stores for Valentine's Day.

I am sure I have disappointed many of you who might be looking for more of a stitching blog. It has been very difficult lately to really find time to sit and stitch. I do feel the ache for the needle and hopping to make time on the long flight to Canada on Thursday. Or other down times throughout the weekend.

Well, it is time for me to sign off. Thank you for visiting and sticking with me through thick and thin. Take care and remember...

Live, love, laugh and stitch always,
Lisa

I am still here...

just have been so busy that I haven't made time to sit (period) and when I do sit, I really don't sit very long. For I either feel the need to get up and do something - like keep up with laundry or other house hold tasks. OR, the majority of the time my body tends to go from an upright position on the couch to more of a horizontal one.

I have been putting in a lot of hours working in one of our stores, which lately has been not only covering the employee who has been out on vacation for the last few weeks (she always takes off the last 2 weeks in January to celebrate Chinese New Year); but I have also been dealing with covering several other employees who have been sick, late or just not showing up. Something that my DH and I will need to take care of quickly as we are gearing up for Valentine's day...and there will be a lot of fruit to cut and strawberries to dip!

Today, everyone is back working and I actually have the day off. Probably have the next few days off, which will be good because I will be leaving in 9 days for Quebec Canada with my younger son, Matthew. His hockey team will be attending the Quebec Internation PeeWee Tournament. It is one of the largest, most famous tournaments for this age group. In fact, this is the 54th year of the tournament and many well know hockey players participated in this tournament when they were 12 years old...like Mario Lemieux, Sidney Crosbey, Guy Leflur...just to name a few. The neat thing about this tournament is that the kids are paired up with one of their teammates and they actually stay at a house of a Quebec family for the 11 days they are there (so any parents attending stay at a hotel sans their kids). My older son, Robert, participated in this tournament 3 years ago and it was amazing. Still a huge highlight of his life, so far :)

Anyway, between getting ready for Valentine's Day at our stores and the big Quebec trip, life continues to be crazy here!

I did find sometime to work on Santa 2009 over the weekend. Hoping to stitch a few more X's and get a status photo up so I can show you some progress. I know a lot of you are defecting from my followers' list...I know that I haven't checked in and showed much stitching lately...but for those of you who are still here, please know that I appreciate you so much!!!!!

Anyway, had a few moments today, so I thought I would update and check in with some of you. Hope all is doing well! Take care and remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa

Weekend of catch up...

I know my posts are somewhat sporatic and there hasn't been much stitching - it has been a challenge to get into a new routine...so I appreciate those who are sticking with me.

I suppose the part-time job outside of the home I use to have (keywords: "outside the home") allows for more ease to put together a routine than working for one's own "family" business and with one's own spouse. Just when you think you have some sort of regular schedule allowing for some sort of routine, an employee calls out and you have to fill in; or your spouse decides that there is some project or task that needs to be accomplished, which requires a total schedule overhaul. Then there is the boys' schedule - school, school projects and hockey...

Somehow, things get done but, of course at some cost. This weekend, I did manage to find time to get caught up on many house hold tasks, some hockey team manger projects as well as found some "me" time to get in some good spins on my stationary bike as well as create some "X's" on Santa 2009 (not enough to really show a status photo, but hopefully soon).  But again there were some costs to getting caught up...like missing out on some of my son's hockey games. He didn't mind and they were exhibition ones with some teams that aren't as good as his team (Robert's team won their games this weekend 6-3 and 8-0) I guess sometimes one needs to make choices in order to keep up with life?!?!

Well, as I mentioned, the thread and needle found its way into my hand last night. I did make some X's in Santa 2009. Felt good to sit and stitch. Little by Little...

Hey, have you heard of the new Stitching social network? It is http://www.stitchtalk.com/ . It is like facebook, but dedicated to "a sewing community"...needlework, embroidery, quilting, crocheting, cross stitch, knitting and so on. Check it out, it is wonder...and great community of people with similar interests!

Today is the Chinese New Year...the year of the Dragon! So, Happy New Year to all!

Until next time, remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa

Small Talk on Tuesday - Here, Present and Now

My Prairie Schooler Santa 2009 is coming a long. His red jacket is now complete and I have started to work on his green sack of presents. This weekend, while ALL the boys were away at their respective hockey tournaments (Robert in Atlanta...my DH & Matthew in Texas), I enjoyed some time to myself again. In between the time I needed to be in one store or the other, I did manage to have time to plop my ever growing bottom on the couch.

Friday and Saturday evening, I only managed to find time to do nothing but lay in front of the television and tune the world out. That always feels good, doesn't it. To be able to lay ones head down and just "be"?

On Sunday, since the store closes early, I was home around 2pm. Early enough to get in my couch potato nap out of the way in the afternoon - while enjoying the parade of stars on the Golden Globe's red carpet. That meant, in the evening while the Golden Globe Award show was on, I would be clear-headed enough to enjoy stitching while watching.

It is always fun to watch the stars parade in fancy dresses and bling, as well as see what movies and tv shows have been deemed worth watching...for I don't get too much time to take in a movie or watch too much tv. However, now I have my list of movies I would like to try and find time for (yeah, right...between all the hockey coming up and the last big tournaments and preparation for Valentine's Day at the store...well, a girl can always make her lists...and if I can't see the movies in the theater, there is always rentals :)).

Well, ALL the boys are back home now. My DH & Matthew arrived back home first, which gave me some time to get all their dirty clothes clean and listen to stores of their weekend. It was nice that they were able to combine a hockey trip to Texas with some family visits. The in-laws (mother, father, brothers and sisters) all live in the Kansas/Texas area and it sounded like they all came down to visit and see DH & Matthew. It has been awhile since all of them have been together. Robert (older son) got home late...so I haven't had any time to really catch up with him.

Before I ramble on too much more, I will conclude this post. Until next time, remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch Often!

Lisa

Thoughts for Tuesday...

On Arturo Toscanini's eightieth birthday, someone asked his son, Walter, what his father ranked as his most important achievement. The son replied, "For him there can be no such thing. Whatever he happens to be doing at the moment is the biggest thing in his life--whether it is conducting a symphony or peeling an orange."

~Ardis Whitman

What we are talking about is learning to live in the present moment, in the now. When you aren't distracted by your own negative thinking, when you don't allow yourself to get lost in moments that are gone or yet to come, you are left with this moment. This moment--now--truly is the only moment you have. It is beautiful and special. Life is simply a series of such moments to be experienced one right after another. If you attend to the moment you are in and stay connected to your soul and remain happy, you will find that your heart is filled with positive feelings.

~Sydney Banks

Do we need to make a special effort to enjoy the beauty of the blue sky?
Do we have to practice to be able to enjoy it? No, we just enjoy it.
Each second, each minute of our lives can be like this.
Wherever we are, any time, we have the capacity to enjoy the sunshine,
the presence of each other, even the sensation of our breathing.
We don't need to go to China to enjoy the blue sky.
We don't have to travel into the future to enjoy our breathing.
We can be in touch with these things right now.
~Thich Nhat Hanh

You'll have to meet the new addition to our family...

Thank you all for Robert's birthday wishes and your lovely comments - I am definitely a proud mother. He told me this morning at breakfast that he had a nice birthday. He found a couple of surprises yesterday when he got home from school.

First, as per his request for his birthday dinner, I brought home his favorite Tamales from a place near our 2nd store in Brentwood, CA. It is called Tamale Lovers and they make homemade/hand rolled tamales. His favorite is the Pablano Tamale and the mild Chicken Tamale.

Second, was a total surprise for him. He has been talking about getting an aquarium and saving up his holiday money he received to get a starter kit. So, I decided to take a little trip to the fish store and this is what I brough home...

I thought it would be fun to get him a little Beta fish in the ol' glass fish bowl to start out with and then, when things settle down a little, he can go out and purchase whatever aquarium he wants. He definitely was surprised and excited.

So that is the new addition to our family...and his name is "FISH". That is the name the birthday boy came up with (go figure...).

I suppose we do call our dog, "POOCH" (although his real name is Bruno)...if we had a hamster, we probably would name him "HAMSTER"...and according to Matthew (younger son) if we had a pet donkey his name would be "JACK ASS".  Not much I can say about that comment :)

Anyway, when I got home from closing our store I had one more treat for him...

Phish food ice cream...seemed like the perfect birthday dessert ;) and fitting for the occasion.

Hope the week is going well for you...time to sign off and get my day going. Take care and remember,

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa

16 years ago....

It is hard to believe that 16 years ago I packed my bag and headed to the hospital. Just the day before, after an ultrasound, the doctor told me that I would be a mother of a baby that would be anywhere between 8 pounds and 12 pounds. January 11 at 7am in the morning I checked in and was given a shot, for it was time for you to enter the world.

After 15 or so hours of labor - at 11:36pm - you were born...all 9 pounds and 2 oz...all 21 inches. We called you Robert Samuel. Robert after your daddy's uncle and Samuel came from my grandfather's middle name.

You went every where with us, for you were such an easy baby...you would go into work with me and nap on the office floor on a little bed made of blankets...you would go to fancy restaurants with Daddy & I, sitting in your little car seat on the table.

But being outdoors, exploring the world...running around and playing outside...is something that you love to.

So much so, that you have taken that love and joined the varsity track team which you lettered in last year...your freshman year.

But your passion...is hockey. At the age of 3, you tied your first pair of hockey skates have haven't looked back.

You have traveled all over the US and around Canada playing the sport you love while balancing your education, keeping up your grades to high levels.

Robert...we are proud of you! You are a hard worker, always giving at least 110% or more. You have a large heart and care about others. You love life and it shows!

Happy 16th Birthday!

PS...Robert, thank you for tolerating the Birthday breakfast tradition of the birthday hat photo.



Santa 2009 Status - Phone Photo (not great quality)


Yesterday, with DH taking care of all the hockey responsibilities and, me, hanging out at the house "on-call" with any store issues...I took the opportunity to sit my fanny down on the couch and stitch. I was able to make some pretty good progress on Santa; but with those little teenie-tiny stitches I did have to take a few breaks. Some breaks were to call into the stores, some were to switch the laundry from the washer to the drier, and some breaks were just to curl up and nap.

It was nice to have a slow Saturday and just enjoy "being". Got to enjoy them when I can :)

Hope you are finding moments of "Just Being" this weekend. Until next time, remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa

Thursday's Check in

Hello friends, it has been a few days since I have last checked in; just trying to get back into the groove with the boys back in school after the winter break as well as deal with their hockey schedule and find my "full-time" role in *The Business*. No new routine has formed yet...I am sure it will take a while to figure things out.

In the meantime, I have found a few spare minutes when I was able to pick up the thread & needle. So, as mentioned in my last posting, I have not been working on Family Sampler laterly...

so what am I putting X's in, you ask?

Do you remember my special little package that I received from my dear friend CindyMae in November?

Here is a snap as a reminder...

One of the items was the Prairie Schooler Santa 2009 stitched and finished as a pillow

Well, in our household, a Santa with hockey skates & stick & puck is well thought of - so, since Cindy also included the pattern for this jolly hockey guy I wanted to make a couple of ornaments for the boys. I started stitching one the middle of December, but with all the holiday craziness I didn't get it done for this year's Christmas tree...so I am hoping to have it for the 2012 tree.

Anyway, here is where I am on the first one (with 2 boys, you know I need to stitch 2)...

I am stitching it one-over-one on 28ct evenweave (I think) - yikes it is tiny! I am hoping to finish the first one up by the end of the month (seems to be a realistic goal). Stay tuned, for I will post another update.

That is all I have for now, my blogging friends. I hope the first 5 days of 2012 are going well for you. Until next time, remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa

Getting into the swing of the New Year and my new chapter

Above...the offical

Welcome to 2012 - may the New Year be fruity and sweet!

Yesterday I needed to go into Store #1 for we did have 1 order for pick up on New Year's Day and I wanted to make sure that the customer received the finest, freshest arrangement for his New Year's Day celebration! I love the edible numbers, don't you think that they add something special to the arrangement?

We were only opened from 10am-1pm, so after creating that wonderful bouquet, I continued to do some clean up of our store - some post-holiday cleaning. Taking down the holiday decor and posters and putting up some of the everyday things and pre-Valentines (yes, my friends us retailers do think ahead to get you all to start planning for the next holiday...infact some places have already put out the Cadbury eggs and Easter isn't until April).

Once the store was closed, I headed back home and to the couch. I enjoyed my last hours of bachlorette-hood for all the boys got home in the evening. I picked up Robert from the airport around 6pm and my DH & Matthew drove into the driveway around 8:30pm. No more peace and quiet...no more empty laundry basket :)

Tomorrow the winter vacation ends for the boys and they go back to school and I start the next chapter of my life - post part-time job. DH and I will figure a schedule out for me to work more in the stores on a daily basis and what my role will be. While I did work in our business while working my part-time job, this will be different. I will have more of a role, but still it will give me more time to get things done at home and be the hockey taxi-driver.

Well...time to go make the best of today - to make it the most Awesomest day :)

Take care my friends...until next time, remember..

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year my dear blogging friends!
I hope that all of you were able to greet the new year with fun and festivity. My New Year celebration was quiet, but restful! My older son has been up in Canada since Monday (he gets home this evening) and my DH & younger son are in Los Angeles for a hockey tournament (they too get home tonight)...so I have had the whole house to myself for the last several days. Aside from working in Store#1, I have been home lounging in front of the TV. Kind of sweet, something I haven't done for ages

I have been surfing through many of your blogs over the last few days and have read everyone's stitching goals. You all have some amazing projects you are working on and I look forward to watch them throughout the year!

My goals??? Last year I was very over ambitious, listing 5 BAPs and only starting one: the Family Sampler. I think, given my busy lifestyle, I am not going to make an "official" list stitching goals. For me, it is somewhat depressing to log into my blog and see my unobtainable goals daily. This year, my focus will be to finish Family Sampler and then when complete I will post the finish and celebrate. And if I stray to other projects, it will be ok and when those are complete I will list those. My 2012 stitching list will contain finishes versus things I dream to complete - something that might be more positive for me.

Stitching is a huge part of my life, even when my hand doesn't hold a needle, I think of stitching and the colors of floss. Sometimes I look out the window of my room, the irridesent blueness of the sky or the vivid green of the hills bring thoughts of particular DMC #'s to mind. Do you ever think that way?

When stressed or experiencing those sleepless nights, stitching seems to create a calming and relaxing feeling. A threaded needle, making x's, is very meditative (is that even a word?) for me. I would be lost without this hobby...and without all the friends I have found while blogging about it (and my crazy life).

May 2012 bring you much health, happiness, friendship, love and laughs! Until next time, remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often!

Lisa

OMG...what a holiday

I am here and feel more like a human being finally. The week of Christmas was crazy, crazy busy. More than what is considered "normal" for me.  Having 2 stores this year definitely took a toll on my DH and myself this holiday season. Last week I was basically up at our 2nd store, supervising our wonderful employees. Our 2nd store is about a 40 minute drive from our house. The beginning of the week was pretty managable...but as soon as Thursday came...well, I didn't get much sleep between that day and the night of Christmas eve.

Friday I was up at store #2 at 5am and didn't leave there until 7pm only to go to store #1 to help DH with delivery route organizing for Christmas Eve deliveries. I finally went home around 9:30pm and was in bed by 10pm for a nap. I, then, woke up at 2am on Christmas Eve to dip strawberries and apples in chocolate at store #1 from 2:30-5:30am and then drove up to store #2 to get ready for business up there (I was at store #2 from 6:15am-6:30pm). By Christmas Eve I was toast!

Christmas Day...with 2 teenage boys, present opening didn't start until after 8am. It is amazing how things have changed...no little pitter patters at 6am...no more 2 little boys with sleep in their eyes due to excitement induced insomnia the night before. No more little toys or things to put together under the Christmas tree. The boys received clothing, gift cards and money - definitely things that they needed. After the wrappings were tossed aside and breakfast served, the rest of the day we just vegged.

Well, I take that back...while working in the stores, I wasn't able to get anything done I needed to do for the upcoming tournament Robert and his hockey team were leaving for on Monday, Dec. 26. So during Sunday, I got everything around for that tournament which meant not much time for rest. I also had to catch up on the laundry and assist Robert in his packing. So my rest was delayed until Monday after Robert's plane left and after I took Matthew down to his hockey practice (which was at 9:45am, something I didn't remember until at that time...so he was 30 minutes late to his practice).  By 1pm on Monday I plopped on the couch and didn't move!

Yesterday was the first day that I felt like myself - I feel caught up and clear headed. Last night I even pulled out my stitching and put some X's into a project...not Family Sampler, but something else I started a few weeks ago and didn't get much time to finish. I will post a photo soon.

Anyway...I am back!

Hope everyones holiday was great. Until the next time, take care and remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch Often!

Lisa

And so it is feeling a little more like Christmas

It felt good to be home yesterday - didn't have to work at either store and was able to do some catching up around the house. As planned, the boys and I created a very nice family holiday meal which we all sat down to and enjoyed after my DH got home from the store. It was like the Thanksgiving we missed out on due to Robert being away on a hockey tournament and the Christmas meal that I probably will not have the energy to make next weekend due to working all week in the stores. We enjoyed turkey, mashed potatoes & gravey, stuffing, homemade rolls (a recipe I received from my mother-in-law but they never rise like hers do), homemade pumpkin pie with homemade crust and fresh steamed green beans. A very filling late lunch...but definitely made it easy to take an early evening nap :)

While making the bread and pie doughs, the boys helped out by bringing in the 20 year old artificial Christmas tree from the garage and putting it together. If you have an artificial tree, you know that they look scrawny before you "fluff" it all out. While the boys were totally aware of this, they had to make some snide remarks and compared it to Charlie Brown's sad tree...

The boys were funny, commenting about our poor tree and kept me entertained as I kneaded the bread dough. Yes, the tree is old for my DH and I purchased that tree for our first Christmas as husband and wife...20 year ago. The poor tree is almost an antique. They got the tree all assembled and strung the white lights around it without any arguing. Once done, Matthew (my younger son) went back out into the garage to get the bucket of ornaments. He separated out the ones he received over the years from those that belong to Robert so that they both would be able to hang their special ornaments.

Just like the tree of Charlie Brown and the gang...

Our tree, with a little love, was converted from the sad scrawny bush to something full and lovely (although there definitely are some places on the tree that could use some additional ornaments...just noticed that in the photos)...

The boys, even though they are much taller than I am now, decorated the bottom saving the top for my special ornaments from the ladies of the Ornament Swap group. Once done with the pies and the rolls, I gathered up my special 10 ornaments and placed them up on top..

Now it definitely feels more like Christmas and the holiday season! Hopefully, Santa finds time to go shopping...ugh.

Well, until next time...take care and remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often

Lisa