Weekend, Day 2, Sunday

The prompt for a blog today is, “What snack would you like to eat right now?

Wow, not a brilliant question to ask a starving woman. Nachos would be good, but no jalapeno peppers. Some nice warm Italian Bread with real butter melted on it would be good. The bread with a grilled steak like only the Babe can make. With a nice salad. That would do it.

More squares sewn together for Cody’s quilt. I’d like to finish the quilt top by mid-week. Photos soon! It will be so cute. It’s tough to sit more than a couple hours to sew or do anything. Baby steps.

I’m having a bit of a hard time finishing a book that I want to finish. It’s the third of a series of three written by Colleen Hoover, her “Maybe Someday” series. The first book held my interest in plot turns and twists. In the second book, minor characters from the first book developed, and it explained their relationship. The third book I’m struggling with. I believe it is because I’m much older than the characters and probably the audience. It’s a romance story (which I’m not sure how I feel about the genre). The characters are in their 20s, living on their own, going to school, and learning about life. In my 20’s I was married and having kids.

Is it hard to relate to a story when you are much older or younger than the characters? Is it just a matter of age? What are your thoughts? I am hooked on crime stories but never committed a crime. I’ve never had a ticket or stopped by the police.

What do you think keeps a reader in a story and coming back for more? Please don’t misunderstand; I am not trashing Colleen Hoover’s writing. I’ve read a couple of her books and really liked them. “November 9th,” “It Starts With Us,” and “It Ends With Us.” I know Colleen Hoover has a huge following, and I applaud her. She wrote other novels that I bought. I want to sample a full range of her work. I’d like to read about her career, too.

This will be a full day of more football playoffs and random busy stuff around the house. And when we’re finished? And what snack would we like most? Ice cream. Who doesn’t love that? Have a beautiful Sunday, and we’ll see each other tomorrow.

Progress Made

In contrast to how I felt last night, I’m thinking this The Artist’s Way is what I missed out on last year when I was struggling with creativity. I needed this when I bought it, but I didn’t pursue it.

I heard the voices of people during my younger years, telling me, “You never have been able to draw faces! The clothes are fine, but you should just forget about drawing.” And so it went for so many people my age when they were kids. Girls were rarely encouraged to go to college; Mom told me I could go but I’d get married before I could finish, and I really shouldn’t waste my time and money. It’s how the world was.

Usually, the negative feedback we’ve had previously in life is what we hear when we’re adults with finally enough time and money to pursue your dreams. In the past five years, I’ve stocked up on supplies. Supplies for all the dreams I want to have. Learning to draw. Learning to Paint. Learning to Write. Building my own Website. What about a blog? Yes, I think a blog is a good idea. We should write every day. And I have for over #178 days now. Not missed a blog. That is pretty cool. I’m proud of that. Some are great, some aren’t so great, but it’s just fun to do.

The first chapter in The Artist’s Way is about Recovering a Sense of Safety. It means protecting our Artist spirit against negativity, which is in our brains and minds and reinforced over and over. We need to be encouraged. We need to play in our ideas, paintings, and words. They will find their way to where they should be. It’s part of the process. Yes, I feel safe. I know I’ll get there. It’s all part of things I need to try out before I die. Hopefully later than sooner.

The name of this website is Kathy Raabe, Author and Creative Soul. I’ve known for some time I am creative. I need to express that in more than one way. Quilting is important to me. I just got back to it after more than a year of concentrating only on writing. I made some progress, but not what I wanted. Considering I’m 70 years old, and I want to learn to draw, paint, and keep quilting, sewing, etc., etc; etc., I need to do all of these things, not just one at a time. I think that is what will make me happiest and produce more creative things.

I will figure out how to schedule my time, and I need to follow my schedule. That needs to become a habit. I will be on my way to that by the time I’m finished with this commitment to Artist’s Way. Thank you, Julia Cameron. I’m so enthused about what I’m creating!

I had the pleasure of visiting with Kimberly Faith Hickman this afternoon. Some extra fabric of mine can be used by the McGuigan Arts Academy for costumes or crafts. I’m delighted to share my stash with them. It will be used and appreciated. Stay tuned folks, it’s going to be an exciting year. See you tomorrow!

The Artist’s Way

I purchased this book about a year ago. I also purchased “It’s Never Too Late to Begin Again,” and “The Listening Path: The Creative Art of Attention.” Julia Cameron wrote, “The Artist’s Way” and stressed recovering different aspects of a child’s life to help us figure out how to be more creative and produce more.

It’s amazing how we hold ourselves back. Once we discover that, how do we move forward? Self-sabotage is easy to fall into. It’s our lack of time. It’s our kids/parents/children/spouses/etc. Many times, it’s us.

Once we learn to recover these precious aspects of life we’ve set aside, we need to find how to reignite many individual senses; Cameron shows us the way there, too. The conclusions we draw are our own.

I have been struggling with my creativity the past few months. I’ve published the blog 172 days consecutively. I don’t want that to stop or falter. It’s writing, it counts. I don’t want to slow or stop that. I need to accomplish more.

I have the binding to sew on my granddaughter Kayla’s quilt I wanted to send for Christmas. Didn’t make it, being sick for 2 weeks with RSV. I started Cody’s quilt today and it will be an easier finish, no appliqued pieces. It’s also smaller. His birthday is January13. He’ll be 3 years old. Getting to be a big boy.

Back to The Artist’s Way. After resigning as a self-conscious author, Cameron says, “Nothing dies harder than a bad idea.” Her “block” was the drama of a suffering artist. Aren’t we all doomed to be starving artists? Isn’t it true you sell nothing until six months after you die? When it doesn’t matter anymore?

Nothing could be further from the truth. The whole thing about finding your creativity is a spiritual thing. And I get that. It has nothing to do with religion. It is you paying attention, noting the feelings, the reactions of others, and of potting it together. I hope to read some on it today, and explore what I can do to get my mojo back.

Also, I signed up for an online learn at your own pace art classes. I know, super busy already, but if I don’t jump in with both feet, I’ll finish nothing. Let’s keep each other on task and honest. Much more the rest of the week. I love blank slates and calendars. The sky is the limit right about now! Have a great day, and see you tomorrow.

Monday, Let’s Go!

It’s Monday again, let’s make it a great week! I plan to finish quilting Kayla’s quilt this week, and wrap it. Then, we’ll work on Cody’s. I think it will be a fun one as well, full of puppies like a little three year old boy will love.

Are you more of a morning or a night person?

I think I’m a morning person. Always have been. At home, Mom was up at 5:30 a.m., getting coffee made. She’d throw my door open, flip on the light, and growl, “It’s time to get up.” I’d obey. I was the only person in the house who got up when they were supposed to. My three brothers and Dad could sleep through a nuclear missile test.

I’d get up and get ready quickly, and go downstairs to eat breakfast. She’d be slumped at the table, questioning her plight in life. “You kids will be the death of me yet!” Wow! That’s a harsh way to start the day for sure. I wanted to give my kids a better start to the day than that. I did. Yes, we’re all just doing the best we can, and the world becomes better with each generation.

I certainly hope the Babe gets over his cold soon. I need his help to set up the Christmas Tree, and I hate to ask him while he’s feeling crummy. He must have caught cold coming home from Maryland last week. It happens when we travel, I always used to catch the cold. I had mine a couple weeks before he left, so I should be good. I think he’ll go to the doc tomorrow morning, just to be safe. No COVID, at least that’s what the home test said. I hope it’s right.

Hoping you all have a great start to your week, and we’ll see each other again tomorrow. Stay safe out there.

Homecoming!

It was welcome home for the Babe! I picked him up at the airport Monday night, and the three girls sure are glad he’s home. Of course, I had to wait in line. It’s nice to have him home. More bonding took place and the memories will remain forever. So glad it all worked out.

Today, I did a little more work on the quilt for Kayla and cut more pieces for Cody’s. No writing (until I did this) happening today. I need to get it together again, it seems I’m always trying to get it together. Like Yoda says, “No try, DO!” Yes.

I haven’t even read anything the past four or five days. Usually, I get at least a chapter a day in. That’s another thing that needs to be a daily thing. The holiday season is descending on us, and I’m thinking of my Christmas Tree. Time to decorate, I believe. The Babe has offered to help, so it’ll be much easier for me.

While we decide to make our own traditions for our individual families, we can also decide what kind of home we will have. Will we have one based on honesty and love or one of secrets and lies? One will last through time, the other will fall at the slightest breeze. Which will you build?

I love Judge Judy. Brash? Yes she is. She has no patience for people who don’t use their heads. One of the things she says to people who think they’re putting one over on her is:

“If You Tell The Truth, You Don’t Have To Remember What You Say.”

She speaks the truth. We need to preach this and have everyone practice it. If we did, there would be a lot more honesty in the world. Even if just in our families, honesty is important. Secret keeping is never good. It is especially not good to keep secrets about your health from your family, or only let certain members know the truth. It’s not fair to those kept in the dark. Be open and honest. Your family deserves it.

I remember when I had breast cancer. It was hard to tell the Babe, my kids, and my mom. The worst hard of all was to tell my youngest brother Tim. His wife had just passed away from oral cancer two years before. Nothing could be as hard as that was. Prayers, medical miracles, and God’s good grace finds me still cancer free, 13 years later. God willing, it will remain the same. I will always be honest with my family about issues affecting my health. Yes, many things are personal, and honesty is the best policy.

While we work our way towards the holidays, let’s examine how honest we are. Not just when it’s expected, but even when it isn’t. I can’t lie, you’d know if I did. I still can’t lie to my mom. She can tell, too. I will be honest because it’s the only thing I know. Thank you for reading today. I’m over the moon since we hit #1008followers. We are truly grateful! Let’s work our way to #1500. Onward! Truth all the way! See you tomorrow.

Tuesday Things

It’s been another day of being mostly sick, and a little regular work on some quilt squares. It hasn’t been without glitches, let me tell you. The header photo? I wound a bobbin on my new machine. I’ve never had one do this in over 50 years of sewing/quilting. Just when I think I’ve seen everything, I realize I don’t. And that’s a good thing. It means I still have things to learn.

Tomorrow is the visitation/prayer service for my sister-in-law Pat Tomasek. You do a lot of thinking while you reminisce about life with those special people. You all were grasping to hold on, and you were stronger in numbers. And here we are, 50 years later, all walking each other home. Everyone feels this loss, it’s a big one. I’m so grateful to have known Pat. She was a big blessing to me.

Not even the worst circumstances could make us into negative, jealous, self-pitying people unless we allow them to. Our experiences cannot be controlled. Our reactions to them can be. No matter what our circumstances, we are responsible for our attitudes about them. Let’s make sure we have good attitudes in all circumstances. Then, and only then, we can say we show gratitude.

I need to read a lot before class on Thursday night. I’m humbled I was asked to participate in the training. I want to use it for good. Intentional Peer Support is vital as a supplement to mental health services for Veterans and families.

Want to help? You can get involved. Contact the VFW in your area, volunteer at Post 2503, Bellevue University in Bellevue, Nebraska, and many places supporting Veterans. I hope you have a great evening and tomorrow. See you then.

Sunday, the Day of Rest

I sure took advantage of this today. Still not feeling the best, but did shower. I cannot remember when was the last time when I left pj’s on all day long. Two days in a row. I hope to dress tomorrow and work on quilt blocks again, when I feel human again.

There are terrible wildfires, wind, and extremely dry weather in Nebraska. I didn’t set foot outside again, thought the allergies and dust would rile my asthma, and I don’t need that. I hope it all stops; so many of the leaves were blown off trees, they didn’t fall. Isn’t that cheating? Don’t we get a recount?

I felt like I needed to read something, but wasn’t up to a book about writing or the historical novel I started. I settled on “More Busting Bad Guys,” by Mark Langan, retired OPD Sargent. He wrote a great first book about his cases on patrol and on narcotics. He was a good officer and a fair one. He retired and took a job with the Nebraska Humane Society, to monitor dogfighting, animal hoarding, etc. And now, he has actually retired. I suspect he may have another book or two.

I want to get myself well first; get organized and finish Kayla’s quilt, then prep for NaNoWriMo; and get started on Cody’s quilt. That takes care of November. See you around the 1st of December!

It appears WordPress changed the way they report followers. Imagine my surprise when a few days ago, they reported I fell from #985 followers to #512 followers! It appears they count the folks who follow on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Email, and WordPress, then add them together. I’m glad I didn’t get #473 people mad at me!

Going to hit another night of NyQuil, good sleep, and liquids. Take care of you, too, and we’ll see each other tomorrow.

Homecoming, 2022

Facebook is alive with all our friends sharing pictures of their kids and grandkids going to Homecoming. Our Addison is going again, she’s a Sophomore at PLHS.

I love how kids go in groups now. Dates or not, they all go. I never got to go when in high school. I was supposed to but broke up with my boyfriend before the dance. Mom was mad, said I should have gone anyway, but I didn’t want to go with him if I wasn’t happy with being his girlfriend anymore. Long ago loves of lives that don’t stand the test of time. We all have them.

Today’s header photo is all of Addison’s friends from two years at her high school. This is her, and yes, she’s a beautiful young woman. Thank you for saying so!

What a girl! What a dress! Does Dad gave grey hair yet?

The kids had a post party at the home of Addison’s friend, so all was well. These kids have a great world to grow up in. They work hard, and so do all their parents. I hope life treats them all well.

A little more progress on the quilt today, and tomorrow is probably all lost. Mom’s appointments and meetings all day, and picking Addison up after school. It’s going to be a day that goes quickly.

Summer rears it’s head this week, and once it’s settled down, I’m hoping we’re to the fall days, the “ber” days. It’s time. Hope you have a beautiful evening, and see you tomorrow!

I Find Your Posts . . .

worth reading, but so sad we are not friends on here.

impressive, along with your personality and sense of humor.

Inspirational, and I came across your posts. You look so beautiful, adorable.

And so it goes. Ladies, when we have public pages, which we need for our businesses, we become open to this type of crazy scammers who try to get into our lives, our wallets, and well, our unmentionables.

For me, they’re nearly always a General, Admiral, Admiral General, Lieutenant General, or . . . well, you get the fakery here. Check their profiles and they may claim to be born in Damascus, Syria, Los Angeles, New York City, Canada, or elsewhere. They usually are in some branch of the service, US Army Air Force, The US Army, the Marine Corps, etc. Guys, at least do your research better! Know the six branches of the US Military. We’re not stupid as you think. The Army is not part of the Air Force! C’mon, man!

PT Barnum once said, “There’s a sucker born every minute!” While that is true, I hope and pray my friends, author friends, poets, and any woman (or man) I may one day work with are not any of those scammed. Please, loneliness can overcome you, but gosh, you may never recover emotionally or financially if someone takes advantage of you. Be cautious. Don’t argue or respond to these Lotharios. They’re out to Catfish you.

I have to say, the Eric Hill (or Eric T. Hill, General Eric Hill, etc.) character has been blocked more than once, and any other profile he may create is also blocked, but in my experience, it just doesn’t work. As soon as I block, delete, etc., there he is again. Aggravating at best. Don’t people have other things to do? I would hope so. Shouldn’t these Generals, Admirals, and the whole lot of them have some troops to lead? Wars to strategize? Officers Clubs to frequent?

And the bigger question to Facebook is, why doesn’t blocking work? You must have some algorithm to block these comments and never allow them in the first place. Trust me, the fewer real photos anyone has is a red flag to me. Oh, and the scammers always have a dog with them in some photos. They do some homework. If they’re bots, there is some human behind them somewhere making this happen.

And the fact that “you seems worth talking to,” OMG! My life is now complete! My purpose on earth is to talk to this guy! Let’s send that friend request before we take another breath! Swoon!

I find it very sad some people are scammed with this. The fact some folks have such low self-esteem is beyond tragic. Get some things to read about learning to love how great you are.

I’m sure there will be some scammers who see this and will not appreciate I’m making fun of them. They may inundate my pages with phony comments and I’ll have to use my time deleting, blocking, all that good stuff. I would rather not have to do that, but Dude, you’re not going to scam me. Get over yourself.

Despite the number of please to just let’s be honest friends, I’ll take a hard pass to that. It won’t even work if something (God forbid) happens to the Babe. Once you’ve had the Babe, you’re spoiled for anyone else. God only makes a once in a lifetime love once in a lifetime. #grateful

Time to start the day. I may write tomorrow’s blog today, since Mom’s birthday is tomorrow. I’ll need to spend some time with her tomorrow. Hope you have a beautiful day today. I’ve got pieces to glue onto the quilt blocks for a certain little girl named Kayla in Colorado. And pick fabric for the quilt I’ll make for her little brother, Cody. I’ll show you that later. It’s perfect for a little boy. Well, a girl could love it too.

Take time to evaluate your friend requests, comments, and scrutinize everyone you don’t know who wants into your life. Be safe. And don’t let them put one over on you. You’re too important to be hurt, scammed, or taken advantage of. See you tomorrow!

Back to Work

The rest we had for the last three days has helped my outlook, I feel refreshed, renewed, and almost energized towards showing some progress with my kid book, grand kids quilts, and other projects around the house. I have to dig in and produce, it’s time.

This morning, I took about 2 1/2 hours to prepare the eight sets of blocks for Kayla’s quilt. It will be so cute. They are bright, happy colors, and I’ll share as we make progress.

The news is on tonight and we haven’t listened for a few days. What is going on? The shooting of a kid football coach in Texas because of a disagreement between coaches and refs? Wow. Just wow. Many more issues across the country with folks who are mentally ill; one double homicide in Nebraska. A young man killed his grandmother and great-grandmother. He did not use a gun. He used a hammer. Mentally ill people will find a way to do what they think they should do, no matter how wrong.

I have no answers, except people may no longer have their loved ones committed if a medical doctor hasn’t witnessed bad behavior. I get it, it protects people against bad family members, but WOW! Those two old grandma’s did not deserve what he did to them.

I have my meeting tomorrow with my replacement for the webmaster and FB manager for the VFW Post 2503. I am so appreciative to Bill Hackenberg, he is the answer to my prayers. I’ll get those quilts, kid books, and novel written yet! I’m looking forward to having more time to do my own stuff, after about 8 years of managing all that.

New things are on the horizon, and I am ready to dive in. I’ll keep learning about publishing, writing, marketing, all of it. It just seems right to be in control of all aspects, since it’s no longer uncommon. At 70, I may not have enough years left to find an agent. And I want my book to remain mine, not a publishing company’s.

It’s now time to cook dinner for the Babe, and relax for the evening. I hope your day was good, and your evening pleasant. It rained today for the first time in a very long time. I wanted to go play in it! How about you? Do you feel the rain, or do you just get wet? I hope you felt it.

Keep going in your new direction, and follow your dream. Trust all will be well on our path. It will work out, you’ll learn how to make adjustments along the way. Have a good evening, and we’ll see each other tomorrow. Be safe.