Hello Again

Hello my neglected Blog. I am going to make an effort to write more often and on a variety of subjects.


I read where writing helps you keep your mind young. Something about me needs to stay young. I have been worn out and feeling old lately so maybe a young mind would be a good thing. You know I turned 65 this year so since I have met that milestone, I never have to be any older until I reach 100. There is no reason to count any more birthdays as nothing happens that causes a major change after 65 then being a centrum would be neat. So since I had a big celebration this year I don't need and more celebrations for birthdays. Just don't forget Mother's Day , Valentines Day, or the Fourth of July. Halloween would be nice too, along with the major ones like Christmas and Easter.


My main interest right now has been to manage Otila's etsy shop and to help her get into some retail shops . Her Aprons are in two shops at this time.. In Irvington she has aprons for the whole family at the Black Sheep Gift Shop, and next week some select aprons will go into the Buck Creek Bed and Breakfast. We will again this year be at the Irvington Garden Clubs Farmers Market in Ellenberger Park . Last summer we saw several old friends there and made many new ones hope to see you all soon.





Soon we will be having a Garage Sale in connections with the Wild Cat Run Community Garage Sale May 20th and 21st. If all goes well I will have a table of Vintage Collectables and lots of Craft materials from projects I lost interest in. Otila is cleaning out some more sewing boxes and I have closets to clean. I am looking forward to clean storage space so I can collect more.

Ground Hog Day

Guess 2010 is gone and here it is Ground Hog Day. Well my first resolution has gone astray I told myself I would write often on here this year.
The spring season for Craft shows is fast approaching. We do our first one at the Little Green Bean Boutique, then the Spring Chica Boutiqua Zionsville Town Hall April 16

We have been using our down time rethinking what the shop Otila Rae Originals should be selling. I think we have a few thoughts that will be winners this summer. Our first test will be Friday and Saturday when we do the Art show at the Little Green Bean Boutique. We will have pants with ruffles for the little girls. Some really nice sun dresses with bloomers for the infants. We have made some terrific card cases just the size to carry business cards or your ID and a credit card, how about giving one as a gift with a gift card included. Last summer everyone was asking for some plastic bag holders so we now have some very nice terry cloth ones. Of course we will have the ever popular Potato Bags, the all-cotton bags that go in the Microwave for Potatoes and Corn. We have worked on making Aprons for everyone in the family the Christmas print was real popular last fall. Now we have new prints of cupcakes and hearts and a garden theme for the 5 to 8 year olds and their American Girl Dolls. A New one for the ladies that I think came out real well it is made of black twill with a lining and trim of cherries. Of course our best seller on Etsy has been the little girl’s pantaloons they come in both ecru and white with lace trim so we will have them with us at the shows this summer also. Still working on something for little boys we made casual pants for them last summer but they did not sell very well I liked them but then I do not have a little boy. Come by the Arts Markets or visit us on Etsy that’s at www.otilarae.etsy.com to see where we will be check www.pixieplayground.com
and go to the calendar or e-mail us at otilarae@gmail.com

We also have a new member of our family a little white puppy named Snow. She is a fun little thing she thinks her feet do not fit on the floor and she should be carried all the time. Good thing she is tiny. She has not liked the cold and the snow so she like the rest of us is ready for tulips and daffodils.

2010 Going Too Fast

I think it was only yesterday that Halloween 2009 was here and now we are in less than a week expecting the little ghost and goblins again expecting candy.

It has been a busy time for us. Otila and I did three Farmers Markets each month with the Otila Rae Originals dresses and aprons for the young and young at heart. We did quite well with Potato Bakers for your microwave, Neck Cooling scares and aprons. We added to our inventory of children’s clothing and are doing well in the smaller line of bright outfits for the infant and toddler. We are adding fun pants with a ruffle at the bottom that people like really well. Our Shop on etsy.com is doing a great business selling pantaloons. Yes pantaloons for little girls. Who knew?
We now move inside to do a show in Zionsville on the 30th
Zionsville Presbyterian Church
Time:Saturday, 30 October 2010 10:00 am to 3 pm

Then we have a break until we do the Greenwood High School Holiday Bazaar which is the Saturday before Thanksgiving.
We will have a double booth one for Children’s Clothing and the other for Hats , Scarves and there you will find our kitchen products.
Jennifer will also have a booth there featuring Tastefully Simple Products.

In Sept I went to Walt Disney World to Celebrate! Jennifer and Brian with Vanessa and Brian’s mother and her friend all celebrated for a week at the Best Playground in the World. Nessa was treated like a Princess all week and we were her honored guest. I’m sure it’s a trip to remember for all of us.

We have a new addition to the Family a little Maltese Puppy. She weights 2 lbs 10 oz and she is 12 weeks old. She is just a little ball
of white fluff. Her name is Snow White.

Spring has Arrived

Faster than a Speeding Baby Buggy Spring has Arrived.

Been awhile since I wrote anything here, I found face book so I neglected this site

But spring has arrived and as I sit here in my window I can watch the world wake up.
Just a few days ago I had a pretty drab landscape then the daffodils woke up and things around them started turning green. The little finches that come to my bird feeder have turned from drab to bright yellow and the cardinals have become territorial so only have the one pair now rather than the 8 pair I had all winter.

I think this year’s new gardening will be done in a straw bale. That sounded interesting to me so I bought a bale of straw and am getting it ready to plant. First you have to condition the bale with some nitrogen. I choose blood meal to do this and watered it in real good this morning. Now I must wait about two weeks before I can add some dirt pockets and seeds or plants. I’ll let you know how it does and try to take some pictures and post. The rabbits have already started visiting my garden site but they do not care for cabbages and onions and that is all I have out now. Something played games with some bulbs I planted they dug them up and tossed them around for three nights I put moth balls out and they just moved them over. The next morning the bulbs were thrown out and the moth balls were in a pile over to the side.

I have started keeping Vanessa during the week; she is such an interesting little thing. I am sure she is going to keep me busy this summer. She has been acting as a model for Otila’s clothing line. She takes her modeling job quite serious. Lately she has decided the action shots are good and she loves the back view. Then I don’t tell her to look happy she can frown or laugh and I don’t say a thing.

We will start doing the markets soon Otila has lots of new offerings this year. I have a few things in the works but am not getting very much finished. The Etsy site is picking up this week seems to be little girls pantaloons are the hot seller, have shipped several pair.

Pasta Apron by Otila Rae Originals

 
 
 

New Fall Kitchen Towels

 
 
 
 

First Dance Class of 2009 - 2010

 
 
 
 

Hello Life

Life just keeps traveling along and most of the time at least in my life in tiny little circles.

The circle of dance came together last week as I stayed backstage with Vanessa at her dance recital. Thirty years ago I was also back stage with Jennifer at her first recital. Jennifer was so excited to be dancing with a little white umbrella. And Nessa also was dancing with a little white umbrella. . Oh what a fuss had I forgotten either umbrella but both umbrellas’s made it successfully onto the stage and both girls did a wonderful job of dancing.

Hey I have not written here for awhile

Spring has finally arrived and I am warm...
This has been a very busy spring as we are getting ready for a huge Garage Sale. We are trying to sell the house and want to thin out as much as we can before we have to move.
Just have to remember we will need some stuff in the new house wherever that might be.
I have done the clean up work in the garden now just need to put in some pretty flowers to make it look like a place someone would want to live... My daffodils were so pretty this Spring I hate to leave them, and all my other perennials are coming along so well , I did thin out some lily plants and gave some to Jennifer so I can get starts from those later.
Hopefully I will leave the rabbits that nibble in my garden.

Otila has been very busy making little girl dresses she is going to have a booth at the Farmers Market in Plainfield at Chateau Thomas Winery ever Thursday evening for the 26 weeks of summer. That is if she stops making cute dresses that she just can’t give up and keeps for Nessa. She has a whole wardrobe full of dresses and skirts. But then I guess the Spokes model for Otila Rae Originals has to have a complete summer line of samples.

I am no longer working for the inventory people they kept cutting my hours until I had none. Guess they did not want me after all. Oh well maybe they will get a new supervisor and call me back.

Have really enjoyed taking Vanessa to the zoo seeing it through her eyes is fun. She sees things I haven’t seen for years and never seems to look at the things I show her. There was one exhibit that had peafowl and otters. I was trying to get her to look at the pretty birds in the tress and she says Nina that little otter lost its mommy. And I looked down and there was one little otter away form the rest and he was trying to get around a rock and was not getting anywhere. He really did look like a very young one looking for his mommy. We stayed there and watched until he got back to the others. Then she looked at the birds and was also impressed with their beauty.
Her favorite thing is the Walrus she just loves to watch them; Of course the train is a big draw. She never forgets to thank the conductor for taking her on their train to see the Giraffes. Wonder if she thinks that is the only way to get to the giraffes, It is with grandmother, as I am ready to sit down awhile at that time.

My Christmas List.

Over the years I have made out a Christmas wish list that has been quite fun for everyone, since I am only a few years older than my nieces and nephews I at first exchanged list with them so we would know what to ask Santa for... Then I made out my list with my own children , My granddaughter will soon be old enough to exchange lists with but this year I have no one to send it to so will publish my list on line.
My list has changed over the years but always starts out with those few things I am still watching every Christmas morning to appear under my tree.

1. Neil Diamond (at one time it was Paul Newman but he passed away)
2. A Diamond Ring Pink please.
3. Mink Coat (that’s the reason those little animals are raised.)
4. Corvette red or pink please.
5. Jeep pink with leopard seat covers.
6. New set of cookware, The red set of Paula Dean's.
7. Very nice leather boots (black)
8. Yoga toes.
9. Black, brown, navy and red leather gloves.
10. Maid service for a month.
11. Rumba the remote vacuum sweeper
12. Sony Television HD please
13. 10 day cruise or maybe to Alaska.
14. DVD’s of old movies like “White Christmas” and other Bing Crosby movies, the set of Shirley Temple movies and other musicals.
15. Heated Throw.

And of course we could all use a cup of Christmas Cheer and World Peace.

Loved that Cruise

Oh how I love a good cruise”
Alas we have returned from our cruise. I wandered if a seven day cruise would be too long… No Way! I think I need to try a 10 day next. I was just getting my sea legs when this one came sadly to an end. We flew to Fort Lauderdale on Fri night.. After a long delay at the airport we had a good flight I was not the one to get sick while in the air it was poor little Nessa this time I really think it is the person who sits beside Jennifer that has the trouble. Jennifer says we all have to stay away from McDonalds at the airport. We found out the long delay was because of the Space Shuttle launch thankfully we were in the new airport and it was not too bad. I would not recommend AirTram as a comfortable airline to fly but they had the non stop flight and no problems other than cramped seating. We stayed in Fort Lauderdale that night and left for the boat via limo the next morning... Don’t expect limo’s to have a lot of luggage space, they don’t. Other than no space for luggage the trip to Miami Port was great. We arrived at the dock and the Porters were right there to assist us with luggage and off to the processing center we went... Wearing yellow shirts saying I’m on Vacation, we met several of our friends we had made on the Cruise Critic. The process was very quick and smooth. We were on board very quickly. By 1:30 our suitcases were in the room and we were ready for Sail.

Life Boat drill was a little rocky for us. Otila could not stand that long and we had to get her help and she finished life boat drill sitting in the dining room.

We had a day at sea then arrived in San Juan at 4pm we were off the boat by 5 and met Steve Spears at the dock he showed us the high lights of Old San Juan and told us much of the history of the places we were seeing. Then took us to the most amazing place to eat... It was called the Parrott Club. It looked like a little bar but with out a doubt the best Steak I have ever eaten and everyone in our party enjoyed the food and drink they ordered. Too bad we had to be back to the ship so soon as I would have liked to explore Old San Juan.

The next day we landed in St Thomas where we took a tour bus and saw all the sights shopping and went swimming before heading back to the boat for dinner.
St Marten was our port for the next day. Another tour and beach time… This time a nude beach was right next to where we were sitting and the whole area was tops optional. This tour operator had rum punch on the bus so did not care if the other people had clothes on or not. Just glad I kept mine on.

The rest of the trip was on board Ship several glorious days at sea Water was a little rough one day and everyone ran into each other often but it was great. We ate every evening but one in the dinning room. Had a very bad waiter the first two nights so got that changed and had wonderful service the rest of the trip. They fixed me a special Gluten Free Meal each night, complete with desert. That was a treat as I don’t normally get to enjoy desert.

We all enjoyed the Spa on board, Otila had Acupuncture treatments and got relief from her back pain... I had a facial and massage and the others enjoyed various treatments. I spent time in the steam room and sauna, wish I had them here to enjoy daily. The Hot Tubs were popular places but we found the pools a little cool.

The only disappointment was Miami the hotel would not let us check in early not fun sitting in a lobby and secondly they would not let us use the pool or walk on their private beach. Then the weather was cold and windy. So Miami Beach will not be a highlight of this trip.
Early the next morning we took a limo to the Fort Lauderdale airport and returned to reality... Cold weather and no People… Nessa had People that looked after her and brought her room service and cleaned her room and left her candy on her pillow. Sure wish I had some of those people here.

The Grand Tour

Sunday we took a tour of the New Airport in Indianapolis. It’s large and impressive. The baggage area already had lost luggage aimlessly going round and around the carousel. Some of the new security measures looked and sounded good. And it looks like it will be user friendly.
Nessa was impressed with the BIG Trucks that were being shown off on the Tarmac. Reminded me of the snow plows in “Airport” the movie with all the trucks lined up and their snow blades ready to clean the runways. Thought I heard some one say runway one niner it’s a go.
Too bad the concessions were not open, from the signs some of them sound interesting. A few of the vendors had tables set in the hall one popcorn place sounded really good and of course the South Bend Chocolate Factory is always a winner. They were giving out chocolate covered raisins. Just one, now who can eat just one raisin and not want more. See if they had been open there would have been a sale.
The airport itself looks easy to get to you will come in off I-70 and right into the complex the parking garage looked to be twice the size of the old and not nearly as confusing. You can again go into the building and see planes land and take off and will be at a good place to greet passengers. Lots of seating and people movers for the long hallways.
We will be flying out just 4 days after they open hope they have all the bugs out before we get there. That was why we went on the tour so we would know what to expect the day we leave, and what to expect when we return.
This is our year for grand tours we took a tour of Lucas Oil Stadium and now the airport and when we get to San Juan we will tour Old San Juan. Oh what fun, I’ll let you all know about San Juan later.

Changes

Year of Changes
This year although not over yet has brought many changes. Some events affected only me personally but others to everyone around town.
With my 63 birthday I became one of the people drawing Social Security. That was something I thought I would never see. .I was not going to get that old... What I thought I was going to do I do not know but getting old was not one of the options.
In April I lost my mother she was 96 years old I really never believed I would outlive her. She was always so strong and determined.
The whole family is dealing with the hole she has left in our lives.
Today they deflated the Hoosier Dome... RCA Dome to some but to me it will always be the Hoosier Dome… My playground in Adult life there I had many friends, and a good part time job. Working Security for events that I would have never been able to see otherwise. All the Colts football games I saw from the field. I was on hand for the Rolling Stones Final tour. Farm Aid, Black Expo, High School and College Basketball Games, Band Contest and many more things that were held in the Dome, I met my third husband working there so everything was not good about that job. The Skyline will change and people will have new memories of a new Stadium and I wish them well.
I have a new part time job doing inventories in small retail stores making new friends and learning new things. The landscapes change and we move on.

My Back Yard

The bunnies are at it again. So far my garden has produced one tomato. There was another almost ready but as dawn shown upon the garden this morning that was gone. It had teeth marks on it and lay half eaten upon the ground. The limb of the tomato plant is also broken as this little tomato was near the top. Must have been a short bunny.
I have a red clematis that the bunnies really love every time it gets about 3 inches tall they cut it off. It all summer has not made it to the first run of the trellis I envisioned it growing on. In fact I was afraid the pretty trellis would be covered up by the vine. I had the prettiest little petunias in one pot that were hanging down almost to the ground. No more it’s been trimmed. The thing about these little bunnies is there is a big bunny with them. It looks like she would have more control over her little ones. But no she just lets them run wild and eat anything they want.

And then the rains came down.

When daylight peaked though the clouds this morning June 7, 2008, I was greeted with quite a surprise. The nice neat garden that was doing so well was now under water. The fence post I was using to mark the garden’s side was on the other side of the yard trying to enter the storm drain. The three little ladybug stepping stones were now floating across the way. Thankfully I could still hear the sump pump working so the basement is ok.

I had just finished putting new mulch around all the flowers and had put in new flowers and new solar lights. They all looked so neat.
In my garden I have a row of radishes and a row of purple onions the article I read says lots of water is the secret to sweet onions. I wonder if this is too much?

SPRING FLOOD

Flood
There’s a flood in my back yard. The critters that live there are none too happy about it.
The big Pleated Woodpecker. (That’s the one that looks like Woody) has been on the deck most of the day. He thinks we should be out there filling up his food stations and getting things done. The little chipmunks I have also noticed on top of the deck to get out of the water. Saw the Squirrels splashing through the water they looked like they were having fun.
I did go out and wade through the small stream going thought the yard to get to my garden was a little hesitant to do that as just days ago a little snake was killed by a flower pot falling over on him. Now did he have friends and do they like or dislike water? What other things are in that water. But I had to rescue my radishes they were all covered over with run off stuff from the back of the garden . Poor little radishes would never grow if I left them like that. My onions had also lost most of the dirt from around them and if you leave them uncovered they get real hot and I wanted sweet onions I think I was just complaining about having to water. Well this week made up for all the water we did not get last time. Be wary of what you ask for. I forget to take that little bit of advice.

AH SPRING

Ah Spring!

Spring finally arrived in Indiana and we have some decent weather.
We have gone swimming twice sure wish the pool would absorb some of the heat from the sun. It has been cold.
My garden and flower beds are doing well they don’t seem to have any critters raiding them this year. I did set a flower pot up awhile ago and under the edge was a little snake just as dead as can be. I guess the storm must have blown the pot over just as the snake was slithering by. By this time next week I should have radishes ready to eat, and the parsley and chives I can use anytime I need. I have two tomato plants doing well and an egg plant. Then I have two pots with Cucumbers. The rest are flowers and some of them are doing quite well. One thing about missing the bad weather last week-end is I have had to water my plants. Just a little north of here they got bad storms but they missed us.

Birds of Prey

Once again I ran into birds of prey at the polls today. That had got to be my biggest pet peeve. When you arrive at the polls I have already made up my mind as to who I wish to vote for. I do not want pamphlets shoved at me I do not want people falling over each other to open the door for me. My ID is not so heavy that I can’t open my own door. I remember the last time I took Mother to the voting place in order to make it to work on time I had to be there when they opened and it was still dark and all the people jumping out at her scared her and she never went to vote again She had an absentee ballot sent to her and she mailed it back in. I wonder how many more people have that happen and they just don’t vote because it’s too much trouble. Mother had a strong desire to vote as her mother and father had instilled in all there children that it was a great privilege to vote. I don’t ever remember a time when Mother did not vote. Of course she and Daddy did not always agree on who to vote for so they went to the polls and canceled out each others vote.

Mother

Mary Grace Mathews
Feb.3,1912-April 11,2008


I thought I would be able to write about Mother passing by now. But it is still very hard to believe she died a week ago and we buried her on Tuesday.
Her request was there be no services for her but we had a private graveside service for her or rather for us so we could say good bye surrounded by friends and family. At a time like that your friends and family are very important. It’s good to know you do not stand alone. There is someone to offer a special song and join you in a prayer. We had respected her wishes and had a closed casket that she had picked out years ago, and no services at the church or mortuary. But we gathered it the cemetery for one last farewell prayer. She has gone to join my father now their bodies are buried beside each other and their spirits have rejoined in heaven. We will and do greatly miss her.

Spring is Here

Yes SPRING is here.

As spring arrived I was in bed with a horrible cold and so on the first day of spring I called in sick. Now I do not have a regular job at this time but I called in sick. No fair having to use sick days for really being sick. Sick days should allow you to pamper yourself and do what ever makes you feel good and that is not lying in bed with no one to wait on you.

Since I am feeling better today we took Nessa to see the Butterfly’s at the White River Park Consecratory. Inside the building of glass it was very warm and sunny really a plus to boost your sprits. Some of the flowers they have there are incredible. And the butterflies are a bonus for sure. Nessa was very impressed with seeing all the pretty fly’s up close.

Sometimes she called them B’s and sometimes they were Butterflies. But mostly just fly’s and that’s what they did fly, except for the one that is very pretty blue on the top and brown on the bottom he sat with his wings closed and would not let me get a picture of him with his wings open.
I am still learning to us my new Camera and got a few good shots today. Some looked like I wanted them to and a few were “what were you thinking.” Good thing I am using a digital and can delete the awful shots. Like the front of Jennifer’s sweater after the butterfly left. And the single leaf,” I know there was a butterfly sitting there a moment ago.”