NANA NOTES

SPRING BABIES HAVE STARTED COMING!

Although it's still very much winter the horses don't know that and the spring babies are already arriving. It's always a guessing game anyway! We have two already and today has been the first sunshiney day I could get a photo.  Star had her baby about a week ago. We got close enough to it today to find out that "he had a winkey"!!  If he's good enough to rope on he'll stand a good chance of getting to stay on CB.  He looks just like his mama--let's hope his temperment is better!  She's not the sweetest cookie in the box!  She broke Shelly's hand once and nearly broke Papa's leg. 

 
The pasture was too wet to ride out and catch the other one. We don't know what it is either but when the "Soggy Bottom" dries up, I'll try to get a shot!

UPDATE:  We got in the "Soggy Bottom" today because we thought Sissy had or was having her baby.  I grabbed this shot of Shelly's mare with the baby.  It too has a "winkey".  We're batting a thousand! 

 
Wonder who will be next?

CROP CONNECTION SCRAPPING RETREAT WITH FRIENDS

We've waited a year for this weekend and it finally came. Even the snow didn't keep us from going and having a good time.  There were eight of us from the Meadville area and six others that we met up with from other towns.  Thirty six or more hours of continuous scrapbooking with a little sleep thrown in, lots of laughing and talking, a little shopping for supplies with the venders and some eating thrown in.  The ladies that put on the event surprised us with a "Bops Ice Cream Party" on Saturday night.  Talk about good!!  Here are some pictures of the event.  

 We didn't have anyone to take a picture of the six of us so I took this one. Pat, Beth, Sharon, Cookie and Libby.  Sharon made the sign for us to display.

 Look at all the "stuff"!!  A room full of happy "scrapping" women! And we loaded and unloaded it all!   

Silent auction to benefit the Ronald McDonald House--everybody got a door prize but there was some fierce bidding on the auction items.

 Aren't we a good looking bunch of "scrappers"?  I wish I had a count of all the pages that we all did while we were there.  We all donated items to the Ronald McDonald House and some of us made cards for the military. The scraps of paper we had left over were left for the school students to use in their art projects.  Nothing was wasted this weekend.    

Anna Bess Simmons is a wonderful scrapbooker and sweet friend. She taught a quick "make and take" class on Sunday afternoon and several of us took it.    

 Cute little Valentine embellishment--I made one for Tammy. I didn't have any change and she loaned me a dollar!  :)  I think that's the story!!
   

IT'S DOING IT AGAIN!!!

My children haven't seen as much snow in their whole lives as my grandchildren have in the last two years!!  It's snowing again--right now! School closed today after lunch and will be closed tomorrow. The weather people are saying to expect between 4 and 8 inches.  Ed [ my resident weather person!!] says it should be more like 10 inches.  I can't imagine that in my wildest dreams!!  Something about an inch for every tenth of an inch of rain.  Anyway, it's started and this is what it looks like at this minute. Batten down the hatches, folks--more is coming.

 

 I can't wait to see what it looks like in the morning!
 

FINALLY--THE POND IS FULL!!

Every day since all the rain started Papa has driven Sadie to the pond and back to check and see how much deck was showing underneath.  Every day he would come home and say, "we need about 12 more inches".  Well, last week after a two inch rain, he came home and said the pond was full.  The water is even with the deck.  The overflow is running.  My comment was, "so much for a three year project. It's done in about six months!"  But--now the fish have to grow and some more have to be added.  It's going to be a wonderful place for the grandchildren this summer.  Someone even added that a rope swing would be great.  NOT!!  This Nana's heart couldn't stand it!! 

 

 The rockers and the swing will get more inviting as the weather warms up. I can see many afternoons spent out here with the children.  I thank the guys for building this great "Lake Okhissa II" and God for filling it up so quickly.
 

I'M GETTING BETTER AND LOVING IT!

I took on the attitude that I would not be defeated trying to learn my new embroidery machine.  Well, I almost caved but I pulled it out! I've even downloaded some patterns from the web and loaded them to the thumb drive onto the machine. Oh, yes, I'm excited!  Ryan is excited that I can now do the CB logo on his shirts.  He has a thing about those shirts!  Take a look at what I did today.  One is a gift for a friend (who hopefully won't read the blog!!). I totally ignored her birthday but hopefully this will make up for it! 

 This is the Cotton Branch logo.  I put it on a hoodie for Sam. 

I have more projects lined up and lots to do before next weekend.  Can't wait to show you!!