Mid December and Counting!

Boy, the days slip away from us. We have had about two and a half weeks with Lynn not working and we have seemed to spend them working at the house. The list seems to get longer, not shorter.

Our weather here has been cool then warm and now cool. Not cold, freezing or snow but a few of the days have made us think of the Holidays. All our shopping is done and some in the mail.We always buy the same gift for the kids(can't say what it is as yet as they read this) and this year gift cards for the grand kids and of course, their silver bells. This is a tradition that Lynn and I started when Emily was born and as each one came along, we have kept it up. The bells are the silver sleigh bells or silver normal shaped bells that Gorham and some of the other silver manufactures make at Xmas. We will hopefully be able to continue until each of the grandkids are 21 which will give them a collection of 22 bells to have for the rest of their lives and hopefully pass down to their kids. Each bell has the year on it and they are not all alike. We did purchase a new bell this year from that is the first edition. I don't think it is as special looking as the others but thought we should do it this year. As the years have come and gone, the price on the bells has increased but so has silver. We feel this gift will give them something to start their lives with when they are out on their own. I so wish I had bought on for us as time went along but we are not putting up a tree this year sooooooo their would not be used.

We have decorated our outside with lit wreaths on all the front windows with a big wreath on the porch. A few things in but with the kids not coming for Christmas, it just felt like toooo much for us to do. We put greenery in the bike basket and a sign on the bike with a light. Kind of like a back yard Xmas Card. I have my 1776 Santa Quilt is hanging out---every years since 1981 and some of the Santa collection and a couple of Poinsettias so that is enough for us this year. Want to try to make some mints like Mom used to do. Boy, she really did make the candy of all sorts and make up boxes for friends and family. Not sure where she got her energy!? All of us looked forward to the Christmas season as we knew there would be all sorts of candy in the works. The smells in the house were unbelieveable!

I hopefully will be able to get some cards in the mail but probably will just do our New Year's Letter.

Oh, purchased a new camera. A Nikon D40x (Digital SLR) with all the bells and whistles. Hopefully, it won't take me years to learn it but I know I will love all the extras. Maybe I will post some of the pics here. Keep checking back. I will also put up some video of our lights on the house and a pic of the bike!

Cool and rainy here today but it makes it feel like the Holidays. Check back soon. Here us one of my last roses. Pic taken with my new camera!

Last Rose of 2007

BUSY, BUSY MONTH!

A Few Shots of Buddy from Halloween

It's been a while since I have posted. We have been very busy with all the fall things that seem to happen all at once. I enjoyed a trip to Houston for the International Quilt Show. I went on a tour bus out of Tyler, Tx. with the quilt guild and we arrived at 9:45 and left at 5:00. It was a short time but I did make all the vendor booths and missed all the quilts! That is really a show for two days. Maybe next year. I have only missed two shows since 1983 and it just keeps getting bigger and bigger.

Here is a pic of the new front doors. We have five outside doors on this home---soooo when you change one, you must change two---yikes, double the dollars!

I also went to Dallas to take a class from my watercolor teacher, Janet Warden. What fun! I have not been to a class for a couple of years but hope I can attend. Janet is a wonderful teacher and I had a wonderful time. Her web site and information is http://www.theartcompany2.com/

Lynn stayed in Mineola that day to attend the Iron Horse Festival. He said is was really a good time and the antique cars were fabo. We attended the Edgewood Heritage Festival on the 10th and enjoyed it. Car show, vendors and Heritage Park was open. What a neat group of old buildings with old time crafts.

Well, didn't get this posted until now---Thanksgiving is over and the Christmas Season is upon us. Lynn and I had much to be Thankful for this year. We went to San Antonio to Clint and Melody's new home for Thanksgiving. Jen, Mark and the kids came too and we had a wonderful meal hosted by the San Antonio Woosleys. Melody went out of the way to make a feast! Beautiful Turkey, Prime Rib and all the fixings! Well, we all over ate but enjoyed it sooo much and we sure did have a few days of fun. The house was full of dogs! Jen's 3, our Buddy and their Pebbles! Five doggies kept things hopping!

NEWS FLASH! After three months, some drugs and pretty good eating, my cholesterol is down from 556 to 165!!!!!!!! I guess I am not a "dead woman walking" at least getting things back to normal. I am feeling so much better and my ankles are not hurting as much! We are very happy about this news. Hopefully, I can get off the drugs sometime soon.

More pictures soon. This is a sunset picture from Mineola Fall 2007

RED LETTER DAY FOR THE WOOSLEYS

Car Show in Lindale Saturday

Monday was a RED LETTER DAY for us. We signed up for Social Security!!!! The more I think about it, I thought it would be years and years before this was possible but Zowie! Time passes quickly and here it is. Lynn will continue to work so much of ours will go back to them if we don't keep good track of the time but still half is good!

We arrived home from Gulf Shores on Friday as it rained 12" there overnight and we were very tired of hearing the hard rain. We drove straight thru and wasn't a bad trip. So enjoyed it and hope to go back soon. Plan to take the camper to Lake Whitney in November and then will probably park it until February.

Saturday was the Hwy 80 Garage Sale (yearly event) and we took off and checked it out. It runs from Terrell to Longview on Hwy 80 and people just pull over in a lot and set up anywhere. Lots of goodies but Lynn and I attended two car shows. He loves those old cars. We have had several over the years that we should have kept but you know how hindsight goes.

Here is one we thought was cool!!!

Since we came home a bit early, we decided to go the the Texas State Fair! Sunday was a beautiful day and perfect for the fair. We did decided we would not go again on a weekend as there were crowds everywhere. Spent time at the Vita-Mix booth as usual. Got some new recipes and tips. I love that machine and now with the special diet, it comes in handy!

Went to a class last night on making Broken China Jewelry. Lots of fun and I made three pieces. Need to really practice the techniques, but happy with what I did for practice.

Excited, I just got a call that I made it on the Bus to the Houston International Quilt Show next Thrus. Bus out of Tyler drops us at the door and pics us up at 5 pm and brings us home. Not a bad day, for sure. Will see all the quilts and the vendor booths are fabo. Excited.

Fall in Alabama Shrimp Festival 2007

We arrived here on Saturday to beautiful weather! Alabama coast, Gulf Shores, is a great place to be in the fall. We attended the 36th Annual Shrimp Festival on Sunday on the Beach in Gulf Shores. http://www.nationalshrimpfestival.com/ What a wonderful art show!!! Also the food is out of this world. Vendors from all over showing off the recipes they are known for. Well, guess what---with my shell fish allergy, I didn't dare try fish just because I didn't know how it was cooked and didn't want to take the chance of a trip to the hospital. Forgot to bring my shot to counter act the allergy. We saw some wonderful art!!!! Great water colors, pottery, wood turning, oils and photography. Hope to come again. I have eater gouper several times this week and boy, the way they fix it here, you want more and more. Grilled fish is wonderful and it has won Lynn over.

The weather has been wonderful and we haven't had to run our air in the camper until today. That was because it has been raining for 24 hours---almost every minute. Hard, hard rain. Buddy is really bummed as he loves to be outside. I have no idea how much we have received but water is standing everywhere. Hope we don't float away!!!!

I had planned to do some quilting and even brought my little sewing machine but it seems we were enjoying the outside too much. We shopped at the Tanger Outlets, (biggest in the southeast and building on) It is just about a mile from us here. We went to a fabric store that sells fabric by the pound. I made it to a quilt shop for just a short time also. Camping World took up some of our time, too. There are so many place to go here but Monday we spent hours at the beach. The waves were very high as there was some wind! It was so enjoyable----wish we had a beach closer to Mineola! I guess it's more fun to come this way and not have to worry about the hurricanes.

We head home tomorrow. Hope we can make it so we can attend the Texas State Fair on Sunday as it is the last day. Back to the real world next week. I AM going to do some quilting and clean the studio so I can start some Fall projects.

Our youngest, Jennifer was 38 on Monday so feel a bit old myself and really wanting to get so many things done for the kids! My art is important to me and I hope to leave some to my kids even if they only hang it when I am coming for a visit.

OCTOBER IS UPON US

Flying Geese Wall Quilt

October, my favorite month is here and the weather in Texas has been very nice. Lynn, Buddy and I are getting ready to leave this Thursday for Alabama--Gulf Shores. We do love it there and have a favorite campspot. http://www.anchorsaweighrv.com here we stay. I am taking some things to do and we are just going to kick back and enjoy the beach. Oh, will hopefully be attending the 36th Annual Shrimp Festival this next weekend. We went there last year and it was so much fun.

I have completed a 12 hour drawing class last week. It's hard and I need lots of practice but isn't that the way with everything? I also entered three small quilts in the League of the Arts Quilt Show that starts this next weekend. http://www.mlota.org/ Just want to support the group and I haven't quilted for some time now. Old stuff but new to them. I am starting a mini quilt this week. May even do hand piecing???

On the Street Where I live!

1776 Santa designed by me in 1981. Sold thru Quilt Country, Kansas City

as a commercial pattern. I retain the registered copyright.

I got my silk painting supplies in the mail last Friday so looking forward to finishing my scarf and starting something new. Watch for updates.

VERY FULL WEEK!

Mr. Buddy Ready for a Ride 10/2007

Lynn and Buddy got the Mercedes out and cleaned it up and we all took it for a ride! Well, Buddy only lasted about 25 feet before he jumped on the back and then off the car. Guess he didn't feel as if he could handle the top down. He does like to sit in it and act as if he is ready!

It really is fun to have a convertible---so Lynn may keep it, who knows. We did have a wonderful surprise last week when we took off the hard top and were able to see a cloth top, looks like never used under the cover!

The Boys and Their Toys!

Our week has been filled with fun. Had a great weekend with dinner at the Shed in Edom. Marcia, our neighbor and Lynn and I drove about 25 miles but it was worth the drive. Salmon, grilled----very, very good.

Friday I went to a class at the League of the Arts on making felt. I did a small clutch purse and a larger flap purse. Well, I still have my clutch but for some reason, Buddy didn't love the flap purse and shook it to death! He looks like he was attacking the sheep the wool came from. It wasn't good so guess I wasn't unhappy but hope to do more soon. It is a very neat craft and I took it from a master. She even raises he own sheep!!!

Monday I went to Hideaway Lake to a new friend's home and she and two new friends and I painted silk scarves. What fun it is. So fast and now I am hooked! Ordered supplies to finish my scarf as I didn't want to use up Penny's paint and it should be here the end of the week. I am thrilled with my first project but it isn't done. Want to have a dark background so when my paint comes in, I will finish it. This is a one of a kind and I think I am going to love it. Finish, I did finish two knitted scarves this week, too.

First stage of silk scarf. 22 x 22

Tuesday I went to a 6 of 12 hours of pencil drawing class. Will finish up on Friday. I really do need to learn it and it seems everything comes at once. It's HARD---hopefully I will have something to show you soon. Also, I joined a Scherenschnitte online group. I hope to do some "paper cutting" this fall and Connie Rhine got me interested again when we were in Iowa. She is doing some for the kids for Halloween. They are toooooo cute.

More to come---stop back and see my progress with the silk painting. I hope I have enough time to at least try all the art I want to do.

Car Show Tonight, Class on Felting Friday.

Great Grill

Was a good day today! We got up late and walked a bit then had breakfast of egg beaters! Yes, I am doing all I can to help my situation and when I weighed today, I had lost another 3.5 lbs!! Yeah!!!! Eating right does make a difference. Lynn has lost too so doing this together is a good thing. Got my extended VAP test back today and my numbers are down considerable. Still high but only been doing this 10 days when we took the other test. Down 200 points and that does make me feel a bit better. Still have a ways to go but all of this is for a best, I am sure.

I have an all day class tomorrow at the League of the Arts http://www.mlota.org/ I am going to learn how to embellish with felting. Should be fun.

The man is coming to install our new Texas Star doors on the front of the house. Having two front doors is expensive---never thought about that one. Will share a pic here when they are installed. Another man is coming to give us a bid on a single Stainless Steel sink in the kitchen. After having a single sink and going back to a double, well, it is like night and day. Hopefully it can be done and the $$ is not too bad. One never knows on custom orders.

This is what I found our about the Purple People Eater Flower I have growing. Scary!

The Purple People Eater is a variety of Datura--a poisonous plant used in Voodoo rituals--in the making of zombies! It's also called 'devil's trumpet'. It is very beautiful, but (not that you would be tempted, but..) DONT EAT IT! Well, wasn't going to but will have to watch Buddy! How can something so beautiful be so strange?

Well, off to a car show here in Mineola. Going to take my camera. Maybe a pic or two.

Buddy Is Ready for Fall!

Our Buddy Joe, Fall 07

Boy, just realized that Summer is past and Fall is almost ready to show it's colors. Fall is such a beautiful time of year---and I am looking forward to the color. We hope to travel early October to see some of the fall. We have not been anywhere in our new travel trailer but one night in Jen's driveway so it should be great fun. Will just take off for a couple of weeks and see where it leads us.


Buddy went to the groomers this morning so decided it was a good time to take a pic for fall. He is such a poser and very patient when I am taking pictures. I bought a stick tripod and I LOVE it. These little digital cameras even with stabilization and really blur---well, guess it is me, not the camera.



Here is his shot for Fall----

Buddy Joe

Come back soon and check out my Picasa Web Album!
http://picasaweb.google.com/martywoos/PurplePeopleEaterFlower

Back to the Real World!

Fall Picture I Took at a Market

I did feel pretty good to get home Friday of last week. We took our time coming down thur Arkansas and went to Dallas to pick up our Buddy Joe. We had had three weeks of running and playing with his "nephew dogs" but I think was glad to get back to Mineola and out of the Bid City! Jen and Mark are putting in a beautiful swimming pool and Buddy took great care in checking out the workmen.

We took Sat. off to relax and Sunday I went to Dallas to attend a meeting to the North Texas Clay Guild. It's been sometime since I have attended as it is about 110 miles each way and about 1 and 1 !/2-2 hours of driving. Was glad I went as got to see some good old friends that I haven't seen in awhile.

Well, didn't have such good news when we returned. Glad I didn't know while I was gone that I am a "dead woman walking"
I had a blood test the morning we left town and WOW! Guess I am not as healthy I we thought. I have lost 39.5 lbs this year and thought that was great. Lost 3 lbs. While we were on vacation!!!!

Amazing how things can turn. My Cholesterol has always been about 130 and it is now. 556 and my triglycerides are 796 Doctor sent me a note and said it was in very dangerous level and sent a prescription for me. Now I have to keep checking and watch my diet, I guess. Lynn and I have both started on a low fat and low cholesterol diet yesterday. It really isn't hard and hope we both loose more weight and get the numbers down. Will miss our prime rib and rib eye steaks but we will survive.

Lynn is mowing today and I am trying to get back to normal, what ever that might be.
This is a wonderful day! Great to be home and retired.

ALMOST HOME

Miss Pingree, Nightlight I made at Pingree Retreat

Well, we are heading back to Texas after a relaxing trip thru Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri and Arkansas. We will be in Texas today. Can't wait to see our Buddy Joe who has been on vacation in Dallas with Jennifer and family. I really do miss him but probably he will not even remember me---she has three dogs of her own and he love to be there with them. I am sure he will be lonesome back with the old folks in Mineola!

We enjoyed our trip across Nebraska but it ended in Council Bluffs for the night as my back was killing me. Back problems are not for the faint of heart. We did meet some folks in the hot tub from Bella Vista, Ak. We enjoy meeting folks when we travel.

On to Des Moines to visit our great friend in Ankeny. Mike and Paul Wigg. It was a full house as they had their 6 grandkids there for the weekend, too. We also went to see my sister and hubby in their new "digs" , a 7th floor huge condo with all glass outside walls. The have a wonderful view and I told them to get us one just like it for what they paid and we would be back in Des Moines! I loved it. We had a very nice lunch with they and our niece and hubby. It was so good to see them.

Then we also stopped at our good friend, Connie's daughter, Amber's new "digs" in Clive, Ia.
What a beautiful home she and her hubby and sweet little daughter have. They should enjoy it for a long time. It was sooooo good to see them and Maddie has grown so much in the last year.

Hogback Bridge

Off to see our kids, Brian, Cathie, Emily and Ethan at their lake house in Panora, Ia. We were able to spend time with them and go to dinner on the lake. It is sooooo good to be with them and we had a great time. It was so late to go into Creston so we stayed at a small hotel in Casey, Iowa. Slept in and then we decided to go the the Bridges of Madison County. We have lived within 20 miles of the bridges for all our life in Iowa and had never been. We went to two, Hogback and Roseman (the one featured in the movie) but the torneau cover with filled with grit!!! You can bet that made the boss happy. Just to think they are hand made that many years ago----really neat to see. Lynn and I were glad we made the side trip and now he says he doesn't have to do that one again.

When we got to Creston we went to see and stay with Lynn's sis, Char. She has a beautiful, huge new house that we had not seen. What a wonderful home to retire in! She has it decorated so nice and I know she will enjoy every minute she is in it. We had a new mattress she had just bought that week and my back was better----thanks, Char!

Next we visited our very close friend, Connie and stayed with her two nights(longer than expected) as we went out to a antique shop near Creston and the day got away from us.
We bought the neatest little trunk and gas can. We got to eat at our favorite places, too.

Wednesday morning we were off to Texas thru the Ozarks. We got to Buffalo, Mo. and stayed there using the wonderful hot tub for my back. Slept in and then headed for Eureka Springs, via Branson. Hope to come back there this winter to see some shows. It rained on us hard for about an hour and the clouds parted and got beautiful We love Eureka Springs and spent about two hours there eating at our favorite BBQ and checking out the town. If you ever get a chance to go there, do, it's worth the trip. Puts you back into another time!

Me on the Roseman Bridge.

Amazing construction!

We came on down the road with a stop at Sam's in Rogers, Ak. Back to my real world almost.
Drove to Ft. Smith, Ak and stay our last night in a suite at the Hamption Inn. Livingroom with huge flat screen TV. Small kitchen and bedroom with another TV. Very nice.

Last night on the trip so decided to "live it up"!

Some good old Iowa Goldenrod!

LEAVING THE BEAUTY OF YELLOWSTONE

On our way out of Wyoming.

A Barn I want to paint. This is in eastern Wyoming.

It was very hard to drive east today away from the beauty of the Rockies! What a wondeful vacation we are having. I know we will try to get back next year as Lynn and I so love the mountains. We are now in Morrill, Nebraska. The drive to here was very barren and rocky. Amazing how different our country can be in just a few miles. We are seeing cornfield after cornfield and it reminds us so much of Iowa in August.

My back is doing a bit better today but I know with just a bump or a twist, I will be back to a place I don't want to be!!!!!! Will be glad to hear what the Dr. has to say when we get back to Texas. We had to cancel our plans to stay in Colorado until Sunday for a wedding. I just didn't feel I wanted to wait that long in so much pain. So sorry to miss it as I know it would have been beautiful. We have decided to drive to Des Moines and Creston on our way home and take a bit of a break or rest for my back. We have not been back since March of 2006. Hopefully, we can take a trip in October with the RV up thru the mid east states to Ohio. Back willing!!!!!

Well, we have a time change tomorrow so will lose an hour going east. We had a wonderful steak dinner at a little place here tonight. They had a wonderful relish tray with carrots, pickled herring, celery, black and green olives, dill pickles and ranch dip. Then we had a choice of the best brocolli cheese soup or salad. We each had one and shared. Then came the rib eye steak and potato cooked to perfection. After all was over, here they came with two mini cream puffs!!!! WOW. This is a town of 972-----in the middle of nowhere. Wish I could take them back to Texas. I guess the corn fed beef made the meal sooooooo goooooood!

More when I get back to the computer with pictures. Keep checking in

Beautiful Yellowstone

We have been seeing Yellowstone National Park for the last two days and what an experience. Beauty everywhere. Old Faithful was amazing. I had been there before, when I was 5 years old so as you might imagine, things have changed. We saw Bald Eagles, Wild Buffalo and Elk. the bears were hiding from everyone this week.

We spent the night last night in West Yellowstone and had a great Italian meal. The indoor pool and hot tub made the day and really felt good on my back. I have been battling back pain for two weeks and I don't think a different mattress every night is doing it any good.

We are in Cody, Wyoming tonight. We ate the best BBQ for a long time. Neat little town and probably will check out some shops in the morning but will swim first!

Well, off to see more of Wyoming tomorrow.

Then heading back to Texas. More to come.

Beautiful USA

VIEW OUT MY WINDOW AT PINGREE RETREAT!

Boy, was our drive yesterday wonderful. We are at the base of Yellowstone (Lander, WY) and today we will drive there and see all the beauty. Yesterday's drive was amazing. I have never seen such expanse and you could see forever. It sure does make one feel small! I could only hope that folks who live in the inner city could see the beauty of it all. It really could give one a sense of peace to stand alone in this great expanse.

There are snow fences everywhere along Interstate 80 and we came up a cut thru 287 where you didn't see any houses for miles and miles. Just expanse of hills, rocks, brush and blue sky.

What an amazing country we live in.

We are sleeping as long as we want, eating some very good food and going until we decide to stop. This is the way we love to travel. Hoping to visit the quilt shop here in Lander if it is open on Monday. This is a very clean small town with lots to offer.

Pingree Is Over For 2007

Well, Pingree is over and I had a wonderful time. Learned so much this time and really did kick back and enjoy the time. Didn't push myself but there was lack of sleep. Really don't stay up that late but when there are 37 creative women in a group like that, you want to try it all. Really enjoyed my time and the group has grown so close to each other. Such a varied group when it comes to age and to interests but the "little package of Polymer clay" seems to bring us all together. There is a song I found by Point of Grace that says it all. Here are the words.

Words & music by Douglas Mckelvey & Steve Siler

We were made to love and be loved
But the price this world demands will cost you far too much
I spent so many years just trying to fit in
Now Ive found a place in this circle of friends
In a circle of friends we have one father
In a circle of friends we share this prayer
That every orphaned soul will know
And all will enter in
To the shelter of this circle of friends
If you weep, I will weep with you
If you sing for joy the rest of us will lift our voices too
But no matter what you feel inside theres no need to pretend
Thats the way it is in this circle of friends
In a circle of friends
We have one father
In a circle of friends we share this prayer
That well gather together no matter how the highway bends
I will not lose this circle of friends
Among the nations, tribes and tongues we have sisters and brothers
And when we meet in heaven we will recognize each other
With joy so deep and love so sweet
Oh well celebrate these friends
And a life that never ends
In a prayer
That will not be long before
All will enter in
To the shelter of this circle of friends
That it will not be long before
All will enter in
To the shelter of this circle of friends

I will be posting some pics here tonight if I get time from our vacation! We are in Laramie, Wyoming today heading for the Yellowstone National Park!

More soon, keep checking in.

Vacation in August

Wildflowers along the Road

On the Route 66 past Amarillo TX




Well, we are off and running. We headed out on Wed. and made it to Amarillo, Tx. the first night. Ate at a great place, The Big Texan! Great food. On Thurs. we went to Taos, NM and enjoyed the weather. 68 degrees and very low humitity. WOW. Neat place. Great shopping and I found a few great different things. On Friday, off to Colorado Springs, Co. Got in late afternoon, Stayed at Microtel(loved that hotel) and had the best Chinese meal ever!

Creek Along the Way
Today we came to Denver. Got hotel early and went to Cherry Creek Mall and got some shoes, went to a movie and then to the Tattered Cover Book Store in the West End of Denver. Neat area. I go to the Tattered Cover every year when I come to Denver. Got some good books.

Lynn Hunting a Good Rock for our Rock Garden

Off to the airport to drop Lynn off in the morning , then off the Pingree http://www.pingree07.com/
for a wonderful week with polymer friends. Hope to get inspired as usual. Lynn will fly back to Denver next Sat. and I will pick him up and we will head north to Wyoming and the Yellowstone. I haven't been there since I was five and he has never been there. Should be fun.
Hope to get some good pictures.